ZHI LING – In 2008 Jo Slater met and took refuge with Dharma King Dechan Jeuren – MahaVairocana Buddha, lineage bearer of the Hanmi Esoteric and LinJi Chan schools in China. She received her Dharma name – Zhi Ling.Dechan Jeuren stayed in Brentwood, Chelmsford and Leigh-on-Sea on his visits. Temples were opened in Chelmsford and Brentwood and Zhi Ling felt very strongly that a Temple should be opened in Leigh-on-Sea.In April 2015, after a lot of hard work and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, the dream was realised when the MahaAmita Temple was opened by the Mayor of Southend-on-Sea. The only Buddhist Temple in the Borough, Zhi Ling was then invited by the Mayor to present the Buddhist flags to him at the Southend Borough Annual General Meeting, which he accepted on behalf of the Borough. jo-mayor-flagsIn 2016 she was invited to become the Buddhist representative for SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) for the Southend Borough and currently sits on the panel.The Founding Director of the Centre, Zhi Ling is an ordained Buddhist teacher and runs meditation and healing sessions weekly and Mindfulness courses monthly. She is a huge advocate of teaching and promoting the benefits of meditation and visits schools, groups and organisations within the local community giving talks and workshops.Her personal philosophy is to be as honest and truthful as is possible. She tries to abide by her Guru’s wishes to “Forgive everyone, help everyone, respect everyone.”If you are interested in Zhi Ling visiting your school or organisation or would like to bring a group to visit the Temple, please call the Centre or email directly to discuss.
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