TALBA：His magnificent accomplishments openly serve as a model for others; his many honors stir the world（March 25 - 27,2000）

March 25 - 27,2000TALBA

His magnificent accomplishments openly serve as a model for others; his many honors stir the world

THE GOVERNMENT of the State of California and the government of the City of San Francisco each declared March 8th as Master Wan Ko Yee Day. On March 13th the government of the City of San Francisco again expressed its highest respects for Master Wan Ko Yee's special accomplishments by conferring upon him more honors.These newest honors were conferred based upon the Master's position as the foremost Buddhist Master in the entire world and his tremendous achievements in the areas of art, ethics, scholarship and science.

In 1994 the Master was awarded the title of "Distinguished International Master” by the World Poets and Culture Congress, an organization composed of members from forty-eight different countries and regions. This title is conferred upon only oneperson in the world and is on the same level of honor as a head of state. The Distinguished International Master Certificate was signed by Juan Antonio Samaranch, the then President of the International Olympic Committee. The formal resolution conferring upon the Master such title was announced in Hungary on September 15,1994 and formal written notification was sent to the State Council of the People's Republic of China and other government organs.

The central government of China built a museum in honor of the Master in the Master's hometown. In the entire history of China, this was the first museum ever built in the government of China in honor of someone who is still alive. The Master Wan Ko Yee Museum is a huge structure similar to an imperial palace and is divided into seven different sections.

The Master is extraordinarily accomplished in Chinese painting and calligraphy and has laid the groundwork for bringing Chinese paintings to the international forum. He has won the highest respect of the Chinese and American people for having raised the level of culture and morality in the world, for his efforts in philosophy, for his contributions in advancing the cultural exchange between China and the United States, and for being a model of ethical conduct.

Thus, after the head of the City Council of San Francisco and ten City Council members held a meeting, they decided to jointly sign and confer upon Master WanKo Yee a certificate of honor for his special accomplishments. The city government of San Francisco also declared the Master an honorary citizen of San Francisco inorder to express their great admiration for him.

What is most unusual is that Master Wan Ko Yee is not in the United States to accept these distinctive honors. Nevertheless, his great learning, high ethics and magnificent accomplishments cannot be covered up. He has been repeatedly honored by various organizations throughout the United States such as the world Buddhism Association, the Tibetan Buddhism Association of America, the World Buddhism Jenn FaAssociation Assembly, and the American League of Colleges and Universities which is composed of more than eighty colleges and universities.

All of this shows that Master Wan Ko Yee is a man of tremendous virtue, the likes of whom are rarely seen in the history of mankind. People all over the world admire and emulate him.

MASTER WAN KO YEE