virtuous ones. In particular, the International Youth Seminar on Life Education was attended by one thousand outstanding youths from more than 150 regions and 400 universities around the world.

On September 24th, under the support of Lai Wei-cheng, President of the Three Good Deeds Sports Association and Buddha’s Light cheer squads, the 2010 BLIA International University Women’s Basketball Tournament kicked off inside Fo Guang University’s Huai’en Gymnasium with eight university basketball teams from six countries: Japan, Korea, Canada, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Fo Guang University’s women’s basketball team came second place under many years of leadership by coach Lee Hyung-sook. Many people are aware of my fondness for basketball. In fact, basketball is actually a sport that advocates compassion. In the game, players are trained to admit their faults bravely, and to respect teamwork. They are even taught to be grateful to their opponents, because without them, they would not have anyone to play against. This is a sport of friendship.

In October, I was invited by Venerable Ching Hsu of Ling Chuan Temple in Keelung to act as the Sila Acharya for the Triple Platform Full Ordination Ceremony. Founded one hundred years ago by Venerable Master Shang Hui, Ling-chuan Temple was one of the earlier temples that I stayed at in Taiwan. Venerable Ching Hsu was a student of mine when I taught at Ching Tsao Lake in Hsinchu more than fifty years ago. With this teacher-student connection, and it being a grand event in Buddhism, I was happy to oblige. After that, I traveled to Tokyo for the Benefactor’s Gathering and Committee Training Seminar in Japan. In December, I was invited to Nanjing University, National Taiwan University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University to give talks on “Chan and Life,” and “The Journey and Reflections of My Life.” I was also invited to give a talk at the Taipei Flora Expo, to which I was more than happy to contribute a part.

The end of one spring is followed by another, while flowers and grass continue to bloom, the year 2010 has passed very quickly. 2011 is the centennial year of the Republic of China. May all friends and Dharma protectors cherish the physical body given to them by their parents, repay society for a life that is connected to all, sublimate one’s own life of nature and faith, and attain the eternal life of the Dharma body. Together, let us build a pureland that is blessed by family harmony achieved through deference, interpersonal harmony achieved through respect, social harmony achieved through cooperation, and world harmony achieved through peace.
May all be blessed with skillful wisdom and an enlightened mind; and peace and auspiciousness to you all.