The World Buddhist Headquarters held a ceremony to celebrate the birth of the Medicine Buddha in the Great Hall of the Holy Relics Temple. The ceremony was presided over by Vice Chairman Zhen Da, the respected leader of the Buddhist community.
(Los Angeles News) Since the end of 2019, the Covid-19 novel coronavirus pneumonia has been spreading, and it has been nearly three years since the global pandemic broke out. According to the latest statistics, there have been confirmed cases reported in 201 countries (regions) worldwide, with a total of over 620 million confirmed cases and over six million deaths. This Covid-19 pandemic has not only directly affected the physical health of billions of people around the world, but also caused chaos in the global order! In the early stages of prevention and control, most countries implemented strict containment measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic. While preventing the epidemic, it also caused blockages in the flow of people, goods, and money, resulting in a wide range of chain reactions in the economy, culture, transportation, education, medical system, mental health, social habits, and other aspects.
In order to fight the epidemic, countries around the world have mobilized their entire populations, from the government's efforts to the efforts of the public; from the round-the-clock treatment of patients by the national medical system to the rapid development and production of vaccines, drugs, and medical supplies by private enterprises; from the distribution of emergency relief funds by the government to the mobilization of religious groups and charitable organizations to donate anti-epidemic medical supplies. In all areas affected by the epidemic, everyone has made every effort to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
Taking Buddhism as an example: as early as when the Covid-19 epidemic first broke out, the World Buddhist Pope, the respected leader of the Buddhist community, took the lead in donating protective and anti-epidemic materials to public service agencies such as the police and hospitals, and issued a public announcement saying, "The appearance of the epidemic is a karmic relationship. In the history of human society, there have been many different types and forms of epidemics, and Covid-19 is an infectious epidemic, which means it spreads widely. It changes symptoms with changes in the body and climate, and infects others, but people also develop antibodies. Moreover, this disease will not be eradicated, but vaccines can provide significant protection to people. So, don't feel stressed or worried, respond to the government's call, comply with the government's regulations, get vaccinated, protect yourself and others. And the epidemic will not close people off, in the final analysis, everything will open up, because countries will not allow closure, and the world will not allow closure."
Indeed, as predicted by the World Buddhist Pope, with the widespread vaccination and the availability of specific treatments for Covid-19, people have gradually developed antibodies, and global strategies for epidemic prevention and treatment have continued to evolve, gradually gaining control over the spread of the epidemic. By the middle of last year, the epidemic began to slow down, and countries gradually lifted home isolation orders. In February of this year, California, the most populous state in the United States, officially lifted the mask mandate and announced that California has entered the "coexistence with the virus" phase. On September 14th, the Director-General of the World Health Organization publicly stated, "Although the pandemic is not yet over, the finish line is approaching." This statement, "the finish line is approaching," is equivalent to officially announcing the long-awaited post-pandemic era!
The World Buddhist Headquarters is a non-profit religious organization based in the United States. It has numerous Buddhist branches, associations, Buddhist study centers, temples, practice centers, and Dharma centers around the world. The purpose of the establishment of the World Buddhist Headquarters is to spread the pure and supreme Buddhist teachings and Dharma sound of the Medicine Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha to Buddhist believers, advocate for the public to do good deeds, be compassionate and benefit others, refrain from doing evil, and practice good deeds, and selflessly contribute to the country and society, so as to make the world full of kindness and auspiciousness. On specific Buddhist holy days, the World Buddhist Headquarters organizes Buddhist worship ceremonies to recite scriptures and pray for the blessings and protection of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas for the American people and people around the world.
September 29th in the lunar calendar is the holy day of the birth of the Medicine Buddha, also known as the Medicine Buddha of Dispelling Calamities and Prolonging Life, or the Medicine Buddha Great Physician. He is the leader of the Pure Lapis Lazuli World in the East. When the Medicine Buddha was practicing the Bodhisattva path, he made twelve great vows, vowing to heal all kinds of diseases and suffering in the world, so that sentient beings can attain physical and mental well-being, increase their blessings and longevity, and eliminate the disease of birth and death, guiding sentient beings to liberation. Therefore, he is respected and revered by all Buddhists.
To celebrate the birth of the Medicine Buddha, the World Buddhist Headquarters will hold the "Buddha's Birthday Liberation Ceremony" on October 29th at the Inner Harbor in Marina Del Rey; and on October 30th, the "Celebration of the Birth of the Medicine Buddha" will be held at the Holy Relics Temple in Pasadena. The two-day ceremony will be attended by hundreds of Buddhists from various states in the United States, as well as from Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, Taiwan, and other countries and regions. It will be a grand and solemn event with the presence of holy monks, high monks, Rinpoche, Acharya, Dharma teachers, and lay disciples.
