FGS Auckland New Year's Day Pilgrimage

Upon the rising of the sun on the 1st of January 2023, more than 160 devotees gathered at Fo Guang Shan Auckland participating in the morning pilgrimage to welcome the new year.

Participants began performing 3 steps and 1 prostration at 6:30am, chanting the name of Sakyamuni Buddha while wishing for world peace and health. After everyone entered the Main Shrine, FGS NZ Abbess Manshin led the congregation to recite the Heart Sutra and Prayers and Wishes for Pilgrimage by Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

Abbess gave everyone a gift of Venerable Master's new year couplet, May Benevolence and Harmony Bring Peaceful Well Being. Let Abundance and Joy Yield Auspiciousness in Our Lives. Abbess elaborated that, having compassion in the heart and relying on the Dharma will bring wealth and well-being. Participants also received Auspicious New Year Red Packets from the Abbess as a blessing from the Temple. 

"What can I do for you?” Abbess quoted Master's earnest question after his brain surgery, encouraging the crowd to ponder: "what can we contribute to our nation, and to the public?" During the subsequent Dharma talk, Abbess highlighted that as a student of the Buddha, one can live a life with wisdom by taking care of our physical, verbal and mental and practice the 4 Givings: Give others Hope, Joy, Confidence and Convenience. Then Abbess reminded that if we live with a righteous mindset, pure-land will be all around us. 

In addition, the Temple also prepared Laba Congee as breakfast for the participants, wishing everyone to gain wisdom and become enlightened. Furthermore, Minister in Charge of FGS Auckland Venerable Rulian led the devotees to transcribe the Heart Sutra, and encouraged everyone to work together to build a better society by nurturing a heart of joy, gratitude, and compassion, as well as following the Bodhisattva's practice.