[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23990]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MASTER WAN KO YEE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 7, 2007

  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, one of the fundamental principles on which 
this Nation was founded is freedom of religion and respect for the 
religious beliefs of others. Religious tolerance and the freedom of 
religion for individuals to believe what they choose is one of the 
underlying concepts essential to our democratic system of government. 
Madam Speaker, it is in that spirit that I want to pay tribute to 
Master Wan Ko Yee, who has been recognized by world-renowned Buddhist 
masters as Dorje Chang Buddha III, the true incarnation of the 
primordial Buddha of the Buddhist faith in accordance with the rules of 
recognizing the incarnation in Buddhism.
  Master Yee was born in Sichuan, China, and like many individuals over 
the last four centuries, has come to this land where there is greater 
opportunity and freedom to teach and practice his religion. As Master 
Yee said, ``The American people are kind and noble. People can freely 
believe in religion in the United States, a country that is spiritually 
wealthy, powerful, and blessed.''
  I am pleased that he has found a new home in my own home state of 
California, where many Americans of diverse backgrounds have embraced 
principles of Buddhism, which include showing compassion toward others, 
benefiting others, being selfless, and striving for enlightenment and 
liberation.
  Master Yee, who is recognized as His Holiness Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu, the 
Buddha Vajradhara Great Dharma King by the leaders of different sects 
of Buddhism in the world, has established a temple in San Francisco. 
Other similar places of worship for the benefit of believers have been 
established in other cities in California, New York, Washington, DC and 
abroad.
  Master Yee not only is a widely recognized and admired Buddhist 
thinker and teacher, Madam Speaker, but he also is an artist whose work 
has been widely acknowledged and exhibited. His work includes a number 
of very different styles and media, including traditional Chinese 
calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, abstract painting, and a new 
style of art that is called Yun sculpture in which Master Yee has 
created beautiful colors and shapes.
  In recognition of his artistic work, he has been named a ``Fellow'' 
by the Royal Academy of Art in the United Kingdom. His works of art 
have been displayed in a number of exhibits, including two recently 
here in Washington, DC at the Organization of American States and in 
the Gold Room of the Rayburn House Office Building, which was sponsored 
by our friend and colleague, David Dreier of California. An exhibit of 
his Yun sculpture in San Francisco last year was widely attended, and 
his work has been exhibited in a number of other locations.
  Madam Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
Master Wan Ko Yee, Dorje Chang Buddha III, a Buddhist leader of 
particular renown who has chosen to make his home here in the United 
States, and who is an outstanding artist, scholar, and religious 
thinker.

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