Every year, during the Ching Ming Festival, Than Hsiang Temple holds the Ching Ming Dharma Assembly. This year, the Dharma assembly was held on 12 April 2026, at the 5th floor of the temple, and was also livestreamed on YouTube.

On that day, in the early morning, volunteers prepared rice, vegetable dishes, and fruits, arranging them neatly on the Pure Land Altar. At the same time, many devotees came to the fifth-floor Pure Land Altar to worship their ancestors.

The Dharma Assembly formally began at 1 p.m. Before the start, the emcee, Chii Chew, made a brief announcement. Then, Venerable Zhen Ru and the Sangha members led everyone in chanting the Three Sessions of Pure Land Chanting, transferring merit to the well-being of the nation and society, as well as to departed ancestors, relatives, friends, and karmic creditors.

Before the end of the first session, Venerable Zhen Ru delivered a Dharma talk, explaining the origin and significance of the Ching Ming Festival, as well as the meaning of the Three Sessions of Pure Land Chanting. After the talk, the emcee invited everyone to the canteen to enjoy the refreshments prepared by the Than Hsiang canteen volunteers. Under the guidance of the volunteers, everyone lined up neatly to receive their food and enjoy it.

At approximately 4 p.m., the second and third sessions of the Pure Land Chanting began and concluded at 6:30 p.m. Throughout the assembly, everyone chanted sincerely with a pious mind, transferring merit.

Meanwhile, the Than Hsiang Canteen volunteers participated in the chanting through YouTube live-streaming, while also mindfully preparing and packing meal boxes for everyone.

As the Dharma Assembly drew to a close, Venerable Zhen Ru gave his final exhortation. He expressed gratitude for the successful completion of the Ching Ming Dharma Assembly and extended thanks to all the Sangha members, staffs, volunteers, and the Than Hsiang canteen team who helped arrange and clean the venue. Furthermore, he reminded everyone that this is also a festival of filial piety. In all conditions, we must hold gratitude in our hearts, skilfully apply the Dharma, and cultivate virtue and wisdom.

In the sutras, Bodhisattvas often teach us to develop the mind of renunciation and to arouse bodhicitta—these are important provisions for learning the Dharma. At the same time, we must cultivate the correct view of emptiness, which is a crucial point in practice that cannot be overlooked.

After the final exhortation, the Sangha members followed Venerable Zhen Ru as he left the hall. The emcee also reminded everyone to collect their meal boxes at the Than Hsiang canteen. Thus, the Ching Ming Dharma Assembly concluded successfully.

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More photos: https://thanhsiang.org/CH/node/6936
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