[Local News] The Board of Trustees of Dharma Realm Buddhist University held a meeting on November 22, from one to three o'clock in the afternoon at the International Translation Institute in Burlingame, California. It was chaired by Dharma Master Heng Sure. Participants included Dr. S. Akpinar, Dr. Ron Epstein, Dr. Richard Yang, Dharma Masters Heng Ywan, Heng Tung, Heng Shr, Laypeople Helen Woo, Terri Nicholson, Darwin Hu, Chau Liang, Howard Hu, Fu-lin Chang, and others. The Venerable Master Hua was also present to provide guidance. Two motions were passed in this meeting. The first motion states that the new Chairman of the Board is Mr. Su-rong Lyang, the former Chairman of National Legislature in Taiwan. The second motion makes Dr. Richard Yang an Honorary Board Member. Dr. Yang's Proposal for Buddhist Education, suggested earlier to Venerable Master Hua, was also discussed. The Board members generally agreed the proposal would be a practical way to promote Buddhist education in the West, and the Venerable Master also praised it as a workable plan.

[Local News] As early as 1973, at Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in northern California, two American left-home disciples of Venerable Master Hua, Heng Jyu (Gwo Yu) and Heng Yo (Gwo Dau) made the first "three steps, one bow" pilgrimage in the United States where Buddhism has just begun. From Gold Mountain Sagely Monastery in San Francisco to Gold Summit Sagely Monastery in Seattle, they bowed approximately nine months. Then from 1977 to 1979, two other American Dharma Masters, Heng Sure (Gwo Jen) and Heng Chau (Gwo Ting) also made a pilgrimage to pray for world peace. That was the second "three steps, one bow" pilgrimage made by Westerners since the introduction of Buddhism in the West. The memorable trip of two years and nine months from Gold Wheel Sagely Monastery in Los Angeles to the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas was faithfully recorded in the book News from True Cultivators.

Now for the third time, in late 1992, two more left-home people from the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas have resolved to bow once every three steps in a pilgrimage of the world-renowned Buddhist Holy Land - the Four Great Mountains of China. Their route goes from Potola Mountain in Jejyang Province - the Wayplace of Gwan Shr Yin Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, to Jyou Hwa (Nine Flowers) Mountain in Anhwei Province - the Wayplace of Earth Treasury King Bodhisattva of Great Vows, then to E Mei Mountain in Sz Chywan Province - the Wayplace of Universal Worthy King Bodhisattva of Great Conduct, and finally to Wu Tai (Five Peaks) Mountain in Shansyi Province - the Wayplace of Manjushri Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom.

These two Dharma Masters are the Vietnamese Heng Da (Gwo Chen) and the Chinese Heng Syau (Gwo Sywe). Upon arriving in China, unaccustomed to the unfamiliar environment, they became sick. Nevertheless, they still went ahead and bowed. From Potola Mountain, they will pass through Ning Bwo and Hang Jou, then enter Anhwei and head for Jyou Hwa Mountain; and will visit King Asoka Monastery, Seven Pagodas Monastery, and Lin Yin Monastery. They have already met several hundred local Sanghans of various talents, some of whom expressed their respects to the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and Venerable Master Hua. Vajra Bodhi Sea readers will be kept posted on their progress.