Hundreds Participated in FGS NZ’s Online Qing Ming Dharma Function

Fo Guang Shan (FGS) New Zealand hosted the annual Qing Ming Dharma Function on 29th March 2020. Due to the continued worsening situation, New Zealand is currently at Level 4 of the Covid-19 Alert system. The Temples are now temporarily closed to the public. As such, the devotees were unable to come to the Temple to participate in the Qing Ming Dharma Function in person. To overcome this problem, FGS North Island webcasted the Dharma Function allowing FGS South Island Temple residents and Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island members and  devotees from FGS New Zealand, Taiwan and Malaysia to participate in the event simultaneously online.

At the start, FGS NZ Abbess Venerable Manshin and Venerables from FGS North Island led the Dharma Function in chanting the "Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance". Through the internet, participating devotees followed Abbess and Venerables in reciting the prayers and dedicated the merits to their ancestors, all the past life karmic creditors and to the victims of Covid-19 pandemic, deceased or living.

FGS South Island Temple residents and participating BLIA South Island members were moved and thankful that they were able to take part in such a grand and solemn Qing Ming Dharma Function even though they were in the lockdown situation. They were grateful to Abbess for her compassion and noble intent in giving this rare opportunity to the public to share in the benefits. Let us hope that with the concerted praying by people from every corner of the World, we would be able subdue and eliminate this tenacious Covid-19 pandemic as soon as possible, so that prosperity can be restored to the Society.