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In 2001, a group of newly formed Dharma Realm Buddhist Youths from Vancouver attended the third annual DRBY Spring Conference at the City of Dharma Realm, in Sacramento, California. Deeply moved by the profound Dharma and inspired by the dynamic group of peers who share similar passions for seeking spiritual growth, they determined to make this unconventional way of approaching Buddhism available to the young people in Canada.
In July 2004, the first DRBY Canada Conference was made possible at the Gold Buddha Monastery in Vancouver. The success of the first conference paved way for this year’s second annual DRBY Canada Conference. Many inspiring Dharma speakers, such as Dharma Master Heng Chih, Dharma Master Heng Lung, and Dr. Martin Verhoeven, touched participants with their words.
The first day of the conference began with the plenary talk led by Dr. Verhoeven, “Buddhism Decoded,” which explored the core teachings of Buddhism and its relevance to our lives in the 21 st century. As an introduction to the conference, Dr. Verhoeven recounted the life story of the Buddha and explored the various human conditions that lead to sufferings. He summarized our paths to enlightenment as simply a process of replicating the Buddha’s own experience in cultivation and enlightenment, which begins with questioning the meaning of life, realizing the endless sufferings in the world, and finally searching for an answer to attain liberation.
The introductory talk was followed by various workshops such as the “Buddhist Principles Applied to Personal Relationships,” “Extending the Circle of Compassion,” “Finding
Inner Peace through Meditation Practice,” and “The Five Elements: Their Uses and Functions in Spiritual Transformation.” A notable workshop was a talk given by Dharma Master Heng Lung, introducing the theory of the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Dharma Master Lung thoroughly elucidated the nature and personality trait of each of the five elements, explaining that each of us possesses, to various extents, positive and negative aspects of each of the five elements which affect us physically, mentally and spiritually. She further explained how one might transform a negative aspect of an element in one’s personality into a positive trait, thus transforming our habits and improving our health.
| "It challenges our perception of who we are and what we are trying to accomplish in life." |
The second day of the conference included a panel discussion on the Six Perfections, a panel featuring DRBY members sharing their personal stories on the spiritual path, and a workshop on “Buddhism in the West.” Another highlight of the conference was Dr. Verhoeven’s “Buddhism in the West” workshop. Dr. Verhoeven’s slideshow of Buddhist images from different places and eras illustrated the distinct changes in Buddhism and provided us insights into the future transformation of Buddhism as it enters the Western World.
The conference exceeded many attendees’ expectations. “The conference was incredible. Very informative, insightful and well-organized.” Another participant complimented, “Being a novice in the understanding of Buddhism, I came to the conference with one single expectation—to learn more about Buddhism, but this conference not only did that, but actually opened my eyes and got me really interested in pursuing Buddhist teachings.” For many, the conference also offered an alternative approach to their current lives. “It’s not the usual ‘feel good talk,’” one attendee commented. “It challenges our perception of who we are and what we are trying to accomplish in life.”
The conference has inspired the local youths to initiate a more regular Dharma gathering at the Gold Buddha Monastery. Please check the Gold Buddha Monastery website for more information on the upcoming DRBY events in Vancouver: http://www.gbm-online.com/. D|M
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