The library’s sixth anniversary celebration effortlessly ended after a one-day chanting retreat. The library has now been open for six years and all its operations have been in order. We have not had ambitious goals. We just earnestly practice on our own. Our remaining energy is dedicated to offering opportunities for newcomers to learn Buddhism, and to circulating the Dharma materials.

Besides this ongoing circulation of Dharma materials as well as Buddha and Bodhisattva statues, the Sunday chanting practice and lunch-time Dharma lectures, the Buddhism Class for Children and the Chinese Culture Class for Children have all been welcomed by the parents. This year, we began to offer the Introduction to Buddhism class to inmates and the class has become a regular offering of the library.

In the last a few visits to the Stateville Correctional Center, Bert taught "Taking the Three Refuges" to the inmates. To encourage the inmates to return to and rely on the triple jewels, I asked Bert to announce that if there were two or three inmates who would like to formally take the refuges, I would arrange for venerable, after going through the security clearance, to visit the correctional center with Bert and conduct the ceremony. Having lost their freedom, the inmates will find it very difficult to have the opportunity to visit a venerable and request that they take the three refuges. Reflecting on ourselves, while we appear to befree, we too are severely bound by worldly affairs and keep reborn in samsara. If we do not seek to transcent it, when have we had or will be able to have true freedom?

Beyond my regular duties at the library, I had the good fortune to invited a second time to participate the "World Buddhism Forum" in China this March. I represented the library and published an article for our working report. The most fruitful experience, though, was that I had the opportunity to become acquainted with some senior Buddhist masters.

The ancient sages said: "Teaching verbally is not as good as teaching by self demonstration." During the Forum days, I had the good fortune to eat at the same table as Venerable Chin-hai, Venerable Zhen-hua and Venerable Min-zhe. I deeply felt the compassionate aura emitting from their conversation and realized and recognized the precious value of the Sangha. After the Forum, I went to Tainan to meet with Venerable Master Chin Kung and listened to his two lectures. He is still very healthy and energetic, and truly is our role model. We are concerned with shortness of our lifespan and with the sufferings in our world. Why don't we learn from these worry-free older senior masters, and diligently practice?

Amituofo!