美國華嚴蓮社住持，再次造訪市政府
秉承慈悲喜捨願行，續談接濟清寒生
[本社訊]美國米爾必達市華嚴蓮社住持天因法師，秉承慈悲喜捨願行，續談接濟清寒生獎助學金之發放一事，於5月17日上午8:30，在Betty林楓玉的陪同下，再次造訪市政府。
是日正逢市府舉行宣導民眾，騎自行車運動，市長荷西戴維斯親自參與帶動。天因法師到訪時，見到荷西戴維斯市長正在市府大門外，宣導民眾騎自行車。市長與住持天因法師等合照留念。之後，進入市府會議室會談，與會的有市府的職員，與相關工作人員共十多人。
此次拜會市長目的，是談美國華嚴蓮社欲舉辦「米爾必達市高中生獎助學金」計劃，與希望市府可以提供個案名單，供蓮社審核。
美國華嚴蓮社並列出條則細節部份如下：在米爾必達市境內之清寒學子，是高中生而且成績優異者。本蓮社希望能對符合上述條件者，發給每位美金五百元，蓮社預計每年撥款一萬元，作為獎助學金用。蓮社設計表格讓申請者填寫，並要求參與者能寫一篇文章、讀書心得，經由本社審核通過者，一律本人親自到本蓮社領取。本辦法預計在明年2008年6月實施。
住持天因法師於市政府內，對與會大眾講述救濟辦法等，其文如下：
Good morning everyone,
It’s my great honor to be here to represent Avatamsaka Buddhist Lotus Society to talk about our plan of offering scholarship to the students of Milpitas School District.
We have been in the Milpitas community since 1990, our mission is to promote Hua Yen Buddhism and after all these years, we are able to give back to the community by setting up scholarship fund for the benefit of students in our neighborhood.
The fund set up for the program is to be ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) each academic year, major source of the fund will be from donation made out to the temple. After review of all applications, we will award the amount of five hundred dollars ( $500.00) to total of 20 high school students who are from low-income families.
We will be glad to work with the School District and teachers for more detailed guidelines and comply with actual needs of the community. We hope to bring out awareness in the community and further to the world the spirit of mercy of Buddhism.
Thank you and May Buddha bless you.
美國華嚴蓮社的這項救助向學的善舉，獲得與會人士的讚賞與肯定。此次會談歷時1小時，在眾人滿心歡喜的討論這項計劃中，愉快的結束。