First Lady of Guatemala Visits Museum of World Religions, Experiencing Convergence of Light and Faith
On June 6, 2025, the First Lady of Guatemala, Excma. Sra. Dra. Lucrecia Peinado, together with Liao Wan-ju, spouse of Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid a special visit to the Museum of World Religions (MWR). They were warmly welcomed by Venerable Xian Yue, CEO of the MWR Development Foundation, while Museum Director Ma Yu-Chuan led the guests on a guided tour of the current special exhibition, “LIGHT A LIFE X LIVE A LIGHT”. The visit unfolded in an atmosphere of warmth and sincerity, opening space for a heartfelt exchange of culture, faith, and spiritual resonance.
Stepping onto the Pathway of Pilgrimage: Gifts of Blessing Presented
The honored guests began their visit with a symbolic cleansing, passing through the misting water curtain walls that evoke purification from worldly distractions. They then stepped onto the Pathway of Pilgrimage, a contemplative corridor representing a spiritual journey. With its subdued grey flooring, streams of natural light, and echoed imprints of hands, the pathway offers a rich sensory experience. Designed around the three stages of religious practice and featuring images of real-life practitioners, the installation conveys themes of striving, spiritual grounding, and inner transformation. Both guests paused in quiet reflection, immersed in the convergence of faith and life’s vital energy.
The ceremonial exchange of gifts took place in the Golden Hall, where Venerable Xian Yue, on behalf of the Museum of World Religions, presented the guests with a ceramic replica of a Northern Qi-era Buddha head from the museum’s collection. She also conveyed offerings from the museum’s founder, Dharma Master Hsin Tao: a calligraphy scroll inscribed with the message "Break free and be at ease, let everything flourish together," and a jade pendant. These gifts symbolize joy and fulfillment. Madame Liao took the moment to reminisce about an encounter three decades earlier, when Dharma Master Hsin Tao was invited by the Taiwanese community in New Haven to speak at Yale. She had helped coordinate the venue and served as interpreter. Recalling how the Master had shared his vision of founding a museum dedicated to world religions, she expressed heartfelt joy at witnessing that vision now realized.
“LIGHT A LIFE X LIVE A LIGHT” Special Exhibition Resonates with the Essence of Life
While touring the “LIGHT A LIFE X LIVE A LIGHT”special exhibition, both honored guests expressed deep appreciation for the exhibition’s interactivity and profound thematic content. Centered on the theme of light, the exhibition invites introspection through immersive spaces such as the Tunnel of Light, the Mandala Zone, and the Passage of Hope. These experiential environments gently guide visitors to contemplate the nature of life and the interconnectedness of all existence. By weaving together threads of religion, philosophy, and a reverence for nature, the exhibition evokes an inner awakening and a renewed respect for the ecological fabric of life.
First Lady Peinado shared that her visit to the Museum of World Religions was both moving and full of delightful surprises. She praised the museum for breaking away from conventional formats, noting its innovative, inclusive, and highly interactive exhibition design that honors diverse beliefs and perspectives. The“LIGHT A LIFE X LIVE A LIGHT” special exhibition, in particular, stirred deep reflections on life and existence, raising a number of soul-stirring, universal questions. She described the exhibition as a space truly worth experiencing firsthand—one that can inspire even those who seldom visit museums. Liao Wan-ju was especially moved by the exhibition’s interpretation of “light.” With heartfelt grace, she observed: “When you dim your own light, you begin to see the light in all things.” Her words conveyed both wisdom and beauty, offering a gentle reminder to recognize and appreciate the brilliance and worth in others.
Conveying Taiwan’s Warmth and the Vision of Loving the Earth and Peace
Venerable Xian Yue noted that the Museum of World Religions, hailed at its founding as a “Gift to the New Millennium,” has now been in existence for over two decades — yet it remains unfamiliar to many. She expressed hope that the First Lady’s visit would help raise greater awareness of the museum and its mission to promote the ideals of loving the Earth and cherishing peace. She further wished that First Lady Peinado might carry forward this warmth from Taiwan and the spiritual strength it embodies to more people around the world.
