On 1 August, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island NZ began the evening chant of “Ullambana Filial Piety Dharma Function”. Before this day, devotees practiced intensively for 16 days in a row. By 16 August, a total of 200 Ksitigarbha Sutras were recited. On 17 August, the Filial Piety Dharma Service Merit Transfer was hosted and around 80 devotees were led by FGS NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin who devotedly recited “The Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra”. Merits were then transferred to ancestors, friends and relatives. The scene felt solemn and majestic.
Abbess mentioned that “Dharma is equal though different in teaching. Emptiness contains unlimited accomplishment. In Buddhism, emptiness means to create space to hold the right, beautiful and good things. If the heart does not have good thoughts, there would be endless evil thoughts. If one can work hard on the right thing, then one will get good results. The filial piety of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is the greatest vow that provides us good example. Therefore, everyone must strengthen their will to allow themselves creating opportunities in increasing merits”.
Abbess added that it to have Mahayana Buddhism temple in a faraway country like New Zealand is not a simple task. Buddhism could convey the goodness, beauty and righteous of positive energy. The public must take good care of it. Even how busy one is, one has to frequent the temple to cultivate and practice original aspirations, inheriting to children and grandchildren learning the wisdom of Buddhism. In addition, all are encourage to join BLIA to protect the temple and strengthen the will of practising and provisioning to achieve learning the Buddha.
