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A YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD OF THE LIFE OF VENERABLE MASTER HUA
AND THE ACTIVITIES OF DHARMA REALM BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION
1990. Age: 73
In February 2 he delivered a lecture at the University of California at Berkeley on "Buddhism and Human Roots."
On February 7 he delivered a keynote speech at the international conference "Buddhism into the Year 2,000" sponsored by the Dhammakaya Foundation of Thailand.
On February 29 he delivered a lecture at the University of California at Los Angeles on "How to End Suffering and Attain Happiness" and held a discussion on Chan meditation.
In March, Vajra Bodhi Sea (the journal of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas) began distribution in Taiwan.
From April 20–23 he delivered lectures in Atlanta, Georgia.
In May, five American monks went to Dragon Flower Monastery in Shanghai, China, to help administer the Ordination Ceremony. U.S. President George Bush sent a fax to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas congratulating the Venerable Master and his disciples.
On May 8 he was officially sworn in by Police Chief Frank Jordan as a Chaplain of the San Francisco Police Department.
From May 26–27 he delivered lectures at the University of Washington in Seattle.
On June 16, Police Chief Jordan visited the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and exchanged views on society and education with the Venerable Master.
From June 21–27 he delivered lectures in Washington, D.C.
From July 13 ugust 4 a conference on "Buddhism and the Modern World" was held at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. He lectured on the Mencius.
1990. Age: 73
From August 31eptember 21, at the invitation of Taiwan Buddhists, he led a Propagation Delegation of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and Dharma Realm Buddhist University to Taiwan and hosted a Dharma Assembly in Memory of Elder Master Hsu Yun's 150th Anniversary. He also hosted the Great Nationwide Dharma Assembly for Recitation of the Buddha's Name to Pray for Blessings and Quell Disasters at the Chiang Kaishek Memorial in Taipei. Over ten thousand people attended and brilliant rays of light were seen in the sky, an auspicious portent.
In October, at the invitation of Buddhists in England, France, Poland, and Belgium, he led the Fifth International Propagation Delegation of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and Dharma Realm Buddhist University to propagate the Dharma in Europe for the first time. The theme of the tour was: The Buddha's Timeless Teachings and Eternal Wisdom. Lectures covered: "Buddhism and World Peace," "Buddhist Education and Its Application," "Uniting the Northern and Southern Traditions of Buddhism," "Gathering in the World's Religions."
On October 7, a two-week Elderhostel program was held at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Since then, Elderhostel programs have been held several times at the City.
On November 6, he sent his disciples to Beijing to bring the Long Zang edition of the Buddhist Canon back to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, thus symbolizing the taking of a further step in the relationship between Chinese and American Buddhism and the transmission of the Buddhadharma to the West.
Gold Wheel Monastery in Los Angeles moved to a new location.
1991. Age: 74
Amaravati Ajahn Amaro
The International Translation Institute and the Administrative Headquarters of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association moved to Burlingame, California.
From January 8–20, at the invitation of Mingru Monastery in Jilin, China, he sent disciples to visit and to discuss the Buddhadharma.
Beginning on February 16, the morning recitation at City of Ten Thousand Buddhas combined the ceremony of the northern tradition (including the Shurangama Mantra) with the Pali chanting of the southern tradition. [Note: In 1992 the City reverted to alternating days of Chinese and English ceremonies.]
On May 3, the Amaravati Buddhist Centre in England sent senior monk Ajahn Amaro as a representative to make offerings of robes and almsbowls to the Sangha led by the Venerable Master. This ritual symbolized an exchange between Mahayana and Theravada traditions, writing a new page in the history of Buddhism.
From June 21uly 6, a meditation retreat in the Theravadan tradition was conducted at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas by Ajahn Sumedho of the Amaravati Buddhist Centre in England.
On July 14, the Sixth Threefold Ordination Ceremony was completed at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
On September 28, he was invited to lecture at the tenth anniversary celebration of the International Daily News. Topic: Looking at the World.
From October 4–15, he sent the Dharma Realm Buddhist University Delegation on a lecture tour to Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto. The theme was: "Buddhism--A Growing Religion in North America." Other topics included: "Not Killing, and Using Peace of Mind to Bring Peace to the World," "Vegetarianism--the Choice of Wisdom and Compassion," "What Buddhism Says about Choosing a Career," "The Collective Karma of a Nation and the Individual Karma of People," "The Essential Factor in Education--Ethics."
Amitabha Monastery was founded in Hualian, Taiwan.
1992. Age: 75
The Venerable Master conducted a repentance ritual concerning four Bhikshus.
From February 7 to April 3 he sent the Fifth Asian Delegation of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and Dharma Realm Buddhist University to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia to propagate the Dharma at the invitation of the Buddhists in those countries. The Delegation hosted a three-week-long Jewelled Repentance Before the Ten Thousand Buddhas in Malaysia.
On March 16 Dharma Masters from the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas were specially requested to host the opening ceremony for the Asian Culture and Art Exhibition at Humboldt State University.
On April 28 he accepted the invitation of George Bush, the President of the United States, and went with eighteen members of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association to attend the President's Dinner in Washington, D.C.
On May 19 the Venerable Master gave a talk to students of Lowell High School at Gold Mountain Monastery.
On July 4 Lin Yanggang, the Director of the Judicial Yuan of the Republic of China, and his wife visited the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and discussed issues of Chinese and American education with the chancellors of Dharma Realm Buddhist University. Mr. Lin also visited the Venerable Master at the International Translation Institute, where they discussed the future of China, the American situation, and the policies of government.
On July 29 Liang Surong, the Advisor to the President of the Republic of China and the former Director of the Legislative Yuan, visited the Venerable Master.
On August 28 Cheng Wanzhen, Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco, visited the Venerable Master. The Master said he wished to serve as a bridge for the future unification of China.
In August, the Water, Land, and Air Ceremony was conducted cooperatively by Dharma Masters from mainland China as well as Taiwan.
On September 16 the Seventh Threefold Ordination Ceremony was completed at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
On October 23 Edwin Derwinski, Vice-chairman of President Bush's Reelection Campaign Committee, visited the Venerable Master. During the press conference, the Master said that if the President would refuse to take a salary, thus setting an example as the leader of the American people, he would certainly win the election.
The Buddhist Lay Care Unit of the First Social Welfare Department of Shanghai praised the Venerable Master as "The Foremost High Sanghan in the World." The Master declined the title.
On November 8 he accepted an invitation to lecture at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) on "Buddhism Today" and "Ethics and Education."
On November 15, in order to save ethical education from bankruptcy, the Venerable Master proclaimed that the twenty-seventh day of the eleventh lunar month each year would be the Day for Respecting Elders.On December 20 the First Celebration for Respecting Elders was held in Los Angeles in honor of virtuous and worthy elders seventy years of age and older.
The Administrative Headquarters of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association was moved to Burlingame, California.
The Monastery of Blessings and Wisdom in Meinong, Taiwan, was offered to the Venerable Master.
The Dharma Realm Cultural Education Foundation was founded in Taiwan.
1993. Age: 76
From January 3–18, at the invitation of Taiwan Buddhists, the Venerable Master went to Taiwan to host the Shurangama and Great Compassion Assembly and to transmit the Three Refuges and Five Precepts. Thirty-eight people left the home-life with the Master.
A Dharma Master from China hosted a Chan session in which participants deviated from the CTTB's traditional practices of eating one meal a day before noon and always wearing the sash. These practices were resumed afterwards.
On March 14 a candidate for California State Senate and four others visited the Venerable Master at CTTB and exchanged views on education and government.
On April 4 the Jewelled Repentance of the Emperor of Liang was held to celebrate the completion of the new Buddha Hall at Long Beach Monastery in Los Angeles.
Disciples also celebrated the Venerable Master's birthday.
