City of Ten Thousand Buddhas -
Great Nirvana Hall
| Bhikshus carry the casket towards
the Hall of No Words. |
After
paying homage to the Buddhas in the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, the
disciples respectfully moved the Venerable Master's casket into the
Hall of No Words, which had been the Master's dwelling at the City of
Ten Thousand Buddhas when he was alive. When the Venerable Master spoke
the Dharma or lectured on the Sutras at the City, he had done so either
in the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas or in Wonderful Words Hall. Yet the
Master named his quarters the Hall of No Words, so it carries the
metaphorical meaning for wordless teachings.
Many members of
the San Francisco and San Jose branches of the Tz'u Chi Foundation
hastened to the City on Friday and volunteered their help in directing
traffic, organizing people into lines, and so forth, thus demonstrating
the spirit of cooperation among Buddhists.
At half past
noon, the assembly lined up and, while reciting the Buddha's name,
entered the Hall of No Words in succession to gaze in respect at the
Venerable Master's countenance. Many faithful devotees felt that the
Master's visage after his completion of stillness bore a great
resemblance to that of the Great Master, the Sixth Patriarch of the
Chan School.
Excerpt from p. 52, "In Memory of the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, Vol. I"
Original article from Chinese World Journal, (June 18, 1995)
| Placing the casket in the Great Nirvana Hall. |
| Venerable Ajahn Sumedho (2nd from left) and disciple from England paying respects. |
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