Three Steps, One Bow

Reverend Heng Sure is an American Buddhist monk, considered one of the first Buddhist monks 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. He is probably best known for a pligrimage he made for two years in 1977 from Los Angeles to Ukiah, CA by means of taking three steps and prostrating once. Entitled the Three Steps, One Bow pilgrimage, he did so in order for world peace to prevail.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, he attended the University of California at Berkeley in the 1960s. 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.

Heng Sure currently gives lectures at Berkeley to the public and through webcasts. Heng Sure also gives lectures in many parts of the world, mostly on the Avatamsaka Sutra. He is also an accomplished musician and guitarist.