Virginia Beach, Virginia -- On the early morning of Saturday, October 3rd, 2009, everyone gathered at Dong Hung Temple, getting ready to depart for a long journey to New York; the atmosphere of an exhilarating pilgrimage was visibly felt by everyone involved.

The purpose of the trip was to attend and listen to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a public address on October 4^th. The group of 29 people included monks and nuns of Dong Hung Temple, Vietnamese Buddhist members of, as well as 10 American Buddhist friends and followers. Two 15-seat rental passenger vans traveled 10hrs to New Jersey where everyone checked into hotel rooms, quickly washed and freshened up, and departed again by train to tour Chinatown and Time Square in the famous Lower Manhattan. It was a marvelously tiring day sitting 10 hours in cars, then walking the streets of downtown New York until the wee hours of the night before everyone returned to the hotel and crashed exhaustedly, but with memorable and exciting sense of adventure.

The next morning, we left the hotel and were already present in front of the Manhattan Center on 34^th street at 9am, avoiding the traffic rush, crowded street and parking delay. The admittance by pre-ordered ticketing into the center was uneventful for everybody. We were all inside at about 11:30am, quite excited and thrilled for the chance of a lifetime to see in person and listen live with our own longing heart to the most revered, honored, and respected Leader of the Buddhist world – the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.

Present at the Civic center on that day were about 100 monks and nuns of both the Vietnamese and the Tibetan Buddhists, and about 3000 Buddhist practitioners of all races, traditions and denominations who gathered here from numerous states in the USA.  All monks and nuns of Dong Hung Temple had prior invitations from the organizational committee to attend free of charge, but members of the group had to reserve and buy tickets months in advance. The capacity of the Civic Center only allowed a certain number of participants; we witnessed many more people who arrived unticketed, hoping for a last minute cancellation so that they can attend the event. Our group has 2 extra tickets because 2 of our members cannot go at the last minutes; so one ticket was offered to a Tibetan Lama who scampered to get in, and another given to a Buddhist friend whose face brightened with gratitude at the unbelievable opportunity and good fortune.

All the monks and nuns were invited to be on-stage sitting on cushions at both sides of the podium where His Holiness would be presiding. The Hammerstein Ballroom of the Manhattan Center has two levels, and both were packed with throng of people, coming and going, shuffling in a buzzing excitement before the actual session. Dong Hung group was spotted at the upper level, also in the same enlivening expectation.

About 3pm, after the announcement of the organizing committee, and with the Sangha of monks and nuns in their formal saffron robes brightening the large stage of the center, and with the crowd of faithful Buddhists in a revered and respectful silence, His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama entered the stage in a most venerated, loving, and elated manner, presented Himself to the largest crowd of people eagerly awaiting His teachings. After respectfully paying tribute and bowing three times to the Arya Nagarjuna Bodhisattva, His Holiness sat himself at the high sitting platform that was intricately decorated and adorned with representative picturesque of the Dharma and in the style of Tibetan Buddhist culture. Behind His Holiness was a large hanging Thangkha screen with picture of the Bodhisattva Arya Nagarjuna, and flanked on the sides were two smaller Thangkha screens represented by pictures of the Bodhisattva Manjushri and Avalokiteshvara – Saharabhujalokeshvara.

The theme of the talk was based on the well-known teaching of Bodhisattva Arya Nagrjuna called Bodhicittavivarana. His Holiness spoke in his native language of Tibet which was in turn translated to English, Vietnamese, and Chinese.

It was our greatest honor that we were able to participate in this grand event - meeting the living legend His Holiness the Dalai Lama, listening to his Dharma teachings, and witnessing the Dalai Lama - as the holy living long-standing re-incarnation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. We’re humbly grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Whether monastic members or lay Buddhist followers, this great event offered by the organizers in order to bring the teaching from one of the most honored, venerated, well-regarded and respected Dalai Lama to the general public, was indeed a most extraordinary and advantageous opportunity for all to benefit.

The concept of Emptiness was elaborated in depth in these specific Bodhicittavivarana teachings, and was exceptionally explained by one of the highest and profoundly practicing Buddhist teacher. The Dalai Lama also stressed on the utmost need to practice our Bodhicitta which is the key to all who are seeking the path to Enlightenment.

After the public address, all the monks and nuns were invited to have a meal together and making offering to the Dalai Lama.

We left shortly afterwards for our long trip home to Virginia Beach.

First of all, we would like to extend out greatest appreciation to Ms. Kim Oanh and the organizing committee for creating this special opportunity for all to attend a remarkable and valuable teaching. We also want to thank the group’s drivers – Mr. Doan Huu Hien and Christian E. Manzella for their on-the-road safe driving to and from New York. Mr. Hien also said that he has not been on any road trip that was as pleasant as this one. 

After all, it was such a wonderful trip, everyone benefited from it, and we all have a special bonding spiritually and learned much from the teachings, as well as having fun traveling together.

Again a special thank to everyone involved!

By Thích Chúc Hội

Translated to English by Viên Minh – Giáng Kiết Tường