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Po Lam Buddhist Association Meditation Vihara Po Lam Buddhist Association Meditation Vihara redevelopment, Fall 2021
redevelopment, Fall 2019

Celebrating Vesak with residents of a long term care facility for seniors, Spring 2015 Venerable Yin Kit teaching meditation to children in a local
school, Spring 2018

mother’s peaceful passing was At that point, I started a serious I was ordained as a Mahāyāna nun
inspiring to me. practice and to delve deeper into because those were the conditions
practicing the Buddha’s teachings. in which I found myself. From my
Not long after this, I was in a
own perspective there is really no
serious car accident. I looked in Many of my Buddhist friends were
difference between the Theravādin
the rear-view mirror and saw a ordained by Venerable Sing Yat (聖
or Mahāyāna scriptures. All
lorry roaring down the hill, unable 一老和尚). When I first met him, I
the teachings are the Buddha’s
to stop, and my little car was in saw that he was a teacher of great
teachings.
its path. In the moments before compassion and treated all people
the impact, I remembered the equally, whether rich or poor, or any However, the Theravādin teachings
teachings and that if I could stay other worldly markers. This moved can be more accessible for
focused in that moment, if it were me. The Buddha’s teachings urge us Western people. Some concepts
the end of this life, my focused mind to develop compassion and wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings can be
would lead me to brightness. As I and I could see these qualities quite difficult to comprehend and
remembered this teaching, I was clearly in him. I chose Venerable grasp. Theravādin teachings give
not scared and, ultimately, I was not Sing Yat as my teacher and was Westerners a solid foundation to
harmed in the accident at all. ordained by him in May of 1992. build on. For example, the Four
Noble Truths and Dependent
I found these experiences deeply You see, the impact of the Buddha’s
Origination. These are foundational
profound. I started to read books teachings in my own life sparked my
teachings that people can see and
on Buddhism. The first book I read motivation to keep moving forward.
understand and apply in their
was about Venerable Master Hong I did not look for a particular type
daily lives. Once one has a strong
Yi (弘一大师) . His biography and or school of teaching. Instead, a path
foundation, the Mahāyāna teachings
teachings further fueled my interest. opened, and I chose to keep going.