Dharma master Man Ya, the Taiwan-born abbess of the Nanhua Buddhist Temple in Bronkhoststruit, a city 50 km east of the South African capital of Pretoria, says it is karma that has prompted her to travel half way around the globe to teach her faith in Africa.
After more than a year in the continent, Man Ya has developed her own views of the African people. Contrary to the general perception of Africa as a poor and backward place, Ma Ya said she sees great promise in the region.
"I see neither poverty nor backwardness in Africa. I think that African people only need education and I see many opportunities here," said the computer programmer-turned-nun.
In her view, Man Ya said, poverty refers to greed rather than to a lack of money. "Poverty results from greed, " she went on, adding that African people need education to inspire their consciences, wisdom and compassion.
Man Ya said she came to Africa to help the people cultivate themselves and pursue true enlightenment, peace and happiness.
Born in the southern Taiwan port city of Kaohsiung in 1955, Man Ya obtained a master's degree in information management from the Texas Institute of Technology and Science after graduating from Taipei's Soochow University.
She then worked at a computer company in Los Angeles and began to volunteer her services at the Hsi Lai Temple which, at the time, was still under construction
"I felt great joy through volunteer service and gradually I came to a decision to pursue a religious life and career," Man Ya recalled.
She received her novice ordination as a Dharma master at Hsi Lai Temple, a branch of the Fokuangshan Buddhist Monastery in southern Taiwan, in 1988.
Since then, she has worked at several Fokuangshan Monastery-affiliated temples in Texas, Taiwan and Malaysia, before traveling to Africa's southernmost city of Bronkhoststruit in April last year to head the continent's only Buddhist temple.
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