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New Year 2015
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Refuge and 5 Precepts ceremony
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Baby Blessing 2015
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FGS Nan Hua
Temple entered the New Year with heartfelt devotion, praise, gratitude and
offerings on 31 January 2014. Temple staff, devotees, volunteers and the
community joined the Abbott, monks and nuns in celebrating the arrival of the
New Year in true Buddhist fashion.
The auspicious event was led by Abbot Hui Fang and started off with a purification chanting service followed by chants to invite all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and deities to join the ceremony. This year saw the offering of delicious food to the Universal Buddhas, the 24 Heavenly Kings and their defenders in the Heavenly Feast Ceremony, which formed part of the New Year’s Eve celebrations. In Buddhism, the Heavenly Kings are known as the protectors of Buddhism, serving the Buddha by protecting sentient beings from disasters and allowing them to learn and practice the Dharma in order to eliminate defilements, accumulate merit and achieve perfect enlightenment. According to the Sutra, we can show our appreciation to the Heavenly Kings for tirelessly protecting the Dharma by making offerings of exquisite food, wholeheartedly prepared by disciples who pay every attention to taste, aroma, temperature and decoration. Members of The Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) participated in the food offering ceremony, assisting the community and disciples who made offerings in the contemplative procedure paying respect and seeking protection, eliminating their bad Karma and accumulating merit. The Great Compassionate Sutra, 10 mantras and The Heart Sutra chants followed after which the event ended at midnight with a huge fireworks display. We thank everybody who attended and assisted with this wonderful ceremony. Happy New Year! May all enjoy a long and auspicious life. |
On 1 January
2015 FGS Nan Hua Temple held a Triple Gem Refuge and Precepts Ceremony in its
Main Shrine where almost a hundred people took refuge. The auspicious ceremony was led by Nan Hua
Temple’s Abbot, Venerable Hui Fang, assisted by Venerables Hui Xiang and
Hui Liu. Taking refuge in the Triple Gem (The Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha) is the foundation of practicing Buddhism, while receiving the Five Precepts and upholding the Ten Wholesome Deeds are the basics of all precepts. Through upholding the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts, we will receive the blessing of the Triple Gem, purify our body and mind, recognise our pure intrinsic nature and discover the value of life. The teachings of the Buddha serve a practical purpose. Taking refuge in the Buddha means vowing to become wise and finding out the Buddha-nature within oneself. If it is properly followed, it brings peace to the individual as well as to society thus by truly taking refuge in the Triple Gems, we learn to create a peaceful environment and lead a happy life. |
Different backgrounds, equivalent love
On 1 January 2015, FGS Nan Hua Temple held its Baby Blessing Ceremony with a heart-warming 120 applications. The babies accompanied by their parents, and some case even grandparents, flooded the Guang Yin Great Compassion Shrine with their enthusiasm. The blessing of the children and babies, who ranged from 0 (still in the womb) to five years old, was performed by temple manager, Venerable Hui Xing. The activities included the chanting of the Heart Sutra, reading the ‘Prayers and wishes for Fo Guang babies’, written by Grand Master Hsing Yun, and included requests to Guang Yin Bodhisattva for protection. Participants included babies and children of various backgrounds and cultures. Families with different traditions, ethos, racial backgrounds, wealth and from different age groups all gathered to wish the best for their adorable new-borns. There was no differentiation or discrimination. Although from varying backgrounds, all had a single wish: that these little ones would grow up peacefully and happily. In the words of Venenerable Hui Xing: “It brings me immense joy to see so many babies attend this meaningful event and I urge that these babies return every year to receive our most humble blessings. It is with formidable affiliation that these babies get the opportunity to be blessed under the light of the Buddha and I offer my sincerest wishes that every child grows up in peace and happiness.” The chief supervisor of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA), Mr Huang Qing Nan, personally brought his granddaughter to attend the blessing. Mr Huang Qing Nan’s daughter, Mrs Huang Kai Li, said she was very happy to return to Nan Hua Temple to spend the first day of 2015 wishing the best for her beloved child. She mentioned that it was her honour to receive Bodhisattva's blessing for her baby as well as making a prime development of the progression of Buddha’s teaching to the next generation. |
latest newsForthcoming Events2014 Beginner Retreat Level 1 - Fully Booked
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The Nan Hua Temple is a non-profit organisation and all Temple Tours conducted at the Temple are free of charge. The Temple is closed on Mondays, and open to all visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 - 17:00, free of charge, and for a vegetarian lunch on Sundays @ R30 per person, 12:00 - 12:30. Kindly visit our website: www.nanhua.co.za or if you have any queries please contact us on (013) 931-0009.
P.S.: We apologise for certain individuals that created some Groupon deals to bring about incorrect information about Temple tours.
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