In the East, pure causes pave a sacred way,
In the West, their fruits blossom, bright as day.
Behold, a noble lady graces the bloom,
A lotus rises, dispelling the gloom.
Great awakening flows with boundless compassion,
Spreading the truth in timeless fashion.
Like the Deer Park where the wheel first turned,
Wisdom ignites, as its flame is discerned.

This is a seven-character acrostic poem written by Fang Yangqiu in 1935. The upper inscription reads: “In celebration of Lady Clara Ho Tung’s establishment of Tung Lin Kok Yuen, wishing boundless joy upon its completion.” The lower inscription states: “Respectfully composed by Fang Yangqiu on the Buddha’s birthday in the 24th year of the Republic (1935, Year of the Pig).” The poem is written in regular script (Kaisha), accompanied by two seals: a white-text seal in the upper right reading “Guard oneself like jade” and a red-text seal in the lower left reading “For eternity.”

The poem ingeniously incorporates the four characters “Tung Lin Kok Yuen” at the start of each line. With concise diction, it reflects the centre’s founding purpose and its mission to propagate the Dharma while praising Lady Clara’s dedication and achievement in its establishment.