To commemorate the auspicious Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva's Enlightenment Day, Than Hsiang Temple held a series of solemn Buddhist activities at the Great Compassion Hall on the 19th day of the 6th lunar month. These activities were the Noon Offering, Three Refuges and Five Precepts transmission ceremony, and an on-site cultivation of the Universal Gateway Sūtra《普门品》.

Many devotees arrived early at Than Hsiang Temple on that day, sincerely participating in the offerings at the Great Compassion Hall. Some paid homage to the Buddha, offering incense, rice, flowers, oil, salt, fruit and longevity peach buns, while others offered LED lights and made wishes, expressing their respect to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva and seeking her compassionate blessings.

At 10:45 AM, the Noon Offering ceremony officially began, with approximately seventy devotees participating with immense joy. After the ceremony, the Sangha members led everyone to “San Sheng Dian” for the dedication of merits concluding the Noon Offering ceremony.

In the afternoon, around 2:00 PM, Than Hsiang Temple held the transmission ceremony of the Three Refuges and Five Precepts. Before the ceremony, the two emcees demonstrated Buddhist etiquette, such as the proper way to hold the sutra book, kneel, prostrate, and pay homage before the Buddha. Subsequently, the ceremony commenced with the "Incense Offering Praise" and "Great Compassion Mantra," led by the Sangha members.

Venerable Zhen Sheng, the new Abbot of Than Hsiang Temple, delivered a compassionate Dharma talk. Venerable simply elucidated the profound meaning of the Three Refuges, emphasizing that it is not merely the core of faith, but also a life-changing direction. Venerable also explained the meaning of taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, pointing out that taking refuge in the Triple Gem establishes our firm faith in Buddhism and guides our learning of the Dharma. In addition, Venerable shared the methods for practicing the Three Refuges.

Venerable Zhen Sheng emphasized that after taking refuge in the Triple Gem, everyone is still able to fulfil their filial duties and pay respects to their ancestors, but they must not take refuge in ghosts or spirits. Furthermore, Venerable briefly introduced the significance of the Five Precepts and used the analogy of “the roots of a great tree: the deeper the roots, the more luxuriant the leaves” to stress that the foundation of Buddhism lies in the three refuges and five precepts.

Therefore, Venerable wished everyone to “take the Triple Gem as their refuge, not to walk astray; take the precepts as a bright lamp, not to fall into darkness; and take wisdom as a boat, to reach the other shore.”
After the Dharma talk, Venerable Zhen Sheng encouraged everyone to uphold the five Precepts while taking the Three Refuges. With the formal transmission of the Three Refuges and Five Precepts ceremony, all participants were filled with Dharma joy, and the ceremony concluded successfully.

Around 8pm, on this auspicious Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day, Than Hsiang temple also organized Universal Gateway Sūtra《普门品》 on-site cultivation. This cultivation was led by the new abbot, Venerable Zhen Sheng and the Brahma voice group, with approximately forty people participating. Beside chanting the Universal Gateway Sūtra《普门品》, Venerable Zhen Sheng also gave another compassionate Dharma Talk.

During his talk, Venerable mentioned that Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day is an important Buddhist event commemorating Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. Therefore, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s birthday is celebrated three times a year: on the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month (Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s Birthday), the 19th day of the 6th lunar month(Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day), and the 19th day of the 9th lunar month (Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s Renunciation Day).

Venerable further mentioned that on these Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s special days, various Buddhist activities are held in temples, such as participating in temple services, reciting Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s name and mantras, observing vegetarian diets, and engaging in charity to help others.

To conclude, Venerable told everyone that Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva’s birthday is not just a religious ritual but an opportunity to awaken our inner compassion. Through our daily diligent practice, may all sentient beings be free from suffering and attain happiness, aligning with the Bodhisattva’s compassionate heart.

After the Dharma talk, Venerable Zhen Sheng and the Brahma Voice group led everyone in taking the three refuges and dedicating merits. With this Universal Gateway Sūtra《普门品》 on-site cultivation concluded.

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More photos: https://www.thanhsiang.org/ch/node/6604
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