Transferring Merits for Safety from COVID-19 Outbreak by FGS South Island Devotees
In response to the call by Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Headquarters to FGS devotees Worldwide to carry out 10 million recitals of Heart Sutra to seek safety from the COVID-19 outbreak, FGS South Island encouraged its devotees to recite the ‘Heart Sutra’ at home, and to record the number of recitals on Cultivation Cards or the Worldwide Heart Sutra Chanting Register. On Saturday 29th February 2020, a Dharma function was held in FGS South Island Temple for the recital of the Heart Sutra, and to transfer FGS South Island devotees’ cumulated merits to seek for safety from the pandemic.
FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi first led the devotees in chanting the Heart Sutra and this was followed by the recital of Master Hsing Yun’s Prayer to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva for Safety from the COVID-19 Outbreak. The devotees chanted the Heart Sutra piously, concentrating their good thoughts in their prayers for the wellbeing of the public. After the Dharma session, a video presentation of the Ceremony on the Transfer of Merits at FGS HQ was shown to the South Island congregation. The video presentation covered the actual scene of the Dharma Function at FGS HQ, and included, in addition, the presentations of Master Hsing Yun’s Words of Wisdom and the Speech by the Chief Abbot of FGS Venerable Hsin Bao. The South Island congregation were moved and delighted by this video presentation.
In her address to the congregation, Venerable Jue Xi reported the following important contributions carried out by FGS HQ for the pandemic, namely, organising FGS Worldwide to deliver 2 million masks to Wuhan China, and getting its devotees from all over the World to recite 25 million rounds of Heart Sutra as prayers for the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this aspect, FGS South Island devotees contributed 15,000 recitals of Heart Sutra. Venerable Jue Xi mentioned that, though the pandemic has badly affected all of us, we might, through the recitals of Heart Sutra, acquire positive strength to face the outbreak. The recital of the Heart Sutra will lessen our fear, confusion and daydreaming, and if we are not troubled by fear and are positive in our approach, we will win this battle with the pandemic.
Finally, Venerable Jue Xi presented gifts to two devotees who have chanted more than one thousand rounds of the Heart Sutra, Louisa Kou and Kok-Wei Low. The 2 devotees then thanked FGS for the affinity to take part in this meaningful activity which also helps them in their own Dharma cultivations. They hoped that everyone can make an effort to recite the Heart Sutra to help the World overcome the pandemic.