2014 New Year’s Day Pilgrimage and Sutra Transcription

The 2014 Pilgrimage commenced at Fo Guang Shan North Island on 1st January at 6:00am. More than 300 devotees performed‘3 steps and 1 prostration’ from front gate all the way to the Main Shrine, following chants of “Homage to Sakyamuni Buddha”. Therefore receiving blessings of good health and purified minds for the brand new year.

After everyone gathered within the Main Shrine under choruses of the Buddha’s name, Venerable Abbess Manshin led the congregation to recite the Heart Sutra and “Prayers and Wishes for Pilgrimage” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. All merits generated were subsequently transferred to sentient beings within the Dharma realm, thereby completing the Pilgrimage.

During the subsequent Dharma talk, the Abbess spoke about all the wondrous causes and conditions, as well as everyone’s perseverance that necessitated this pilgrimage. This not only added value to our lives, but hardship can also provide the sustenance for our growth. Hardship is beneficial for us, for if one can endure it, we can become our own benefactor and possess behaviour that can be easily accepted by others. New Year’s Day Pilgrimage is a Fo Guang Shan tradition that allows us to discover the heart of Ch’an. It also enables us to become an easy going person of faith, that is clear headed and grateful. The Abbess reminded everyone that all things and phenomenon arises due to coming together of the necessary causes and conditions. For the most valuable thing in life is wisdom and the most precious thing is life itself, so we should exercise these cherished qualities to their utmost potential. Through which we should cultivate an attitude of serving others and ensure the Right Dharma can remain in this world.

The Abbess gave everyone the year’s well wishes by introducing Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s 2014 couplet “Noble Steed Gallops into a Bright Future”. She encouraged all to learn according to Venerable Master’s spirit of “being busy”, where as “busy” can be absorbed as nourishment that allows us to counteract stress and increase magnanimity. Venerable Master’s “2014 Letter to Dharma Protectors and Friends” is also encouraged to be read by everyone, thereby wishing all to enrich their lives.

At 9:00am, 160 devotees followed the Abbess to transcribe “Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra” inside Xiang Yun Hall. Afterwards the Abbess expressed that Sutra transcription is a good meditative practice. During the process one can contemplate the words and personally experience the intended meaning behind these noble lines, which can positively transform the negativity in our minds. These transcribed Sutras can be upheld by oneself, given to others, listen to its contents read out by others, recite it by oneself, and teaching it’s meaning to other, so this is the unexcelled Dharma Offering. Just like the Pilgrimage and breakfast earlier, these are all good methods of cultivation.

Afterwards a Dharma Function was held inside the Main Shrine at 10:00am, where the “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Universal Gate Chapter” and “Prayers and Wishes to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun was chanted. Another year’s Pilgrimage was then successfully fulfilled.