MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR EARTHQUAKE
VICTIMS IN SICHUAN, CHINA
On the afternoon of May 12, 2008, an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale hit Sichuan Province, a mountainous region in Western China. By the next day, the death toll stood at 12,000, with another 18,000 still missing. Over 15 million people live in the affected area, including almost 4 million in the city of Chengdu. Nearly 2,000 of the dead were students and teachers caught in schools that collapsed.
With the spirit of Bodhisattva exemplifying Buddhist compassion, Abbess Ven. Tien Inn appeal to devotees and to devote to relief in Sichuan for the first time and begun to raise fund for those affected by this tragedy.
On May 18, 2008 2:00pm, ABLS held a memorial service to chant “The Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva” (地藏菩薩本願經) for the victims, more than 120 people participated. The Service ended at 4:30PM. In a few days, altogether, we managed to raise a total of $11,618.00 and was
transferred to Tze Chi Foundation.
Abbess Ven. Tien Inn conducted a memorial service. At the end of the service, Abbess indicated that all things are impermanent and constantly in suffering. ABLS will conduct additional memorial service in the next 6 weeks to complete the 7-week dedication to the deceased. The merits were dedicated to the victims to help them relieve their sufferings and to rebuild their homes. The purpose of the 7-week chanting sessions is to free deceased victims from suffering so that they can soon be reborn in pure land.