The Holy Relics Temple is a temple directly affiliated with the World Buddhist Headquarters. It is a temple that showcases a large number of tangible Buddhist relics and teachings. The Great Hall of the Holy Relics Temple is the only "Inner Secret Mandala" established in accordance with two major regulations in the world today. The World Buddhist Pope, the respected leader of the Buddhist community, has presided over many grand Dharma assemblies of tangible realms in the Great Hall of the Holy Relics Temple, imparting the supreme Buddhist teachings and giving teachings on the true Dharma to Buddhist disciples with different roots and connections from all over the world, guiding them on the path of liberation with equal emphasis on practice and study.
In addition to the Great Hall of the Holy Relics Temple, there is also the Lamp Lighting Ancient Buddha Hall and the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Hall. The site of the Lamp Lighting Ancient Buddha Hall is where the first grand Dharma assembly of the "True Meaning of the Heart Sutra" spoken by the World Buddhist Pope, the respected leader of the Buddhist community, was held on March 7, 2014! During the Dharma assembly, the congregation witnessed the miraculous scene of several Buddhas descending from the void, and the tricolor nectar passing through the roof and crystal bowl cover into the originally empty Dharma bowl, certifying that the "True Meaning of the Heart Sutra" is the true Dharma spoken by the Buddha. The Lamp Lighting Ancient Buddha Hall now serves as a place for devotees to offer lamps to the Ancient Buddha. Great holy monks and holy monks recite scriptures and practice mantras for the lamp lighters, accumulating merit and virtue. Every day, the monks recite mantras, scriptures, and practice Dharma to pray for the lamp lighters. Therefore, lighting the "Blessing Lamp" in front of the Ancient Buddha in this temple, with its extraordinary merits and blessings, is bound to be superior to ordinary lamp lighting halls.
The Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Hall enshrines the holy image of the Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, as well as the miraculous manifestations of the contemporary Buddhist accomplished saint Venerable Yin Hai (Holy Venerable). Venerable Yin Hai was a disciple of the World Buddhist Pope, the respected leader of the Buddhist community. After Venerable Yin Hai passed away in California, USA on January 15, 2017, his relics were moved to the Avalokitesvara Hall of the Holy Relics Temple of the World Buddhist Headquarters for enshrinement. During the one-month period of enshrinement, a series of incredible miracles occurred. Ten days after Venerable Yin Hai's passing, his appearance began to change. The wrinkles on his face, which were originally thin, gradually disappeared, and his bones and muscles became plump. His complexion became more rosy than that of a living person. His beard, fingers, and nails even miraculously grew longer, becoming a perfect and dignified appearance, proving the attainment of an indestructible vajra body. The achievement state of Venerable Yin Hai after his passing has never been seen in the history of Buddhism. Therefore, it can be said that Venerable Yin Hai has opened a new chapter in the history of Buddhist achievements after passing away! When this news came out, it immediately received extensive coverage from various media outlets. Considering the above-mentioned extraordinary relics, if one can personally participate in the ceremony at the Holy Relics Temple, pay respects to the Buddha, listen to the Dharma, and sincerely engage in the three practices, one can naturally pray for the fulfillment of wishes, increase blessings and wisdom, and gain great benefits from practicing Buddhism.
On the thirtieth day, during the ceremony to celebrate the birth of the Medicine Buddha in the Great Hall of the Holy Relics Temple, under the leadership of the respected leader of the Buddhist community, Vice Chairman Zhen Da, the respected leader of the International Buddhist Sangha Association, Holy Monk Jin Kou, Holy Monk Jin Kou, and Holy Monk Jue Hui, as well as the presence of holy monks, high monks, and monks, the congregation recited the "Medicine Buddha's Original Vows and Merit Sutra" in unison. The ceremony included offering to the Buddha, reciting scriptures and mantras, worshiping the Buddha, and releasing living beings, praying for the birth of the Buddha, and dedicating blessings to all sentient beings around the world, praying for the blessings and protection of the Medicine Buddha and all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and hoping for the early eradication of the global epidemic, the maintenance of friendly and peaceful international relations, the elimination of disasters and difficulties for the American people and people around the world, and the well-being of the country and the people, as well as auspiciousness and prosperity!
Under the melodious chanting of the monks, the congregation recited the "Medicine Buddha's Original Vows and Merit Sutra" in unison.
The ceremony was attended by hundreds of monks, Rinpoche, and Buddhist disciples from around the world, creating a solemn and magnificent scene.