November 7, 2007 > The Beginning of Western Buddhist Culture
The Beginning of Western Buddhist Culture
Submitted By Jui-Lan Liu
Buddhism has always changed each new culture it has met over its 2500 year old journey around the globe. Likewise, it has always been influenced by each new cultural encounter. Still, one might wonder how the Buddha's teaching will adapt to the Space Age, the Internet Age, and the Post-Post-Modern Age.
Rev. Heng Sure, PhD, suggests four areas where Buddhism may make its most significant impact in its encounter with the West. He will be discussing how the Dharma will adapt to North America in 2007 at the Fremont Main Library on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m.
Rev. Heng Sure was ordained as a Buddhist Bhikshu (monk) at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, in Talmage, California in 1976. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Heng Sure met his teacher in religion, the late Venerable Master HsŸan Hua, while finishing an M.A. in Oriental Languages at the University of California, Berkeley. After receiving full ordination in the Mahayana tradition of Chinese Buddhism, he commenced a "three steps, one bow" pilgrimage.
With a fellow monk, Heng Sure traveled up the California Coastal Highway from South Pasadena to Ukiah, a distance of more than six hundred miles, making a full prostration to the ground every three steps. The two closed each day of their pilgrimage with a dedication of their efforts to world peace. The spiritual journey took over two years and nine months to complete, as the two monks arrived at their destination in Northern California in November of 1979. Throughout the pilgrimage and for two years following, Heng Sure observed a practice of total silence.
The Fremont Main Library, a branch of the Alameda County Library, is located at 2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont. There is no charge for this event, and an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter is available with seven days advance notice. For more information call (510) 745-1401.
Four Ways the Dharma Will Adapt to North America in 2007
Saturday, Nov. 10
2 - 4 p.m.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont