The Eminence Garchen Rinpoche visits Fo Guang Shan (North Island)

His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, who is believed to be an incarnation of Siddha Gar Chodingpa, was hosted by Venerable Abbess Manshin, Venerable Manwang, BLIA President Dolly Tsai, Vice President Peter Chen and 20 BLIA members during his visit to Fo Guang Shan (North Island) on Thursday 3 June. The Abbess explained the significance of the temple architecture, Fo Guang Shan’s culture and education as well as the origin of Master Hsing Yun’s one stroke calligraphy. They then visited the ‘Way of Life Photographic Exhibition’ and ‘Liao Tian Zhao Carved Stone Teapot Exhibition’ at the Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery.
Garchen Rinpoche shared the Tibetan Buddhist teachings. “However,” he said “the core teachings of Buddhism remain the same in all Buddhist traditions; Buddhism is the teaching to cultivate the mind; the more compassionate you are, the less attachments and worries you have. Taking the sun and the dark clouds as an analogy, attachments and defilements are like the dark clouds which cover the sun (compassion). The sun (compassion) will only appear when we get rid of the attachments, desires and ignorance (dark clouds).” Garchen Rinpoche’s gentle words and loving kindness touched the heart of many people. At the end of his visit he was presented with book written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun.
A practicing Buddhist, 74 years old Garchen Rinpoche has just ended his Dharma talk tour in Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam and will be holding a series of Dharma talks in New Zealand from 4-9 June.