Heng Sure

Who is Heng Sure?

Heng Sure is an American Buddhist monk, born and ordained in the United States. He is a senior disciple of the late Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, and is currently the director of the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, a branch monastery of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association. He is probably best known for a pilgrimage he made for two years and six months from 1977-1979. Called a three steps, one bow pilgrimage, Rev. Heng Sure and his companion Heng Chau, bowed from South Pasadena to Ukiah, California, a distance of 800 miles, seeking for world peace.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, he attended DeVilbiss High School, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, and later attended the University of California at Berkeley from 1971-1976. During his time at the university, Heng Sure was active in theatre. At an early age, Heng Sure learned Chinese from studying the language in high school and by means of his sister, who worked at the U.S. Information Agency. After receiving his masters in Oriental languages, he met his teacher, Master Hsuan Hua, who would later ordain him in 1976 at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, as "Heng Sure" a Dharma name which means "Constantly Real." Rev.