February 07, 2008
This crisp February morning, the sun shined brightly- its breath of life reunited once again with the earth. As usual, the Buddhists of Avatamsaka Society are welcomed in with the uplifting atmosphere of vibrant colors adorning every wall and corner of the temple. Each table had gifts of tangerines
delicately placed in intervals, awaiting the arriving guests. But today was no ordinary day. Today was the toast to the beginning of yet another new year. Flowers, blessed red envelopes and mountains of offerings and food were additions to every shrine. Somehow, one could sense the glowing energy and good spirits pouring in from every person. And it was beautiful.
Every direction one turned were smiling faces, bowing as they wished one another a healthy, happy new year. Volunteers busily shuffled about, lending helping hands. However, with so much going on, everything miraculously turned out in an organized fashion.
The temple service began at nine o’clock with group chant from a cedar-brown prayer book. The Master lit several large candles while volunteers helped to light the remaining ones. Each heart-shaped candle was contained in stained-glass cups. Every candle carried the name of a donating Buddhist. Symbolically, the lighting was a blessing for a safe coming year. Simultaneously, many voices blended together as one as our honorable Master and Shi-Fu’s led the ceremony with an enlightening energy we all yearn to learn from. As we chanted, we kneeled and bowed; the hearts in prayer safely brought in Buddhists travelling to the temple. They trickled in and gracefully joined the expanding number of followers.
The first part of service came to rest within an hour and resumed at 10:30 a.m. as our Master gave a heartfelt lecture about the meaning of New Year, laughed along with the listeners as she told amusing stories, and taught us about some Buddhist philosophy. She carefully selected several passages from the chant book and explained the significance of them.
Our normal prayer service continued after eleven, with an outstanding turnout of guests. We proceeded to chant from a powder-pink book. During the ceremony, our Master kneeled and offered incense to each Buddha seated upon their garnished shrine. It ended as persons from each side of the room turned to bow to each other.
Following the ceremony, our guests were quickly seated. The pleasant aroma that had spread throughout the room revealed a plethora of vegetarian food prepared by donators. Our kind volunteers and Shi-Fu’s efficiently served everybody and ensured that each person received a hearty amount of New Year’s lunch. Vegetables, potato soup, noodles, Chinese pancakes, tofu and red bean soup were amongst the variety of exceptionally appetizing dishes. As to carry on tradition, our Shi-Fu’s and Master concluded the morning by distributing red envelopes that had been blessed prior to the ceremonies.
Indeed, today was a special, eventful day. Not only was it special because it was the first day of a New Year, but it was extraordinary because it is a reminder of the goodness people bring when they congregate. For the individual, it is a day to be a part of everybody’s lives and to experience all the positive energy emitted from the friends all around us. Truly, each person left with wealth. This wealth was the finding of a little more of the Buddha within themselves and the gaining of sharing with others.
二月七日美國華嚴蓮社農曆大年初一上午舉行共修會，虔誦彌勒三經，分四支香進行，上午第一支香後住持天因法師帶領大眾向佛菩薩拜年，並為信眾講解如何向不同身份的人拜年，如師父、居士、長輩及晚輩等，聽後信眾反應熱烈。中午午供特別熱鬧，前來拜齋的人很多，雖然在美國過中國年，一般人都要上班，但由於應節，上班族尤其是中國人都認為大年初一要持齋，所以紛紛利用午飯時間到就近的寺廟拜菩薩，用素齋，祈求來年順風順水，吉祥如意，當天來的人潮都是附近灣區及 Fremont的上班族。在蓮社舊樓重修的期間，沒有廚房可用之際，承蒙十方信眾發心發願護寺護僧，輪流供養法會午齋，當天是一條龍餐廳老闆供養大眾麵食及芝麻大餅，願佛菩薩加被新春頭一天開始，人人能依止三寶地，享用三寶飯；以資養色身，更長養法身。