Buddhist believers participating in the Yisi New Year Blessing Ceremony pray for a prosperous and healthy new year on the first day of the Lunar New Year. (Reporter Yang Qing/Photography)
The World Buddhist Headquarters, Shengji Temple, and Shengge Lecture Hall jointly held the "Yisi New Year Blessing Ceremony" at the Pasadena Buddhist Shengji Temple on January 29, the first day of the Lunar New Year, praying for national peace and the elimination of disasters in the new year. The World Buddhist Headquarters also initiated a charitable donation appeal, integrating public efforts to support the reconstruction of areas affected by the Los Angeles fires.
The ceremony on the first day of the Lunar New Year was presided over by the abbot of Huazang Temple, Jin Kou, along with the esteemed Shide Ruo Hui Ru. Devotees from across the United States gathered to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, praying for good fortune in the coming year. On the day of the ceremony, Shide Ruo Hui Ru led the congregation in reciting scriptures, offering lotus lamps, fresh flowers, and blessing bags, conducting various Buddhist rituals. It is hoped that through the ceremony, compassion and altruism can be conveyed, especially during the times of wildfires and snowstorms in states and regions like Los Angeles. The solemn atmosphere of the ceremony and the blessings of the Dharma aim to bring purification and renewal to the minds and bodies of the believers, restoring their spiritual peace.
Ms. Liu, a resident of Alhambra who attended the ceremony, expressed that 2025 is her zodiac year, and her eldest son will also be entering college in the upcoming autumn. Therefore, she came to pray for her family's safety and for everything to go as wished. Ms. Xiao from Pasadena mentioned that the Eaton fire three weeks ago was just ten minutes away from her home. She felt fortunate that her house was unharmed but deeply empathized with the pain of the disaster victims, realizing that the difference between "having" and "not having" can sometimes be a matter of an instant, emphasizing the importance of living well and cherishing each day.
Shengji Temple stated that the New Year blessing activities will continue from the first day of the Lunar New Year until the fifth day (February 2), welcoming the public to visit the temple for worship, offerings, and blessings for themselves and their families. On Lantern Festival (February 12), the congregation will recite the "Lotus Sutra, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva's Universal Door Chapter," praying for the great compassionate king, Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, to eliminate disasters for all beings. The public can receive blessing bags from the offerings made on the first day of the Lunar New Year, increasing both blessings and wisdom.
In addition to holding ceremonies to pray for beings suffering from climate and fire disasters, the World Buddhist Headquarters has also initiated a charitable donation appeal, providing information on urgent rescue organizations in need of donations for the California Los Angeles wildfire disaster on its official website, gathering goodwill to support the reconstruction of the fire-affected areas. At the same time, Shengji Temple has proactively organized volunteer teams to carry out material donation plans, showing community care and supporting local food banks, homeless shelters, and animal shelters, helping vulnerable groups to the best of their ability.
Buddhist believers participating in the Yisi New Year Blessing Ceremony pray for a prosperous and healthy new year on the first day of the Lunar New Year. (Reporter Yang Qing/Photography)
The World Buddhist Headquarters, Shengji Temple, and Shengge Lecture Hall jointly held the "Yisi New Year Blessing Ceremony" at the Pasadena Buddhist Shengji Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year, praying for national peace and the elimination of disasters in the new year. (Reporter Yang Qing/Photography)
The World Buddhist Headquarters, Shengji Temple, and Shengge Lecture Hall jointly held the "Yisi New Year Blessing Ceremony" at the Pasadena Buddhist Shengji Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year, praying for national peace and the elimination of disasters in the new year. (Reporter Yang Qing/Photography)