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在美東華府信眾期待下，萬佛聖城方丈恒律師，和加州柏林甘市「國際譯經院」當家比丘恒斌師，遠赴馬里蘭州波多馬克市華嚴精舍訪問；
三月十四日星期四晚七時許到達華盛頓機場，約二十位居士前往接機。兩位比丘在接受大眾頂禮後，由居士接往佛堂休息，
並於十六，十七兩日展開傳授三皈五戒及開示法會。
兩天法會分四場舉行：十六日上午開示，下午傳授三皈五戒；十七日全天開示及回答信眾問題。每次開示前，全體信眾一起念佛半小時；
傳授三皈五戒前，信眾更一起普佛拜願近一小時：人人法喜充滿。
訪問期間，方丈恒律師以幾位信眾往生的實例，深入淺出講解因緣果報，及眾生臨終業障現前的道理；恒斌師強調受戒與持戒的重要性，並引用《華嚴經》中善財童子五十三參的例子，勸導大家念佛求解脫，時時將「阿彌陀佛」聖號提起，以期往生西方極樂世界：
與會信眾獲益良多。一如《法華經》所說：「 如彼大雲，雨一切卉木叢林，及諸藥草。如其種性，具足蒙潤，各得生長」。
此次法會有百餘人到場，四十幾位居士受三皈五戒，在美東華府地區可謂盛事。法師對華嚴精舍大部份居士著海青搭縵衣上殿，留下了深刻的印象。華嚴精舍新道場尚未啟用，目前每周日法會在暫時租用的小學禮堂舉行，一切從簡；大家刻苦求道，法師勉勵有加，並以本會過去在臺北分支道場成立之初的克難簡陋，與大家共勉。
三月十八日訪問結束，臨行時法師再三強調，「密在汝邊，不假外求，佛教是最科學，最民主，最平等的；
眾生皆有佛性，均可成佛，要我們從念佛禮佛中，領悟各人自性皆有寺廟可莊嚴，可成道業。」此次訪問讓佛法種子深植人心，大家期盼能早日遷入新道場，方便法師們日後再次蒞臨。
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Fulfilling the hopes of East Coast
Buddhists, Abbot Heng Lyu of the City of Ten Thousand
Buddhas in Talmage, California, and Heng Bin, the managing
Bhikshu of the International Translation Institute in
Burlingame, California, traveled to Avatamsaka Hermitage in
Potomac, Maryland. They arrived at the Washington National
Airport at 7 p.m on Thursday, March 14, where they were met
by approximately twenty laypeople. After receiving bows from
the group, the two Bhikshus retired to the Buddha Hall. On
the 16th and 17th, they transmitted
the Three Refuges and Five Precepts, as well as giving
Dharma talks.
The two-day Dharma Assembly consisted of
talks on the morning of the 16th, transmission of the Three
Refuges and Five Precepts in the afternoon, and all day
talks and questions and answers on the 17th.
Before each talk, the assembly recited the Buddha's name for
half an hour. Furthermore, before receiving the Three
Refuges and Five Precepts, devotees bowed
for nearly an hour. Everyone was filled with the joy of the
Dharma.
During this visit, Abbot Heng Lyu
illustrated the principles of cause and effect and explained
the appearance of obstructive karma at the time of death,
using several actual cases of lay Buddhists who had passed
away. His talk was profound, yet easy to understand. Dharma
Master Heng Bin stressed the importance of receiving and
keeping the precepts. He also cited the example of Youth
Good Wealth's 53 visits in the Flower Adornment Sutra to
encourage everyone to recite the Buddha's name for
salvation. We should always be mindful of the holy name of
Amitabha Buddha and vow to be reborn in the Western Land of
Ultimate Bliss. The audience learned a lot. Just as the
Dharma Flower Sutra says, "As huge clouds rain on all
flowers and plants, forests and herbs, each grows and is
completely nourished according to its kind."
More than one hundred people attended
this Dharma Assembly. Over forty laypeople received the
Three Refuges and Five Precepts. This was a major event [in
the Buddhist community] of the greater Washington D.C. area.
The Dharma Masters were impressed by the large number of
laity who wear black robes and precept sashes for ceremonies
at the Avatamsaka Hermitage. The new facility for the
Avatamsaka Hermitage is not being used yet; currently, the
Sunday Dharma Assemblies take place at an elementary school
auditorium that has been rented for the time being. Despite
the austere and difficult circumstances, people are sincere
about seeking the Way. The Dharma Masters especially
encouraged everyne by recalling the starkness and hardship
that our Taipei branch monastery had to overcome.
The visit concluded on March 18th. Before
leaving, the Dharma Masters stressed time and again: "The
secret is within; don't seek in vain outside. Buddhism is
extremely scientific, democratic, and impartial. All living
beings have the Buddha nature and can become Buddhas.
Through reciting the Buddha's name and bowing, we may
realize the Way as we discover that there are monasteries in
our inherent nature to adorn." This visit planted the seeds
of Buddhadharma deep in people's hearts. Everyone hopes to
move into the new facility soon so that it will be more
convenient the next time the Dharma Masters visit.
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