Buddha’s Light Offering Dharma Function

Fo Guang Shan (FGS) south Island New Zealand held 2012 Buddha’s Light Offering Dharma Function on 3rd February, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin led approximately 70 devotees in chanting “Guan Yin Bodhisattva Sutra” and Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s “Prayer for Light Offering”. While chanting the Guan Yin Bodhisattva, devotees were offering the light and marked the new page of hope and blessings for the year of 2012.

Abbess Manshin explained the three Nirvana merits of the Buddha to devotees which are: First, Dharma body merit means the origin of the spiritual form will never change. We must know what our truth forms were before our parents gave birth to us, also understanding which ever realm that we reside in won’t interrupt the joy of enlightenment; Second, Prajna Merit is the wisdom which is beyond the three realms, Buddha has entered Nirvana and has escaped the burdens that exist among us. From a verse of the Heart Sutra, “perceives the five aggregates are empty,” knowing that all beings and phenomenon are a temporary combination of elements and are impermanent; Third, Relief merit confirms three dharma seals which are: “all phenomenon are impermanent, all dharma consists of selflessness, the eternity of nirvana”, immune from the attack or seduction of the three poisons and five hindrances, by eliminating doubt and fulfilling the truth wisdom.

After the dharma talk, the devotees set a goal for this New Year, willing to learn Buddha’s three merits as their role-model, by purifying the actions of body, mouth and mind and; by reciting the precepts, concentration and wisdom; to become truthful BLIA members.