Grand Opening Celebration

On Saturday, October 14th the Abbot President Venerable Guodong from Dharma Drum Mountain Taiwan performed the consecration Eye Opening Ceremony of the Tallahassee Chan Center. We were also joined by Venerable Changduo, Secretary of the Abbot President, Venerable Changhao and Venerable Chang-Hwa from DDM New York Center.

Together Dr. Fran Berry, President of DDMBA Tallahassee Chapter, Mr. Charles Huang, DDM Fellowship of Honorary Directors in Taiwan, Abbot President Venerable Guodong of DDM in Taiwan, and Mr. Chiu Ling Wang, DDMBA Dharmapala in North America unveiled the Buddha statue. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a Dharma talk by Abbot President then a luncheon. After lunch, Abbot President gave the refuge ceremony and lay precepts. Our wonderful Dharma brothers and sisters from New York, New Jersey, California and St. Louis came to enjoy the celebrations as well.

: Abbot President Draws the Symbol for Eye Opening

: Unveiling the Buddha

: TCC Board President Dr. Fran Berry shares a few words

: Abbot President gives a Dharma talk

: Lunch in our Recently Renovated Multipurpose building

: Receiving the Precepts

: All in Attendance

: Tallahassee Residents with Special Guests

: Out of town guests

: DDM Presidents and Special Guests

Honored guest Venerable Meido Roshi a Rinzai Zen teacher joined us from Madison, Wisconsin. On Saturday evening Ven. Meido Roshi gave a talk about practicing in New York with Master Sheng Yen and Guo Gu 27 years ago. Recently Ven. Meido Roshi and Guo Gu were able to reconnect through the Zen Forums International online.

: Narayan, Abbot President and Ven. Meido Roshi

: Ven. Meido Roshi sharing the Dharma

: Guo Gu and Ven. Meido Roshi

: Narayan, Guo Gu and Ven. Meido Roshi

Leading up to the ceremony, Guo Gu gave a short history of the Tallahassee Chan Center, and then special guest Rikki Asher gave a dharma sharing about her experience first meeting Master Sheng Yen and practicing with him on retreat. The day after the ceremony special guest Narayan Liebenson shared her experience practicing with Master Sheng Yen for many years and then becoming a Vipassana teacher.

: Guo Gu provides the history of TCC

: Rikki Asher gives Dharma sharing

: Rikki Asher and Guo Gu

: Narayan Liebenson

On the final night of the celebrations, Ven. Chang-Hwa, Ven. Meido Moore Roshi and Guo Gu had a group discussions night and answered questions about practice.

: Guo Gu introduces the panel

: A view of the panel

: Attendees enjoying the talk

: Ven. Chang-Hwa

During their stay, our guests enjoyed several field trips with picnics and special dinners. Day trips included a boat tour of Wakulla Springs and a walking tour of the Marianna Caverns. Lucy Ho provided a vegetarian dinner buffet at Masa.