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法界佛教總會，應紐奧爾良市的路易斯安那州佛教會之請，派恆貞師、怕奘師、恆丙師三位比丘尼，及現常住聖城的前路州佛教會長胡果琪居士隨行，於2001年11月21~23日（星期三~五）前往訪問三日。佛教會地點近海，具城市的方便，鄉村的寧靜，是1990年時，當地華人為方便大家學習佛法，而組織成立的。路州佛教會於1991年夏，收到一箱上人講解的佛書，從此得到了上人的法寶。之後每年都有人來聖城皈依，每次也都帶回去很多佛書。會員流通上人的書，聽上人的錄音帶，一路走來，獲益良多。
這次與會有六、七十人，有從亞特蘭大、休士頓來開幾小時長途中來，也有從喬治亞州開了十小時的車來。由於聽眾國籍不同，講法以中、英、越三語進行。前年（1999），路州有二十八位居士來聖城打彌陀七，其中一位男士在繞佛時打了個不正的妄想，當晚睡覺時，護法神用大木棍打他，嚇得他從床上跳起來；但一閉眼，高大的護法神又在面前，嚇得他不敢說話，也不敢睡，出了聖城才說出這件事。
當地信眾大多經營葷菜館，所以法師決定講五戒--不殺、不盜、不邪淫、不妄語、不飲酒，內容涵蓋持戒功德及因果報應；講法前，曾分配講題，可是不知怎麼，話題總繞回到殺戒上！
由於大眾問題多，恒貞師幾次想講一位居士賣豬肉的真實故事，但話到舌邊又吞了回去。最後一晚講法時，雖然超過時間，但沒有人離開，恆貞師終於道出了這個因果的故事，及當事人臨終的業障。一位女眾聽後，當場哭得很傷心，原來她家從事豬肉燒烤店，最近因幫忙修建佛堂，那晚才留了下來，因而聽到了這個故事。當地信眾接觸佛法不久，但對法師們的來到都歡喜雀躍，恭敬請法，誠心聽法。從亞特蘭大來的人原有很多問題，但時間已晚，約好第二天再回答。第二天卻不見人，原來在離佛堂十分鐘車程的地方，他們的車被大車撞上，車身嚴重扭曲變形，車上人卻毫髮無傷！
許多開葷菜館為業的信眾，聽法後也都願意改行，雖然改後可能要過一段苦日子。信眾們嚮往修行生活，希望法總僧團能派人常駐領眾修行。佛堂的經櫃、拜墊都是信眾親自動手製做，也為聖城大殿製做了新拜墊。
對於這次訪問，有人讚歎佛法無邊，菩薩慈悲；有人企望下次訪團早點來到，屆時要開大車載多人來聽。另外還有個小故事，是喬治亞州佛教會長告訴胡果琪居士的：「我是最不能接受別人說我『業障深重』的，那會令我非常生氣。」可是聽了法師一席話，她說：「我真的是業障深重啊！」
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At the invitation of the Louisiana Buddhist Association in New Orleans, the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association (DRBA) sent a delegation on November 21 - 23, 2001 (Wednesday- Friday) comprised of three Bhikshunis, Dharma Masters Heng Jen, Heng Jhuang and Heng Bing, as well as the former President of the Louisiana Buddhist Association, Upasika Hu Guo Chi, who now resides in the Sagely City. The Buddhist Society is located by the sea; it has all the amenities of city-living as well as the peace and quiet of the countryside. It was established in 1990 by the local Chinese community for the purpose of studying and practicing the Buddhadharma. In the summer of 1991, the Louisiana Buddhist Association received a box of the Venerable Master's books on Buddhism, thereby gaining the Master's Dharma treasures. Subsequently, every year, people came to the Sagely City to take refuge and took back with them many Buddhist texts. The members circulated the Master's books and listened to his tapes, benefiting greatly in that way.
This time, about 60 to 70 people came to attend the Dharma sessions. Some drove for several hours from Atlanta and Houston while others drove more than ten hours from Georgia. Due to the diverse nationalities in the audience, the Dharma talks were given in English, Chinese and Vietnamese. The previous year (1999), twenty-eight laypeople from Louisiana came to the Sagely City to attend the seven-day Amitabha session. One layman had an improper thought while circumambulating. That night when he was sleeping, a Dharma-protecting spirit hit him with a large wooden board. He was so terrified that he leapt out of the bed. But as soon as he closed his eyes, the huge Dharma-protecting spirit appeared in front of him again. He was so frightened that he dared not breathe a word to anyone nor could he fall asleep again. It was only after he had left the Sagely City that he dared to reveal the incident.
Since most of the local devotees were owners of non-vegetarian restaurants, the Dharma Masters decided to talk about the Five Precepts-no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no taking of intoxicants. The topics included the merit of upholding precepts, cause and effect, and retribution. Although the topics had been preassigned, somehow the discussion dwelled mainly on the precept against killing.
Since there were so many questions from the audience, Dharma Master Heng Jen had no opportunity to relate a true story concerning a person who sold pork for a living. On the last evening, the Dharma session went overtime but nobody wanted to leave. Finally, Dharma Master Heng Jen related the story and the karmic obstructions that confronted the pork seller at the time of his death. On hearing the story, a woman in the audience broke down and wept pitifully. It turned out that her family was in the roast pork business. She had stayed late that night to help with building the Wayplace and happened to hear this story.
Although the devotees had only recently encountered Buddhism, they were overjoyed with the Dharma Masters' visit. They respectfully requested the Dharma and listened sincerely. The people from Atlanta had numerous questions but due to the time constraints, it was agreed that the questions would only be answered the next day. However, on the second day, none of them turned up. They had had an accident at a location about ten minutes' drive from the Wayplace. Their car had collided with a big vehicle and was badly damaged. However, the people in the car were not hurt in the least!
Many of the devotees who operated non-vegetarian restaurants wished to change their occupations after listening to the Dharma, even though they might have to undergo a period of hardship. The devotees looked forward to a life of cultivation and hoped that DRBA would station Dharma Masters there to guide them in cultivation. The devotees had personally made cabinets for the Sutras and bowing cushions. They also made new bowing cushions for the main hall in the Sagely City.
In response to the visit, some people praised the inconceivability of the Buddhadharma and the compassion of the Bodhisattvas. Some hoped that next time, the Dharma delegation would give them early notice so that they could rent a big bus to fetch more people to attend. Besides this, there is another story. The President of the Georgia Buddhist Society told Upasika Hu Guo Chi, "I used to not be able to stand it when people told me that my karmic obstructions were heavy, I'd get very angry." However, after having listened to the Dharma talks, she said, "My karmic obstructions are truly heavy indeed!"
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