"Dragon Soars, Blessings of Spring" Spring Blessing Ceremony held at Shengji Temple#
Ven. Shengde Ruohui, a segment of sacred virtue, recited the blessing text for the participants and the congregation to pray for blessings.
With the guidance of the monastics at Shengji Temple, the participants in the ceremony offered their respects in order.
The Spring Blessing Ceremony at Shengji Temple saw a continuous flow of male and female devotees participating in the ceremony.
(Reporter Wang Dongliang/Los Angeles Report) This year marks the Year of the Dragon in the Jia Chen year. To celebrate the 2024 Spring Festival, the famous Buddhist temple Shengji Temple in Pasadena, Los Angeles, with the theme "Dragon Soars, Blessings of Spring," held a Spring Blessing Ceremony from February 10th to February 14th (the first to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year). Devotees flocked to pay respects to the Buddha, offer lamps, and pray for blessings.
On the first day of the ceremony, Ven. Shengde Ruohui, the abbot of Huazang Temple, presided over the ceremony. During the ceremony, Ven. Ruohui explained why offerings are made to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. He also advised the congregation to let go of greed and attachment in their hearts when making offerings, to offer with a respectful and devout heart, to be grateful to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, in order to receive their blessings, increase merits, and have their wishes fulfilled. The participants in the ceremony, under the guidance of Ven. Ruohui and the monastic sangha, sequentially offered lamps, blessed rice, and fresh flowers prepared by the temple in the main hall, while reciting scriptures and praying for blessings.
After the successful completion of the ceremony, the temple held a Spring Tea Party and distributed blessing bags to all the participants in the ceremony. Terry from Boston told reporters that he was delighted to volunteer at Shengji Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Every year, he offers lamps at Shengji Temple and learns the Buddha Dharma of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. Through learning and practicing Buddhism, he transforms karma, eliminates suffering, and enjoys a harmonious family life.
Shengji Temple has always adhered to the compassionate teachings of the world Buddhist leader, the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and during the Spring Festival, it invites devotees to sow blessings and warmth together, raising supplies for local food banks, homeless shelters, and animal shelters, to implement the compassionate teachings of Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche.
Radio host Jixiang from Los Angeles, when interviewed after participating in the ceremony, shared that the ceremony brought peace and joy to the participants. I also felt the extraordinary auspiciousness of the ceremony. Shengji Temple and the World Buddhist Headquarters are dedicated to bringing the Dharma to friends in Southern California and around the world. After the ceremony, a donation event was held, truly spreading the great love of Buddhists, hoping that everyone can come to Shengji Temple to learn and experience the subtleties of the Dharma.