◆應供而來的大德，遍佈世界各國。The greatly virtuous ones who received the offering came from around the world

為紀念「法界佛教總會」（以下簡稱法總）創辦人暨妙覺山萬佛聖城開山祖師上宣下化老和尚七七涅槃圓滿日，南加州四眾弟子特於一九九五年七月二十五日，在「法總」分道場洛杉磯的長堤聖寺，隆重舉辦國際齋僧大法會，藉玆盡孝報恩。

應供而來的大德，遍佈世界各國，計有中、美、英、法、越、泰、緬、柬埔寨、錫蘭、西藏等等，總數近一百七十位，其中百分之八十為比丘，可說是前所未有的盛會。其中戒臘最高者（五十五年）為錫蘭籍七十五歲的Hawanpola Ratanasara Mahathero 法師，又有來自英國的Ajahn Sumedho（蘇美度）法師，隨團四人赴筵。Dhammarajranutwat, Kongsophan, Umsum 等三位法師，特別撥冗與會，其戒臘都在五十以上，甚為稀有難得。另有臺灣司法院長林洋港的代表人余正昭先生，山東濟寧市人民政府僑務辦公室副主任暨寶相寺籌委會會長郭秋亞先生，中國歷史文化名城研究會常務理事楊春炳先生越洋而至。

當日上午開始讚頌儀典，以華語、英語、越南語、巴利文次第進行，梵唄清遠，莊嚴異常。護法居士恭辦素筵，謹遵佛制如法供養。齋畢，正午十二時，在「本師釋迦牟尼佛」聖號唱誦中，由十八位身著海青之居士代表法總四眾弟子一一虔誠獻禮。

供儀圓滿，「法界佛教大學」祖炳民教授致辭，歡迎諸山長老的蒞臨及加州各參議員、國會議員、市長等諸代表的赴會。祖教授並特別對宣公上人的生平事蹟作精要的簡介。續後，有多位各國法師上台開示。他們表示：世界必須有高度智慧的宗教領袖來領導，上人即是活生生的明證，他由修行而得圓滿究竟的智慧。正統佛教能以傳承於美國，這是上人最偉大的成就，故足以感召世界眾生的至心歸仰。但上人自身則無任何執取，如鳥飛池塘，不留影跡，最是自在。福德具足者乃得遇上人，故弟子眾等，應善繼遺志，以上人悲心為己心，以上人悲願為己願。致力為一切眾生謀福。

恆實法師則舉了兩個例子，說明上人大小無礙的不思議境界，作為此次齋僧大會的結束。下午兩點二十分，齋筵圓滿，南北傳僧眾合影留念於長堤聖寺園苑，這是宣公上人宗教大團結的又一次實踐。下午三點啟建慈悲三昧水懺壇場，迴向功德於法界，俾一切眾生普沾上人深恩厚澤，如法修行，離苦得樂。

In order to commemorate the completion of the forty-nine-day memorial service in honor of the Nirvana of the Venerable Master Hua, who was the founder of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and of the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas at Wonderful Enlightenment Mountain, the fourfold assembly of disciples in southern California held an International Meal Offering Ceremony for the Sangha on July 25, 1995. This was also a way to express their filial piety and to repay the Venerable Master’s kindness.

The virtuous Sangha members who came to receive offerings came from all over the world, including such countries as China, America, England, France, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. There were nearly one hundred and seventy Sangha members, eighty percent of whom were Bhikshus (monks), making this an unprecedented event. The most senior Sangha member was Hawanpola Ratanasara Mahathero of Sri Lanka, who is seventy-five years old and has been ordained for fifty-five years. Venerable Ajahn Sumedho and three other Sangha members from England also attended the event. The Venerable Dharma Masters Dhammarajanutwat, Kongsophan, and Umsum, who have over fifty years in precepts, also travelled by plane and graced the event with their rare presence. Lin Yanggang, the Director of the Judicial Yuan of the Republic of China, was represented by Mr. Yu Zhengzhao. Coming overseas from Shandong Province, China, were Mr. Guo Qiuya (the Deputy Director of the Overseas Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Jining City and the Director of the Baoxiang Monastery Committee) and Mr. Yang Chunbing (Standing Committee Member of the Research Institute of Historical and Cultural Cities of China).

Ceremonies in praise and recognition were conducted in Chinese, English, Vietnamese, and Pali in the morning. The pure sounds of religious chanting carried afar during these especially splendid ceremonies. The Dharma-protecting laity prepared a vegetarian banquet and made the meal offering in accord with the Buddha’s instructions and the Dharma. After the meal, promptly at twelve o’clock noon as everyone recited the holy name “Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha,” eighteen laypeople wearing black robes, representing the fourfold assembly of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, sincerely presented gifts to each Dharma Master.

At the completion of the offering ceremony, Professor John Tsu of Dharma Realm Buddhist University welcomed the guest Sangha members and elder masters and the representatives of various senators, congressmen, and the mayor of Long Beach. Dr. Tsu also gave a brief sketch of the Venerable Master Hua’s life. Then Dharma Masters from various countries also spoke. They pointed out that the world needs a religious leader of great wisdom to guide it, and the Venerable Master was a living example of this—he had cultivated and attained to the perfect, ultimate wisdom. The orthodox Buddhist tradition has been transmitted to America. This is the Venerable Master’s greatest achievement. Therefore he was able to evoke the sincere trust of the living beings of the world. Even so, the Venerable Master never had any attachments. He was like a bird flying over a pool of water, not leaving any traces, free to the utmost. Only those replete with blessings and virtue were able to meet the Venerable Master. Therefore, as disciples we should continue to carry on the Venerable Master’s will. Taking the Venerable Master’s compassionate mind as our own mind and his compassionate vows as our own vows, we should dedicate ourselves to benefiting living beings.

◆國際齋僧大法會International Meal Offering Ceremony for the Sangha

To conclude this Meal Offering Ceremony to the Sangha, Dharma Master Heng Sure gave two examples to illustrate the Venerable Master’s inconceivable state of the non-obstruction of great and small. When the ceremony drew to a close at 2:20 in the afternoon, the Sangha members from the Theravada and Mahayana traditions stood for group photographs in the garden of Long Beach Monastery. This was one more instance of the Venerable Master’s advocacy of religious unity. At three o’clock in the afternoon, the ceremony for Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance was begun, and the merit from it will be dedicated to all in the Dharma Realm in the hope that all living beings will benefit from the Venerable Master’s deep, great kindness; cultivate according to the Dharma; leave suffering; and attain bliss.