Voice Of The Gold Sage » Photo Gallery » 2014 » Celebrating Year of the Horse —–Spring Festival Activities

Celebrating Year of the Horse —–Spring Festival Activities2014-03-01

 

♦  By The Editor
     English Translation by Genglin Zheng

“With the horse leading the way, we usher in the New Year; spurring on the flying horse we are determined to move ahead.” Spring Festival is a very important holiday for the Chinese, as a year’s plan starts with spring. Every year at this time, GSM holds Dharma assemblies for venerating Buddhas and for bowing repentances – so that while ushering in the New Year, we cleanse both body and mind and repent karmic offenses, wishing for national prosperity and peace as well as timely wind and rains.

“Wondrous Darani of the unmoving one.
Foremost Shurangama King is rare in the world.
Extinguishing our deluded thoughts from countless eons past.
So we attain the Dharma body without going through Asamkhya kalpas.”

The Shurangama Sutra is representative of the proper dharma. During this three-day Shurangama assembly, Shurangama Sutra was recited in the morning. In the afternoon, we bowed the Shurangama Repentance. This assembly was made possible by the dharma masters with their kind intent for the proper dharma to endure in the world and to speed up our course towards attaining Buddhahood. Just as Dharma Master Heng Yun said, “This is very special. The Shurangama Sutra is representative of the proper dharma. We began the new year by studying the proper dharma, for this reason I believe that the proper dharma will take deeper root and endure in the world – because when the Shurangama disappears, Buddha dharma disappears as well.” The Shurangama Repentance is the work of Bhikkhuni Kuan Ru a hundred years ago, taking after the writing style of the great ancient virtuous ones. In the Dharma Master’s opinion, the Bhikkhuni had incorporated the essential principles of the Shurangama Sutra into her work. Therefore one can learn the Shurangama Sutra while bowing the Shurangama Repentance.

The assembly lasted for three days. In the morning, Dharma Master Heng Zhai from CTTB led the recitation of the Shurangama Sutra. In the afternoon, Dharma Master Heng Yi led the assembly in bowing the Shurangama Repentance. Sounds of graceful sutra recitation and the solemn circumambulation during the mantra chanting engraved upon our memory. The Venerable Master said: “It was by relying on the Shurangama Mantra that the Thus Come Ones of the ten directions achieved the unsurpassed Right and Full Awaking. The Thus Come Ones of the ten directions, in transformation bodies, can appear in countries as many as dust motes – to turn the dharma wheel, to teach and transform all creatures, to give predictions with compassion for beings in the ten directions, to lift all beings from sufferings, to free them from calamities big and small – all this, are made possible by relying on the power of the Mantra of Shurangama.”

Upon bowing the repentance in the afternoon, Dharma Master Yi explained the repentance text in the remaining time. He emphasized on both understanding and cultivation. Filled with dharma joy, we wish to express our gratitude to the dharma masters for their painstaking teaching.

On Sunday, the concluding day of this dharma assembly, GSM was festooned for our honored guests taking part in the New Year reunion – the elders of the Dharma Study Group. Blowing wind and dripping rain did not keep the elders from “coming back” home. There they came, early in the morning, and strewed the temple gallery with their bright outfits, cheerful looks, and greetings of “Amitofo”, “Happy New Year”.

GSM prepared good-wish red envelops and delicious food. In addition, the Sunday school teachers and students, in their body language, presented New Year greetings to the elders. Next, the elders, led by the dharma masters, venerated the Buddhas and recited sutras. “Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year to you!” Little kids wearing small lion heads and headed by the teachers, came up to the elders to wish them Happy New Year. How delightful these grandmas and grandpas felt in their hearts! Little soldiers made big contributions! The standup comedy Greetings on New Year’s Day performed by teacher Wu and her daughter also made the elders smiled from ear to ear. What’s more, our talented students and teachers added color to today’s activity by their dance and martial art, which they only practiced 3 times! Parents stood by and watched, attracted by the events. The Guanyin Hall was full of warmth and energy. Having watching the shows, it was time for some brainy work. The last event, raffle, hosted by teacher Peng, was unbelievably wonderful. All the elders were full of dharma joy.

The Spring Festival activities ended amidst meal-concluding chanting. The elders left for home carrying fine gifts and full of dharma joy. Looking at Guanyin Hall that had resumed quietness, I sent my silent wishes for the elders：may they be in good health; may they often stay with the Buddhas.

The assembly lasted for three days. In the morning, Dharma Master Heng Zhai from CTTB led the recitation of the Shurangama Sutra. In the afternoon, Dharma Master Heng Yi led the assembly in bowing the Shurangama Repentance. Sounds of graceful sutra recitation and the solemn circumambulation during the mantra chanting engraved upon our memory. The Venerable Master said: “It was by relying on the Shurangama Mantra that the Thus Come Ones of the ten directions achieved the unsurpassed Right and Full Awaking. The Thus Come Ones of the ten directions, in transformation bodies, can appear in countries as many as dust motes – to turn the dharma wheel, to teach and transform all creatures, to give predictions with compassion for beings in the ten directions, to lift all beings from sufferings, to free them from calamities big and small – all this, are made possible by relying on the power of the Mantra of Shurangama.”

Upon bowing the repentance in the afternoon, Dharma Master Yi explained the repentance text in the remaining time. He emphasized on both understanding and cultivation. Filled with dharma joy, we wish to express our gratitude to the dharma masters for their painstaking teaching.

On Sunday, the concluding day of this dharma assembly, GSM was festooned for our honored guests taking part in the New Year reunion – the elders of the Dharma Study Group. Blowing wind and dripping rain did not keep the elders from “coming back” home. There they came, early in the morning, and strewed the temple gallery with their bright outfits, cheerful looks, and greetings of “Amitofo”, “Happy New Year”.

GSM prepared good-wish red envelops and delicious food. In addition, the Sunday school teachers and students, in their body language, presented New Year greetings to the elders. Next, the elders, led by the dharma masters, venerated the Buddhas and recited sutras. “Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Happy New Year to you!” Little kids wearing small lion heads and headed by the teachers, came up to the elders to wish them Happy New Year. How delightful these grandmas and grandpas felt in their hearts! Little soldiers made big contributions! The standup comedy Greetings on New Year’s Day performed by teacher Wu and her daughter also made the elders smiled from ear to ear. What’s more, our talented students and teachers added color to today’s activity by their dance and martial art, which they only practiced 3 times! Parents stood by and watched, attracted by the events. The Guanyin Hall was full of warmth and energy. Having watching the shows, it was time for some brainy work. The last event, raffle, hosted by teacher Peng, was unbelievably wonderful. All the elders were full of dharma joy.

The Spring Festival activities ended amidst meal-concluding chanting. The elders left for home carrying fine gifts and full of dharma joy. Looking at Guanyin Hall that had resumed quietness, I sent my silent wishes for the elders：may they be in good health; may they often stay with the Buddhas.