Gratitude with Light Offering on Mother’s Day
To repay all mothers for their kindness and strength, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island had conducted “Mother’s Day Light Offering Dharma Function and Celebration” on the May 6, 7.00pm. Venerable Abbess Manshin first led over 60 Buddhist Light International Association (BLIA) South Island members and devotees into light offering with the chanting of “The Sutra as Spoken by the Buddha on the Profound Kindness of Parents and the Difficulties in Repaying Them”. It then followed with “A Prayer for Mother’s Day” that was written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Abbess then expressed to all attendees, parents always cared about their child, and the best way to repay parents is to let them live without worries, be proud of them and guide them into the believes of Triple Gems into leaving samsara.
Later on, the Mother’s Day celebration continued at the Dining Hall where BLIA and Young Adult Division (YAD) members invited Abbess and the venerables to join the brilliant performances together. Before the performances started, Venerable Abbess Manshin shared pictures of the newly constructed Lotus Pond Tower at Fo Guang Shan North Island and the idea of design and architecture about the tower. Abbess welcomed everyone to join into the “Purification Ceremony” for the modern designed tower.
The ceremony started with 12 years old Chris and Holy as the Master of Ceremonies. They have first invited BLIA South Island Vice-President, Meihua Chen for a speech. It then continued with the energetic line dance and also a singing performance by BLIA’s pretty mothers. The YAD performed a dance accompanied by the song “Where There’s Dharma, There’s A Way” and hand gestures of the song “Harmonize”. In a touching moment, the mothers and the youths have then expressed their feelings about each other, where the youths have paper folded “Loving Hearts” as special gifts to all mothers.
Lastly, Abbess presented souvenirs to everyone that came on this joyful Mother’s Day and had a cake cutting ceremony with everyone. Abbess wishes everyone into live more meaningful to repay their parents and Mother’s Day Celebration ended with a happy atmosphere.