The Qing Ming Dharma Assembly for the year 2003 was held with much reverence and grandeur as devotees flock to the Than Hsiang Temple to celebrate the event. The event lasted for about 5 hours from 1pm to 6pm in the evening.

Devotees started arriving at about noon and were ushered into the hall on the fifth floor to pay their respects to the departed. The 3 session Pureland chanting ceremony lead by Ven. Wei Wu started at about 1pm. At the end of the first session, Ven. Wei Wu gave a dharma talk and he also narrated a historical event which unfolds the origin of the celebration of Qing Ming.

In his talk the venerable stressed that the purpose for having a Qing Ming Dharma Assembly was to develop gratitude to our parents and ancestors and to transfer merits to departed ancestors and relatives.

The program of this retreat includes dharma talks in addition to chanting, paying homage to the Buddha, Buddha name recitation, circumbulation and observance of silence and repentance.

Other activities include coaching sessions on Buddhist etiquette, such as the correct way of wearing the “hai qing”, holding joss stick, paying homage to the Buddha such as bowing, circumbulating and chanting.

We should also offer special prayer and transfer merits to victims of the Iraq war and those who are infected by the SARS virus. We should in fact transfer merits to all sentient beings who had been our parents before.