Ancestors Memorial Dharma Function at Fo Guang Shan

As according to Chinese Agrarian calendar, days of honoring our ancestors and celebrating the New Year, the annual spring time Ancestors Memorial Dharma Function were held inside the Pagoda on the afternoon of 27th January.

Venerable Abbess Manshin led a congregation of 90 to perform prostrations according to the recitation of “88 Buddha Repentance Text” and personally recited the “Merits to the Deceased Mandate”. Everyone purified their body and mind from sincere repentance and transferred this merit to release our ancestors from unfortunate circumstances, thus expressing our filial piety. Afterwards the Abbess talked about a respectfully solemn Dharma function’s ability to touch people’s heart. Besides requiring a high standard of chanting scriptures during a Dharma function, everyone should also mindfully follow the function’s ceremonial procedures, such as prostrations. This will allow the whole proceeding to be in accordance with the Dharma and decorum, thus appropriate as the condition to liberation sentient beings. All of whom that are alive and passed on will receive joy. It is hoped that all can increase their wisdom from each Dharma function.