‘Ching Ming’ Dharma Function For FGS South Island
On 31st March 2018, FGS South Island held its ‘Ching Ming’ Dharma Function for the year 2018. The function was presided by Fo Guang Shan (FGS) NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin who led a congregation of over 80 devotees in “Diamond sutra Repentance Service”. The devotees piously carried out the prayer and performed flower offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. They prayed for good fortune, wisdom, peace and happiness, and at the same time, prayed for their ancestors’ salvation to the Pure Land.
Later, Abbess took to the floor to enlighten the devotees. She congratulated the congregation for their good affinity to take part in this auspicious Dharma Function and listen to Dharma teaching. This is because as human beings, we have good memory, and also possess the ability to dissect, analyses and accept dharma teaching, whereas the celestial beings are not so lucky. Due to the lack of memory, celestial beings will face 20 difficulties in similar endeavor. Venerable Abbess also stated that even beings possessing supernatural power will have to depend on Dharma wisdom and kindness to guide them so that they would not deviate and divert into evil wrong path. In the Buddhist context, only beings with supernatural power who have overcome their afflictions, are the ones able to see and understand things in their true forms. Abbess encouraged everyone to learn Buddhism by acquiring Buddha’s wisdom, and putting in his own effort to become the wise one, following closely Buddha’s footsteps.
Abbess saw the show of filial piety displayed by the devotees and hoped that this ‘Ching Ming’ Dharma Function, would be able to allow the deceased ancestors and beings in the other realms to listen to the dharma and then taking the wisdom and right mindedness with them to their next lives. Abbess encouraged the devotees to seize the opportunity to participate in the 2019 Australia Nan Tien Temple Water Land Dharma function. At the same time, in June 2018, FGS South Island will organise Water Land Dharma function – Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma service and FGS North Island will, in July 2018, Amitadbha Cultivation Dharma function. These two Dharma Functions will help to avoid hardships and disasters in New Zealand. The devotees were also invited to the coming South Island Buddha’s Birthday celebration where there will be a performance by Taipei Dun Huang Dance Group.