On the first day of the Lunar New Year in the Year of the Snake, Than Hsiang Temple in Penang was bustling with activity. Than Hsiang temple was bustling with a series of Spring Festival events and activities that will nourish the spiritual mind of all the devotees.
On that day, everyone gathered on the fifth floor to participate in the New Year's Day Buddhist Recitation Retreat. Most Venerable Wei Wu arrived then he personally led everyone in Wu repeatedly reminded us that chanting this Amitabha Buddha's name is to accumulate immeasurable wisdom and blessings. Everyone was immersed in the solemn chanting of the Buddha's name, hoping to open the door to blessings and wisdom.
After that, Most Venerable Wei Wu shared the story of Asanga meeting Maitreya Bodhisattva. When Asanga first entered the Buddhist path, he was determined to meet Maitreya Bodhisattva and seek teachings on the Dharma. So he went to the mountains to do a solitary retreat. Six years passed, but Maitreya Bodhisattva never appeared, and Asanga was disappointed and went down the mountain. On the way down, he saw an old man rubbing an enormous iron bar with a strip of silk, intending to make a needle out of it. Deeply touched, he decided to return and continue his practice.
A long time had passed. Maitreya Bodhisattva still did not appear. Asanga reluctantly went down the mountain for the second time. Soon, he came to a huge rock. At the foot of the rock was a man busily rubbing it with a feather soaked in water. “What are you doing?” Asanga asked. This rock is so big it’s stopping the sun from shining on my house, so I’m trying to get rid of it.” Feeling ashamed again, Asanga returned to the mountain. Three years later, Maitreya Bodhisattva still did not show up, and Asanga went down the mountain for the third time. At this time, he encountered a female dog with whole of the lower part of its body rotting and covering with maggots. Filled with unbearable feeling of compassion, he cut a piece of flesh off his own body and gave it to the dog. Then he bent down to take off the maggots that were consuming the dog’s body. At this time, Maitreya Bodhisattva appeared.
Maitreya Bodhisattva told Asanga that he had always been there, but Asanga’s negative karma and obscuration prevented Asanga from seeing him. This time, Asanga's great compassion had eliminated the obscuration, allowing him to have this encounter. After that, Maitreya Bodhisattva took Asanga to a heavenly realm and there gave him many sublime teachings that were among the most important in Buddhism. When Asanga returned to the human world, fifty - three years had passed. This is a very inspiring story. After the story sharing, the Sangha offered New Year's blessings.
In addition, the canteen team carefully prepared a variety of delicious vegetarian dishes, including curry mee, Roti Jala, Pasembur, spaghetti, Nasi Lemak, Aiyu jelly, sweet soup, Laksa, etc. It is to encourage everyone to eat vegetarian and care for the earth. At the same time, offerings for ancestor worship were also on sale.
Furthermore, from the first day to the ninth day of the lunar new year, there will be a “hit the bell and make a wish” activity in the temple. Everyone can ring the bell to make wishes for everything to go smoothly in the coming year. The donations raised from the bell - ringing will be allocated to the construction fund of Phor Tay High School.
This series of Spring Festival activities not only nourished the spiritual world of everyone but also contributed to social public welfare, and at the same time opened a new chapter full of hope.

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More photos: http://thanhsiang.org/ch/node/6366
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