A Note on the Retreat, December 2006

The library’s 2006 year-end two-day retreat and dinner party completed successfully and happily.

The retreat, just like in the past, was carried out flawlessly. The instrument team performed especially well. And of particularly note is that many western friends underwent the Ceremony of Taking the Three Refuges and formally became Buddhists.

To express the appreciation to the volunteers, the library has held a year-end party which has previously been hosted in Director Lin's home. In order to include more Dharma friends, we decided to host it in the library this year, and we had over one hundred guests. On the second day of the retreat, there were so many people in the audience for the lunch time Dharma talk that we had to expand the seating area right up to the library doors. And with all the guests at the party it was very difficult just to turn around in the crowd. These clearly indicated that: "the library needs a bigger space!"

Unlike at the parties in the past, this year we had a talent show performance program. Not only did it delight every guest, but it also gave everyone a warm and unforgettable New Year's Eve. The program director, Mr. Eugene Gao, did a superior job and far surpassed everybody's expectations. He invited performers of all ages and even included a few famous ones.

The most impressive performers were the most senior and the youngest ones. The senior performer was Mr. Hu, who is eight-four. He sang a song and performed a talk show, which earned a loud applause from the delighted audience. The youngest performer was Ms. Ju-Yueh Gao, who at the age of two, recited a poem from memory. Her performance moved the entire audience! In addition to Brother Gao, Ms. Hui-Chuan Weng, the teacher of the Buddhism Class for Children, and Ms. Chen who presented the sign language performance, there were numerous volunteers who silently dedicated their time and effort to make the party and the performance programs a great success. Included in the silent volunteers was Mr. Kung, the husband of Ms. Hui-Chuan Weng.
Mr. Kung, who made fun of himself as the tech crew, is a gentle, humorous, and steadfast worker, and a descendent of Confucius. When Director Lin invited Ms. Hui-Chuan Weng to be in charge of the Buddhism Class for Children, her decision was based purely on the confidence in Ms. Weng's, experience, and strong sense of responsibility. Director Lin trusted that Ms. Weng would definitely fulfill the responsibility, and did not know that they have special affinities with Confucius' family. Looking back now, it appears to be the best arrangement!