Mother’s Day Dharma Function and Refuge Taking Ceremony

On the morning of 12th May Sunday, Fo Guang Shan held a special Dharma function to celebrate Mother’s Day and also a “Refuge Taking the under the Triple Gem” ceremony. On the day 40 new Refuge takers were welcomed to become new disciples of the Buddha, with expressions of gratitude and appreciation toward the Buddha, the temple, and all mothers in the world. Under the guidance of Venerable Abbess Manshin, a congregation of 150 recited the “Sutra on the Difficulty in Repaying the Profound Kindness of Parents”, “Prayers and wishes for Mother’s Day” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and paid homage.

The Abbess gave a Dharma talk regarding “Benefits of taking Refuge under the Triple Gem”:

1. The Buddha is like the light, as light is able to give us illumination and warmth. Hence the Buddha’s light is able to give illumination to all sentient beings when their mind is confused, and give warmth to a world that is cold.
2. Dharma is like the water, as water allows growth, quench thirst and wash away stains. Hence the Dharma water can allow our wisdom life to grow, can quench our spiritual thirst, and wash away our Karmic transgressions committed since timeless.
3. Sangha is like a crop field, as a crop field can be sow, planted and yield harvest. The Sangha’s field of merit can help us sow inner purity, allow us to plant abilities and merits, and of course allows us to receive the harvest of wholesome cause and conditions.

Taking refuge under the Buddha is like building a power generating company in our mind. Taking refuge under the Dharma is like establishing a water supplying reservoir in our mind. Taking refuge under the Sangha is like sowing a fertile field. Taking refuge under the Triple Gem is like us becoming our own masters, illuminating a light within our heart, and accumulating Dharma water within to nurture the fruit of our wisdom. Everyone present listened attentively to explanations regarding taking refuge, thus increasing faith and confidence, nourished by the Dharma water and continue to cultivation and strength the Triple Gem within our Intrinsic Nature.