FGS Auckland Celebrating CNY and Welcomes the Year of Tiger
To welcome the arrival of the Lunar New Year, FGS Auckland opened its doors on New Year's Eve, 31st January 2022. FGS NZ Abbess Manshin led the BLIA members to create and prepare auspicious incenses collectively, Chinese New Year red packets, and a very fulfilling variation of vegetarian foods to facilitate the public to cultivate compassion during the year.
Abbess Manshin, together with the Temple team and various groups, have been meeting continuously and persistently for days to plan the movement of all areas, including the parking area and shrines. This is to ensure the control of the number of visitors, the scanning of vaccination passes, and divert the flow of people efficiently and carefully. The local Ormiston Police Station had also sent police officers to escort the public to ensure a safe and secure New Year.
In the Chinese New Year Dharma Service, Abbess shared Venerable Master Hsing Yun's new year blessing words, May All Beings Live Without Fear and Coexist in Peace. She represented the FGS New Zealand monastery to give out nearly 8000 auspicious Chinese New Year red packets to the public as a blessing for the year.
On 1st February 2022, at 7 am on the first day of the Chinese New Year, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland welcomed all the people who came to offer incense, light up praying lights, and pray for blessings. Everyone kept a safe distance and wore masks as they waited patiently to enter the Temple.
FGS NZ Abbess led the CNY Dharma Service to recite sutras, offer lights, and read the "A Prayer for the New Year" by Venerable Master, praying for good fortune for family, social harmony, and the early elimination of the pandemic.
Abbess said that the constant and continuous flow of people coming into the Temple during the New Year had shown the power of faith in people's hearts. She wished the public to expand their hearts, grow in compassion and wisdom, and raise their Bodhi Mind to a higher level in the New Year. Abbess also conveyed Venerable Master's care by giving each attendee an apple to bring home peace and blessings.
The Temple conveyed joy and wisdom to every visitor. The robust New Year atmosphere at the Temple allowed the public in New Zealand to find the strength of their inner faith and welcome a new year full of hope together.