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On February 23, 2024, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Hsi Lai Temple welcomed Taiwan Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei and a delegation of 48 members from the county government and educational teams from Taiwan for an 8-day urban exchange tour in the United States. Their first stop was Hsi Lai Temple for a visit and exchange.
The abbot of Hsi Lai Temple Ven. Hui Dong, superintendent Ven. Yi Shan, President of University of the West Minh-Hoa Ta, and President of the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) Los Angeles Chapter Alex Wu greeted the Hualien County delegation at the Main Shrine. They guided the visitors through the Fo Guang Yuan Hsi Lai Art Gallery exhibition, the tree wishing ritual, and the bell ringing for blessings.
Magistrate Hsu expressed gratitude for the warm welcome at Hsi Lai Temple, emphasizing the importance of including the temple in their California visit. "If you come to California and don't visit Hsi Lai Temple, it's as if you haven't really been to California," she said. Hsu thanked the monastics and devotees for safeguarding this center of faith and hoped that starting their journey at Hsi Lai Temple would bring tranquility to everyone's hearts. She also highlighted the significance of Hualien's own Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Moonlight Temple, set to be completed by the end of the year, and welcomed everyone to visit Hualien. Hsu expressed gratitude for Venerable Master Hsing Yun's compassion in spreading the seeds of Buddhism across five continents and offered his blessings of "Five Harmonies."
President Minh-Hoa Ta introduced the educational philosophy of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of University of the West, and discussed the university's curriculum. She invited the students present to consider attending University of the West in the future. Magistrate Hsu mentioned that Hualien County is the only county with a publicly funded education policy, allowing ten high school students each year to study abroad with public funding. She expressed hope for further collaboration with University of the West to extend educational opportunities.
Abbot Ven. Hui Dong highlighted that University of the West, founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, not only provides academic knowledge but also promotes physical and mental well-being through community service. He emphasized that the FGS community treats children as family members, offering scholarships for their education and ensuring parents' peace of mind.
(Photos by Dora Dong and Chihcheng Chang)