The visit was more than a cultural exchange—it was a heartfelt dialogue that reached deep into the spirit. The presence of the distinguished guests brought a renewed sense of international perspective to the Museum of World Religions, further affirming its role as a cultural bridge across faiths and nations. Inspired by light, the journey drew to a graceful and fulfilling close.
Stepping onto the Pathway of Pilgrimage: Gifts of Blessing Presented
The honored guests began their visit with a symbolic cleansing, passing through the misting water curtain walls that evoke purification from worldly distractions. They then stepped onto the Pathway of Pilgrimage, a contemplative corridor representing a spiritual journey. With its subdued grey flooring, streams of natural light, and echoed imprints of hands, the pathway offers a rich sensory experience. Designed around the three stages of religious practice and featuring images of real-life practitioners, the installation conveys themes of striving, spiritual grounding, and inner transformation. Both guests paused in quiet reflection, immersed in the convergence of faith and life’s vital energy.
The ceremonial exchange of gifts took place in the Golden Hall, where Venerable Xian Yue, on behalf of the Museum of World Religions, presented the guests with a ceramic replica of a Northern Qi-era Buddha head from the museum’s collection. She also conveyed offerings from the museum’s founder, Dharma Master Hsin Tao: a calligraphy scroll inscribed with the message "Break free and be at ease, let everything flourish together," and a jade pendant. These gifts symbolize joy and fulfillment. Madame Liao took the moment to reminisce about an encounter three decades earlier, when Dharma Master Hsin Tao was invited by the Taiwanese community in New Haven to speak at Yale. She had helped coordinate the venue and served as interpreter. Recalling how the Master had shared his vision of founding a museum dedicated to world religions, she expressed heartfelt joy at witnessing that vision now realized.
“LIGHT A LIFE X LIVE A LIGHT” Special Exhibition Resonates with the Essence of Life
While touring the “LIGHT A LIFE X LIVE A LIGHT”special exhibition, both honored guests expressed deep appreciation for the exhibition’s interactivity and profound thematic content. Centered on the theme of light, the exhibition invites introspection through immersive spaces such as the Tunnel of Light, the Mandala Zone, and the Passage of Hope. These experiential environments gently guide visitors to contemplate the nature of life and the interconnectedness of all existence. By weaving together threads of religion, philosophy, and a reverence for nature, the exhibition evokes an inner awakening and a renewed respect for the ecological fabric of life.
First Lady Peinado shared that her visit to the Museum of World Religions was both moving and full of delightful surprises. She praised the museum for breaking away from conventional formats, noting its innovative, inclusive, and highly interactive exhibition design that honors diverse beliefs and perspectives. The“LIGHT A LIFE X LIVE A LIGHT” special exhibition, in particular, stirred deep reflections on life and existence, raising a number of soul-stirring, universal questions. She described the exhibition as a space truly worth experiencing firsthand—one that can inspire even those who seldom visit museums. Liao Wan-ju was especially moved by the exhibition’s interpretation of “light.” With heartfelt grace, she observed: “When you dim your own light, you begin to see the light in all things.” Her words conveyed both wisdom and beauty, offering a gentle reminder to recognize and appreciate the brilliance and worth in others.
Conveying Taiwan’s Warmth and the Vision of Loving the Earth and Peace
Venerable Xian Yue noted that the Museum of World Religions, hailed at its founding as a “Gift to the New Millennium,” has now been in existence for over two decades — yet it remains unfamiliar to many. She expressed hope that the First Lady’s visit would help raise greater awareness of the museum and its mission to promote the ideals of loving the Earth and cherishing peace. She further wished that First Lady Peinado might carry forward this warmth from Taiwan and the spiritual strength it embodies to more people around the world.
The visit was more than a cultural exchange—it was a heartfelt dialogue that reached deep into the spirit. The presence of the distinguished guests brought a renewed sense of international perspective to the Museum of World Religions, further affirming its role as a cultural bridge across faiths and nations. Inspired by light, the journey drew to a graceful and fulfilling close.