Celebrating Chinese New Year Eve in FGS NZ

On the 11st of February evening, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland held a Chinese New Year Eve celebration which include a New Year’s Eve Dharma Function, Prayer from Venerable Master, Lion Dance, Incense Offerings, presentation of Auspicious New Year’s Red Packet, Striking the Bell of Happiness as well as vegetarian food fair. Exhibition halls and each Shrines also filled with Chinese New Year decoration to welcome the public.

From 7 pm in the evening, the public started come into the Temple, offering incense and light to the Buddha, and praying for domestic peace and wellbeing. The temple also prepared hand sanitizers at each entrance to facilitate the public to maintain hygiene.

At 9pm, Abbess of FGS NZ Abbess Manshin led the Dharma Function, and bow to the Buddha, Master Hsing Yun, FGS Chief Abbot Venerable Xin Bao, and FGS New Zealand Abbess Manshin, in appreciation of their guidance in the past year.

Abbess shared that, Cultivate a Heart that Blooms in All Seasons is the New Year Dharma words that Venerable Master Hsing Yun offers to the people. Abbess pointed out that we need to plant the virtuous seeds, water them by the repentance Dharma Stream, and fertilise the minefield by good nutrients and inspire the heart by the wisdom. She appreciated the efforts of BLIA members and volunteers to serve the public.

Christopher Luxon, MP for Botany, expressed his gratitude towards Abbess Manshin and the Temple team, for the great work to promote and practice 3G4G everyday reaching out to the community. He also commented the Chinese community have made tremendous contribution to New Zealand, therefore Chinese New Year is a very important time to say thank you. 2021 will be a very good opportunity to take stock and reflect on the mantra the Master has given us around Cultivating a Heart that Blooms in All Seasons.

Inspector Rakesh Naidoo delivered the auspicious new year wishes in Chinese and Maori languages on behalf of Commissioner and the Police colleagues. He highlighted that New Zealand is one of the most peaceful and diverse countries in the world and social harmony is the collective achievement of everyone’s effort. We are also fortunate to have organizations like FGS that have worked in partnership with the New Zealand Police as well as other governing agencies to build harmonious relations.

Senior Sergeant Police Anson Lin shared, it is the first time in the history that the police officers from Otara participate in the New Year’s Eve Lion Dance performance. Anson said that it has always been a great honour to be invited by Abbess and able to participate in the activities at the Temple. Hope the Lion Dance can pass the message of joy and peace to everyone.

Abbess thanked the Manukau Police Office for its support and encouraged the public to maintain a close cooperation with the police and different government sectors, so that we can contribute to a safe and harmonious community.