With the sound of the bell and our sincere prayers, we welcomed in Chinese New Year; with the Ceremony of Six Offerings, we cultivated blessings and wisdom. Lingyen Mountain Temple held the Ringing the Bell Blessing Service on the evening of January 31st (Chinese New Year’s Eve) and held the Spring Auspicious Blessings Dharma Service from February 1st to 3rd to pray for auspiciousness, peace and safety for the world, and early resolution of the pandemic. Both of these Dharma Services were open to in-person attendance by reservation, and were simultaneously streamed online.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve, apart from the Buddha Hall service which required reservation, the temple also designed a “Visitation Order” for visitors, including ten zones where visitors could offer incense, pay homage to the Buddha, make wishes and pray for blessings. Ten pathways were put in place in the outdoor Guan Yin Gazebo courtyard, which is usually only open to the public on Sundays, so that everyone could offer incense and ask for a divination in an orderly manner. There was also a Lamp Offering and Wish-Making event in the courtyard. Two walls were placed on either side of the Guan Yin Gazebo, where visitors could write their New Year’s wishes on a card and tie it onto the wall. The walls were filled with the hopes of the visitors, as they prayed for Guan Yin Bodhisattva to fulfill their wishes.

The Hall of 18 Arhats was one of the highlights of this year’s event. It is stated in the sutras that Arhats are the disciples who received the Buddha’s final instructions to spread the Buddhadharma and benefit sentient beings in this world. The temple enshrined the statues of the 18 Arhats in the Hall on the main floor, for visitors to make offerings and cultivate blessings. It is recorded in the sutras that sincerely making offerings to the Arhats can help us eliminate the afflictions in our lives, and plant seeds in the field of blessings.

At the exit area, the temple prepared protective souvenirs, Noodles of Peace, and Fruits of Auspiciousness to give to all visitors, as a way to express our best wishes for each and every person. Approximately 1,000 visitors came to the temple on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Under the direction of the Masters and volunteers, the entire event proceeded in a very orderly manner. As the pandemic continues, our hearts came together to pray for peace, safety, auspiciousness and fulfilment of our wishes in the New Year.

During the 3-day Spring Auspicious Blessings Dharma Service, we recited the Sutra of Auspiciousness every day, and respectfully presented offerings of incense, flowers, lights, perfume, fruits, and music. The Masters of the temple presented the offerings on behalf of the benefactors, expressing their respect and sincerity to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. On the final day of the service, the Venerable Abbot of the temple, Dharma Master Tze Cheng, discussed how from the past to the present, people have had the habit of searching externally for solutions to things that are beyond their control. In midst the widespread value placed on fame and profit in this world, it is easy to lose sight of our true selves. How do we move towards a path of true auspiciousness in life? Throughout the three days of reciting the Sutra of Auspiciousness along with the Masters, the Buddha offers us simple verses that remind us of how to conduct ourselves in our lives. We hope that we will all take inspiration from this sutra and begin to readjust our values and attitudes, establish right views, understanding and contemplation, live with right mindfulness, and cultivate both blessings and wisdom.