Celebrating Joyfully the Second Day of Chinese New Year at FGS South Island
From 11th to 13th February 2021, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island held a series of Chinese New Year activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year, attracting 1,300 people from Christchurch and Chairman of the New Zealand Race Relations Committee Meng Foon was also present to offer his congratulations. Other than the Chinese populace and the local Kiwis, many Vietnamese also came to the Temple to join in the celebration. For the three-day celebration, in addition to flower and candle offerings, striking of the Bell of Happiness, praying at the Buddha Hall, Sutra transcription and picking of Word of Dharma Wisdom, special Chinese New Year programs, such as lion dance, palace-dance performance, and distribution of sweets by God of Wealth, were arranged by FGS South Island .
On the second day of the Chinese New Year, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi led 60 devotees in a New Year Prayer Session, chanting The 88 Buddhas’ Great Repentance Verses and Master Hsing Yun’s Prayer for Chinese New Year. In her speech, Venerable Jue Xi said: "Buddha is like light, Dharma is like water and Sangha is like field. This year, Master Hsing Yun’s New Year calligraphic couplets Cultivate a Heart that Blooms in All Seasons encourage us to plant the seeds of joy, so that we can later enjoy the blooming of the flowers of joy. May the Buddha's light shine everywhere, filling our days with bright positive energy."
At the Light Show on the night of the second day of Chinese New Year, FGS New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin presented auspicious red packets and buns to the audience. More than 250 people were present to receive Abbess’s blessings. In her speech, Venerable Abbess Manshin said: "Through the holding of the Chinese New Year celebrations, FGS would like to convey Master Hsing Yun’s love to the public, and at the same time, to add more colours and joys to the City of Christchurch. Often, people come to the Temple to participate in activities beneficial to their bodies and minds, in essence, to practise the 3 Good Deeds and 4 Givings concept advocated by FGS, spreading the message of love and kindness to Society in the process."
The wonderful activities of the night made the audience, especially the local residents, feel warm and joyful. The Chairman of the New Zealand Race Relations Committee Meng Foon said in his speech: "It is precious that FGS South Island holds such a grand cultural celebration for the people of Christchurch. I hope everyone will practise FGS's Three Good Deeds and Four Givings concept and build a peaceful Society. I would like to wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year!"
New Zealand citizen Kerry Baas was amazed by the special New Year programs arranged by the Temple, especially the lion dance and Qing Dynasty Princess dance performance, which had enabled her to experience the beautiful Chinese culture, and which had allowed her to spend an unforgettable Chinese New Year. Hailey Williams, a young New Zealander, was deeply interested in Sutra transcription, and was very happy to have tasted the delicious bun handed out to him. Argentine young man Santiago De Ponti was very happy to have travelled to New Zealand and come to the Temple to experience the Chinese New Year atmosphere. He was delighted to be able to enjoy the lion dance and the palace-dance performance and to receive the auspicious red packet and bun.