City of Ten Thousand Buddhas -
Respectfully Welcoming the Venerable Master
| Respectfully welcoming the Venerable Master. |
The
car convoy slowly moved forward. Both sides of the road were packed
with earnest people who had their palms placed together. The body of
the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, who had completed the stillness ten
days earlier, was transported from Los Angeles and reached the City of
Ten Thousand Buddhas in northern California on Saturday, June 17, at
seven o'clock in the morning.
A yellow banner with the words
"Welcoming the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, the Founder of the City of
Ten Thousand Buddhas at Wonderful Enlightenment Mountain, on his return
to the City" was suspended high up on the gate at the main entrance to
the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. When the Venerable Master's casket
was respectfully taken out (and moved to a smaller vehicle), the
multitude recited the Buddha's name with even more fervor and strength.
After the vehicle bearing the Master's casket had passed
under the arch of the main entrance, the faithful followers standing on
both sides of the road joined together in the middle of the road and
followed the vehicle as it made its way towards the Hall of Ten
Thousand Buddhas. Left-home disciples of the Venerable Master then
respectfully moved the Master's casket into the Hall of Ten Thousand
Buddhas. The ten thousand statues of sitting Buddhas which cover the
four walls inside the hall were cast and made by the Venerable Master
himself in earlier years.
Adapted from p. 51 - 52, "In Memory of Ven. Master Hua, Vol. I"
Original article from Chinese World Journal, (June 18, 1995)
| Arriving at the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. |
| Bowing nine times in utmost sincerity to
the Venerable Master. |
| 
