The Year of the Ram

Article and Photos by Skrocki

Amsterdam’s World Peace and Health Organization celebrated Chinese New Year today at the Goddess of Mercy Temple on Grove Street. 2015, according to the Chinese astrological charts, is the year of the Ram. Visitors from as far as New York City as well as Amsterdam residents attended the simple ceremony. Guests were invited to light an incense stick and make a wish for the new year on front of an ornate wall composed of over 1000 images of Buddha. After the incense lighting, guests gathered around a table of traditional sweet treats that all had symbolic meanings. Jennie Wong explained the cultural tradition of the Chinese New Year celebration after which, guests travelled to the Five World Buddha Temple on East Main Street to receive a 2015 Chinese calendar screen printed on bound bamboo. Buddhist Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi was noticeably absent from today’s ceremony.

https://gskrocki.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/the-year-of-the-ram/

Celebration of Buddha’s Enlightenment

Article and Photos by Skrocki

Today the local Buddhist groups celebrated the day Buddha was enlightened. Despite the ongoing snow storm, a handful of local residents, including Recorder photographer Trevor Junquera, did participate in the formal Buddhist ceremony held in the Goddess of Mercy Temple on Grove Street. They parked in the adjacent parking lot owned by the Buddhists to attend the event. There was no parking available on city streets because of the snowstorm. The Buddhist organization is currently fighting the revocation of their tax exempt status for the parking lot, purely a measure of harassment perpetrated by the City of Amsterdam.

The beautiful celebration featured a performance by the Buddhist clergy that involved both chanting and song in honor of Enlightenment Day. The World Peace and Health Organizations’ spokesperson Jennie Wong told the story of Buddha’s enlightenment and how Buddhism came to China, both in Chinese and English. Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi presented gifts to the members and guests attending. Both received 2015 calendars printed on bound bamboo and English speaking guests received a book describing the Buddhist leader’s mission in the USA. After the ceremony everyone was treated to traditional La Pa porridge, which was very tasty.

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Dharma Conventions in Autumn

Year of Horse, 2014, is a year of development for Guang Huan Mi Zong. In order to train talented people and facilitate the mission of peace, health and harmony, honorable Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi will hold an unprecedented “Future Bodhisattva Dharma Convention” in the Holy Mountain; this is the first “Verification and Prediction” Dharma Convention after Sakyamuni Buddha’s age, in this Dharma Vanishing Era.

Dharma Conventions in this autumn are as follows:

August 18, 2014: The Angel’s Day celebration, Ground Breaking Ceremony of Treasure Land – Dragon Vein of Mohawk River and Commemoration Day of Pilgrimage Road. Converted Disciples can attend for free.
August 25, 2014: “Future Bodhisattva Dharma Convention” will be held in the Western Shrine.
October 16 – 27, 2014: “Fortune Esoteric Dharma Class” will be held. Treasure King’s “Fortune Attraction, Fortune Borrowing, Fortune Attaining and Fortune Application Dharma” will be taught, in order to fulfill the wishes of those who pray for gaining fortune, donating money and doing good deeds. One “Fortune Capsule” will be given to each student.
October 26 – 30, 2014: “Expeditious Weight Loss” Esoteric Dharma Class
November 23 – 28, 2014: Presenting the miniature of Holy Mountain Buddha Land, Projects Tender will be held with “Merit Almsgiving” Activity.

This year is filled with auspicious and joy. The Five Buddha Sanctuaries in the Western Shrine, like jewels on the crown, embody the wonderful art culture of Guang Huan Mi Zong. They are the quintessence of wisdom from both monks and lay people and serve as a landmark of the region, highly praised by pilgrims.

For more information of the Dharma Conventions, please contact us.

2014 Buddha Birthday Celebration

On May 6, 2014, a spectacular Buddha’s birthday celebration was hold in two temples of Holy Mountain Buddha Land. The visitors joined the Bathing Buddha ceremony in the Goddess of Mercy Temple, and then followed the auspicious Dragon Dance to the Five World Buddhas Temple, for enjoying the Buddhist cultural performances.
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_DSC2809_meitu_5- Bathing Buddha ceremony is the essential part of the Buddha’s birthday celebration
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_DSC2786_meitu_6- Bathed the Buddha with a sincere heart for purifying oneself
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_DSC3155- The attendees entered the Five World Buddhas Temple to enjoy celebration performances
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_DSC3248- Dedicated flowers to Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi
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Students Blessed by Maha Meditation 3 Day Class

Maha Meditation Class [break]
The Maha Meditation Team, spearheaded by Preacher Elise, gave an exciting and successful three day class from February 15 through 17. This class was given for free as an offering for all those who were interested in how to improve their holistic health and spiritual development through meditation and understanding the theories of Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi’s Guang Huan Mi Zong Buddhist Dharma.[break]
This joyous event was attended by a very diverse group of students. People of many different ages, races, and nations all attended with the goal of how to seek inspiration, healing, and empowerment through spiritual cultivation.[break]
Maha Meditation Practice [break]After three days of instruction and practice the students were able report they began to experience the transformation that can be attained through Guang Huan Mi Zong Dharma. Some felt healing energy enter their bodies and saw spiritual light, others felt a deep sense of peace and new found connection with old friends.[break]At the end of the class everyone voiced their gratitude to Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi for the unique Dharma that gave them the benefits they couldn’t find anywhere else.