The Holy Miracles Temple Holds Amitabha Buddha's Birthday Ceremony, Inheriting the Best Pure Land Dharma#
December 17, 2023
The Holy Miracles Temple in Pasadena, Southern California, held a solemn ceremony to celebrate the birthday of Amitabha Buddha. This ceremony was jointly organized by the World Buddhist Headquarters, the Holy Miracles Temple, and the Holy Grace Lecture Hall. Hundreds of believers from various regions of California and overseas attended the ceremony. The statues in the main hall of the Holy Miracles Temple were majestic, with beautiful flowers and fruits on the table, as well as butter lamps, creating a bright and peaceful atmosphere.
The "Celebrating the Birthday of Amitabha Buddha Ceremony" began at 10 o'clock in the morning, accompanied by the sound of bells and drums and the chanting of sutras. The ceremony was presided over by the Vice Chairman of the World Buddhist Headquarters, Venerable Jin Kou, and led by Venerable Jin Kou, the abbot of the Huazang Temple, and other monks and nuns, as well as the guidance of venerable Rinpoche. The participants chanted the "Amitabha Sutra," recited the Buddha's name, and made offerings to the Buddha. They praised the merits of the Buddhas and prayed for the auspiciousness of the Buddha's birthday. They also prayed for the blessings and protection of Amitabha Buddha and all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ten directions, wishing for the increase of blessings and wisdom, good health and longevity, the elimination of disasters and difficulties, national peace, and world peace.
Amitabha Buddha is one of the "Five Buddhas" in Buddhism, known as the "Amitabha Buddha of the Western Pure Land." He is the disciple of the original Buddha, Namo Tathagata Buddha. Amitabha Buddha made the "Forty-Eight Great Vows" when he was practicing on Earth as the monk Dharmakara. When he fulfilled his vows and became a Buddha, he established the pure and magnificent Buddha land called the "Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss" and became the leader of the Pure Land.
According to the "Amitabha Sutra," the Western Pure Land is located to the west of our world, at a distance of one hundred thousand billion Buddha lands. The reason why it is called the "Ultimate Bliss" is that the beings in the Western Pure Land rely on the Buddha power of Amitabha Buddha. They live in a pure land where there is no birth, old age, sickness, or death, no three evil paths, and no hardships or worries. They can think of clothes and have clothes, think of food and have food, and enjoy all the pleasures in accordance with their wishes. The land of the Western Pure Land is made of gold, and all the stairs, pavilions, towers, and palaces are adorned with various treasures such as gold, silver, crystal, glass, coral, pearls, and agate. There are also seven-jeweled lotus ponds and eight meritorious waters. The gentle breeze moves the precious trees, producing subtle sounds, and heavenly rain of mandala flowers. The whole world shines with colorful radiance, magnificent and incomparable. The people in the Western Pure Land are free from all suffering and enjoy boundless happiness. There are countless great Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and virtuous people who have already purified their karma and ascended to the Pure Land.
According to the "Three Pure Land Sutras," to aspire to be reborn in the Western Pure Land, one must cultivate the three virtues of pure karma. When rebirth is approaching, one should recite the Buddha's name ten times with one-pointed concentration. The three holy beings of the Western Pure Land will come to guide and escort one to the Western Pure Land. Besides this, is there any other Buddhist practice that can guarantee rebirth in the Western Pure Land?
The organizers of the ceremony stated, "For many years, we have witnessed the Third Dharma King Namo Dorje Chang, the spiritual leader of world Buddhism, imparting many profound teachings of the Buddha in this world. The number of disciples who have attained liberation under the guidance of Namo Dorje Chang is the highest among contemporary Buddhist masters. Therefore, to learn the authentic Amitabha Dharma transmitted by the Third Dharma King Namo Dorje Chang, combined with listening to the Dharma teachings of Namo Dorje Chang, integrating knowledge, conduct, and practice, strictly observing precepts, cultivating pure karma and virtues, this is the guarantee for rebirth in the Western Pure Land!"
