Venerated Ancestors Honoured at the Pagoda – Wholesome Karmic Connections within the Lotus

On the afternoon of 21st February at 2:00pm, a solemn Dharma function for Venerating Honoured Ancestors was held within the Pagoda. Under the leadership of North Island BLIA chairperson Dolly Tsai, 40 members of BLIA including committee, Trustee, and youths installed Veneration plaques to honour their respective fore-bearers and Ancestors, thus fulfilling their duties of filial piety. Venerable Abbess officiated the ceremony by leading the recitation of “Amitabha Sutra” and respectfully chanting Amitabha Buddha’s holy name.

Afterwards the Abbess gave a Dharma talk about the preceding ceremony. For this Auspicious cloud filled congregation to gather and install plaques to venerate one’s honoured ancestors, everyone must have a heart of filial piety. Due to the protection of our ancestors we are able to live happy fulfilled lives. Hence we should be mindful of these wonderful causes and conditions with a heart of gratitude and cherishment, thus transferred merits back to our forbearers. The Abbess further taught everyone the different levels of filial piety:

1. Satisfy all of our parent’s material needs, so they will never have to worry.
2. By doing great deeds and contributing to the wider public, our parents will be praised and feel proud of our achievements.
3. Allowing our parents to realise the Dharma, thus transcending the suffering of birth and death.

Today everyone housed their ancestors within the Pagoda with a sincere heart, where they can listen to the recitation of Buddhist sutras every day, thus reaping merits for both deceased and living. The Pagoda’s structure emphasises respect for life, which will touch the heart of all who enters. This place allows the ones who has passed on to have a slice of Pure Land to abide in, where they can listen to the Dharma.

Chairperson Dolly Tsai expressed that it’s very fortunate to be at this wondrous event with so many good men and women. Where all venerated their honoured ancestors with a heart of gratitude toward the protective support they’ve given us. It is hoped that everyone present will be able to meet again at future Maitreya Buddha’s Dragon Flower Triple Assemblies. Many other prominent disciples within this congregation also thanked the many wholesome conditions available to allow the successful completion of this noble service, and the pure abode provided by the Pagoda for their ancestors.