He lectured on the Sutra of Cause and Effect Spoken by Chan Master Zhi.
On April 30 Hao Bocun, the former Director of the Executive Yuan (similar to Prime Minister) of the Republic of China, paid a special visit to the Venerable Master.
On May 16 representatives from the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas participated in the "Berkeley Buddha's Birthday" sponsored by the University of California in Berkeley.
On June 9 "Bud" Harrison, the Mayor of Burlingame, visited the Venerable Master and exchanged views on education and government.
From November 6 to 16, the Venerable Master led a delegation to the U.S. East Coast and delivered Dharma talks in Rochester, upstate New York, and other places.
On November 30 Mayor Harrison of Burlingame and his wife paid a second visit to the Venerable Master, who explained to them that the eight virtues of filiality, fraternal respect, loyalty, trustworthiness, propriety, righteousness, incorruptibility, and a sense of shame are the wonder-drugs for saving the world.
On November 17 the young world-class pianist Edith Chen visited the Venerable Master.
The City of the Dharma Realm was founded in Sacramento.
Yuantong Hermitage in Dongshi, Taiwan was offered to the Venerable Master.
1994. Age: 77
UCLA, UCI, CAL POLY On January 26 the Venerable Master invited Chen Lifu, the Advisor to the President of the Republic of China, to give a lecture at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
In January the various monasteries of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association held the Second Annual Celebration for Respecting Elders. The Venerable Master fixed the first Sunday in November as the date for future celebrations of Respecting Elders Day.
In February, students of Developing Virtue Secondary School won the Competition on the U.S. Constitution in California's District No. 1.
On February 27 the Venerable Master hosted the opening ceremony for the Bodhi Way Association in San Jose.
On March 5 the Venerable Master gave a talk to students of the Chinese Buddhist Society of the University of California at Berkeley when they visited the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
On March 27 the Mayor of Burlingame and the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Mendocino County attended the Guanyin Anniversary at CTTB. The Venerable Master lectured on "Helping the World to Become a Brighter Place."
On April 9 the Venerable Master accepted the invitation of the Buddhist societies of the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of California at Irvine, and the California Polytechnic Institute to speak on "Buddhism and Psychology."
From April 17–23 the City of the Dharma Realm held the Jewelled Repentance of the Emperor of Liang and on the 24th disciples celebrated the Venerable Master's birthday.
On May 28 the Administrative Headquarters of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and the International Translation Institute held their opening ceremonies.
On May 29 the City of the Dharma Realm held its opening ceremony.
In May and June the branch monasteries of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association held individual celebrations of Cherishing Youth Day. The Venerable Master fixed the last Sunday in May as the date for future celebrations of Cherishing Youth Day.
From June 12–18 Gold Buddha Monastery held a Jewelled Repentance of the Emperor of Liang to commemorate its tenth anniversay.
On October 23, a 1989-year-old camphor tree at Puji Monastery on Potola Mountain in Zhejiang Province, China, took refuge with the Venerable Master.
The Institute of World Religions was founded in Berkeley, California.
Blessings, Wealth, and Longevity Monastery was founded in Long Beach, California.
Gold Summit Monastery in Seattle moved to a new location.1995. Age: 78
On January 10 Dharma Master Heng Sure, representing the Venerable Master, accepted an invitation to attend the inaugural ceremonies of California Governor Pete Wilson. It was the first time in American history that a Buddhist monk had been asked to speak in the inaugural ceremonies for a state governor.
Gold Sage Monastery was founded in San Jose.
On June 7 the Venerable Master completed the stillness in Los Angeles, USA, and a bright light in the world was thus extinguished. The four assemblies of disciples of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, honoring the Master's instructions, held a forty-nine day session for reciting the Great Means Expansive Buddha Flower Adornment Sutra and the name of the Buddha at all affiliated monasteries. The ceremony for placement into the casket was held at Long Beach Monastery on June 12. The casket was transported to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas on June 16. From July 26 to 28 a great memorial assembly and the cremation were held at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.