Peaceful Ceremonies on a Special Day
Around 130 guests gathered at Fo Guang Shan South Island NZ on April 9th for the grand religious ceremony of Buddha’s Birthday and Bathing the Buddha. Although without the extra activities and crowd-drawing cultural performances featured in past years, this year's ceremony gave a different atmosphere, celebrating precious life and inner peace. The annual Baby Blessing Ceremony also took place. Around 30 babies and over 70 parents and relatives took part in this ceremony. Venerable Abbess Manshin led the participants in the chanting of “Heart Sutra” and gave blessings with the “Prayers for New Born Babies” written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. The Abbess blessed all babies for their wisdoms, to be compassionate, to be filial to their parents and to contribute to society.
The Taking Refuge of Triple Gem and Five Precepts ceremony involved a total of 36 devotees. 19 of them were receiving precepts for the first time; the other 17 renewed their precepts. The participants included members from Fo Guang Shan North Island NZ. Everyone felt peace in taking refuge and receiving precepts in the dignified Buddhist temple, especially on Buddha's Birthday. The youngest participant was 12-year-old Chris Wong, whose family first came to the temple in last year's Buddha's Birthday Festival and has since been active in temple activities. Except for his father who is overseas, his mother, sister and brother all took Refuge and received precepts.
Venerable Abbess Manshin represented Grand Master Hsing Yun in this ceremony. The meaning and merits of Taking Refuge of Triple Gems were explained to the participants. Buddha is like a bright light shining through dark, Dharma is like water cleansing the mind, and Sangha is like a field with directions; with the blessing and understanding of the Triple Gems, we can live a more worthy and meaningful life. The devotees felt moved and touched by the teachings, accepted the refuge and precepts, and vowed to be a Buddha's Light devotee, to protect and sustain the teaching of Buddha in New Zealand.