Year End Avatamsaka Sutra Recitation and Cultivation Dharma Service
The Avatamsaka Sutra or the Flower Adornment Sutra demonstrates Buddha’s endless virtues and wisdom through Samantabhadra, Manjushri and other Bodhisattvas in Nine Assemblies and Seven Places. Huayen Lotus Society has been hosting the Avatamsaka Sutra chanting ceremony twice a year, every year since 1957, following the direction of Master Nan Ting, the Abbot at the time.
In response to the pandemic of COVID-19 and its variants, and to prevent the transmission of the virus among religious communities, the “2022 Year End Avatamsaka Sutra Recitation and Cultivation Dharma Service” has been changed to a One-Month Intensive Practice, starting from 12/11/2022 to 1/8/2023 (on the last day of 1/8/2023: Dedication of Merits & Burning Name Plates). Please contact our office for more detailed information.
ABLS has opened the Buddha Hall on Sunday starting from November 6, 2022. Please make an appointment to participate inside. The Food Offering Ceremony should still be joined outside because of the high volume of visitors. Lunch is not offered during the pandemic.
From Monday to Saturday:
The inside of Buddha Hall will open 10:00 – 15:00 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday;
The courtyard outside of Buddha Hall will open 10:00 – 15:00 Tuesday to Saturday;
The Welcome Court, Dining Hall, Library and other areas are not open to the public yet.
Lectures such as Expounding the Avatamsaka Sutra are held on ZOOM as before.
Office operates as usual. Our regular hours are 9:30 – 16:00 Tuesday to Sunday. You can call the office at 408-942-0874, send your request by mail, email info@huayenusa.org , contact us through our official website https://www.huayenusa.org/contact-us , drop-off, or register in person. We will be glad to be of further assistance.
In addition, registration has begun for the new year of 2023: year-long offering to the Triple Gem, blessing plates for the living, light offerings to Buddhas, pacifying Tai Sui (for the birth year of the Rabbit, Rooster, Mouse, Horse, Dragon) and blessing plates for the deceased. To download application forms, please visit: http://www.huayenusa.org/intro-abls/app-forms.
Bodhi Day Dharma Service
On Sunday December 25th, 2022 (December 3th, Lunar Calendar), ABLS will celebrate Bodhi Day, which commemorates the day when Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, attained enlightenment. Starting at 9:00AM, there will be Liturgy of Shakyamuni Buddha, chanting of the Shurangama Mantra (incantation) and the Heart Sutra, vigorous prostration practice, and light offering for wisdom and prosperity. The Food Offering Ceremony will be conducted at noon. Starting again at 1:30PM, the assembly will chant the Aspiration of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra and Avatamsaka Syllabary. For evening recitation, there will be Eighty-Eight Buddha Repentance, Meng Shan Food Bestowal Ceremony (Food for the passed away) and dedication of merits to all.