There are too many people who have achieved rebirth in the Western Pure Land by practicing the Buddha Dharma transmitted by the Third Dharma King Namo Dorje Chang. Only a small part of the examples reported by the media can be found: Wang Chengefen, a resident of Xindu County, Sichuan, China, achieved great accomplishment in her practice and was guided by Guanyin Bodhisattva to the Pure Land. After her cremation, more than 60 colorful relics and high-grade relic flowers were found. Her husband, Wang Zeling, never talked about Buddhism in his life, but after practicing the Buddha Dharma of Namo Dorje Chang, he was reborn in the Western Pure Land in just seven days. Before his rebirth, he advised people to do good deeds and spoke the Dharma on the street. After completing his teachings, he sat down on the street and meditated for seven days and nights. His complexion and expression were like those of a living person in meditation. After his cremation, 13 solid relics were obtained. Zhao Xianyun, a resident of Xinfan Town, Xindu County, Sichuan, was guided by Amitabha Buddha to the Western Pure Land after her cremation, and 263 solid relics were found. Tang Xielehui, a resident of Sichuan, predicted the time of her rebirth, sat in a sealed posture, and ascended to the Western Pure Land. Lu Quanfang, a resident of Sichuan, was taken away by Amitabha Buddha at the time of his death, and 49 solid relics were obtained after his cremation. Robert Welker and his wife, who lived in Walnut, Los Angeles, were terminally ill with lung cancer. They devoutly sought the Buddha's guidance and practiced the Amitabha Dharma. After their practice, their bodies were free from illness. They first visited the Western Pure Land and then returned to ascend at the appointed time. Hou Yushan, a professor who lived in Ohio, was reborn in the Western Pure Land with the guidance of Namo Dorje Chang. Lin Liu Huixiu, who lived in Seattle, predicted the time of her ascension and peacefully ascended to the Pure Land. Lian Xiuying, a resident of Taiwan, sat in a lotus position and ascended to the Pure Land. After her cremation, more than 100 solid relics were found. Zhao Yusheng, who traveled from China to the United States to seek the teachings of Namo Dorje Chang, achieved liberation and ascended to the Western Pure Land. In early 2017, the venerable Inhai shocked the Buddhist world. Ten days after his passing, his face transformed from a withered appearance to a youthful one, and his whole body became an indestructible vajra relic. He returned to the Western Pure Land. From the achievements of contemporary high monks, it is clear that among the disciples who have ascended to the Pure Land under the guidance of the Third Dharma King Namo Dorje Chang, the number of people and the level of accomplishment are unparalleled. Why can the Buddha Dharma transmitted by the Third Dharma King Namo Dorje Chang enable so many disciples to achieve liberation and rebirth in the Western Pure Land? Readers who are interested in delving deeper into this matter may visit the Holy Miracles Temple to find out.
Venerable Jin Kou read the prayer for disaster relief and blessings for the participants and the general public.
During the dedication ceremony, Venerable Jin Kou read the prayer for disaster relief and blessings, and sincerely prayed for the participants and those who joined in the prayer, asking for the blessings of Amitabha Buddha and all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, wishing for the elimination of disasters, longevity, happiness, and well-being. The Holy Miracles Temple not only holds occasional Buddhist birthday ceremonies but is also open to the public on regular days. Many residents and groups in the surrounding community like to come to the temple to pay their respects and meditate, getting to know Buddhism.
Oscar, a Mexican resident living near the Holy Miracles Temple, often comes to the main hall of the temple to meditate. He said that whenever he encounters difficulties in life and cannot calm his emotions, he just needs to sit in meditation in the temple, and it can bring peace to his mind. Another person, Alex, has visited several temples to learn about Buddhism and knows the Buddhist rituals. He can even recite the Buddhist scriptures in Pinyin. He said that he came to the Holy Miracles Temple to learn the true Buddha Dharma and attain liberation in life! Recently, he made up his mind and took refuge in Buddhism, becoming a devout Buddhist disciple. Mayfield Senior School, located near the Holy Miracles Temple, arranges religious courses for students to visit the temple and learn about the religious culture of Buddhism. From this, it can be seen that the care and influence of the Holy Miracles Temple on the local community have transcended age, ethnicity, culture, and the barriers between Eastern and Western beliefs, becoming a force that stabilizes the hearts of the community.
After the completion of the ceremony, the participants were filled with a peaceful and grateful joy. With the power of faith bestowed by the Buddha Dharma, they embraced a happy life of abandoning evil and doing good, being content and grateful.
Venerable Jin Kou sprinkled blessed water on the participants.
Venerable Jin Kou sprinkled blessed water on the participants.