2012 CNY Thousand Buddha Dharma Function

To celebrate and welcoming the year of Dragon, on 23rd January Fo Guang Shan (FGS) south island New Zealand held a Chinese New Year Thousand Buddha Dharma Function. More than 80 BLIA members and devotees came to attend. Temple supervisor Venerable Jue Xi led everyone in chanting the heart sutra and Venerable master Hsing Yun’s “Prayer for Chinese New Year”. Venerable led devotees to celebrate the Chinese New Year with Buddha, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, FGS current Abbot Venerable Hsing Pei, FGS New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin.

Since this is the year of dragon, Venerable Jue Xi explained how and why the heavenly protectors had become dharma protector. She also taught devotees how to change their karma, life and luck of ourselves. By changing the bad karma to good and learning how to protect and blessing people around. She explained “wealth is type of merit; spending it wisely is a wisdom” by knowing the act of offering will grant us the merit. She also encouraged everyone to help each other and broader our inner energy, brighter our life with more passion. Later, devotees continue to offer incense to the Buddha, temple distributed the longevity bun and calligraphy to the devotees.

In the afternoon, a lot of local were coming for lunch. Tea house also come out with Chinese New Year daily special for customers to order. The Chinese New Year Culture exhibition and auspicious Lion dance brought out the joyful atmosphere of the eastern New Year. Approximately 200 devotees and customers came to the temple either to celebrate the Chinese New Year or having lunch in our Tea House.