Heng Sure

Heng Sure (恆實法師, Pinyin: Héng Shí, birth name Christopher R. Clowery; born October 31, 1949) is an American Chan Buddhist monk and a senior disciple of Venerable Hsuan Hua. He serves as the managing director of Berkeley Buddhist monastery, the president of the board of directors of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and a member of the board of trustees at Dharma Realm Buddhist University. He has previously taught at the Graduate Theological Union, Bond University, and Dharma Realm Buddhist University as a professor. Heng Sure has also been active in interfaith organizations, serving as a long-time trustee for the Interfaith Center at the Presidio and United Religions Initiative and regularly presenting at Parliament of the World’s Religions.

He is probably best known for a two-years and six-months three steps, one bow pilgrimage from 1977 to 1979. Heng Sure and his companion Heng Chau (Martin Verhoeven), bowed from South Pasadena to Ukiah, California, a distance of 800 miles, wishing for world peace.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, In 2003, he furthered his academic journey by earning a PhD in Religion from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

In October 2024, Rev. Heng Sure participated in the Sixth World Buddhist Forum held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, where he emphasized gratitude and interconnectedness, reflecting on Buddhism's shared spiritual heritage. Heng Sure observed a vow of silence throughout the pilgrimage, relying on the kindness of strangers for sustenance and sleeping in their station wagon to remain outdoors.

The pilgrimage was inspired by their teacher, Hsuan Hua, who instructed them to transform their inner greed, anger, and delusions to bring peace to the world starting with their minds. Their experiences, challenges, and reflections were later compiled in the book Highway Dharma Letters: Two Buddhist Pilgrims Write to Their Teacher, documenting their spiritual journey and insights.