Devotees recite Diamond Sutra at Nung Chan Monastery to celebrate the New Year’s, Dharma Drum Mountain Sangha chant Great Compassion Dharani on New Year’s Day

On December 31, 2022, at 7 p.m. over 2,500 devotees packed the halls and corridors of Nung Chan Monastery. Together, led by the monastics, the devotees recited the Diamond Sutra and the Bell Ringing Verse to welcome the New Year. Dharma Drum Mountain's Abbot President also participated in this event. He delivered a Dharma talk on the idea of emptiness and existence as taught in the Diamond Sutra, to guide people how to cultivate merit and wisdom as a way to celebrate the New Year.

As the Abbot President pointed out during his talk, the Diamond Sutra teaches the most precious and valuable wisdom in the Dharma by repeatedly reminding practitioners to refrain from attachment, while highlighting the practice of Six Paramitas, such as the virtues of giving and patience. With this doctrine as guidance, he encouraged participants to "set down our egos and let go of our self-centeredness as a way to cultivate wisdom" and, "to be considerate towards others is to cultivate our blessings." This is the true realization of a positive and optimistic attitude-- to enjoy a life of true freedom based on our blessings and wisdom.

Over the past 10 years, it has become a tradition for many devotees to celebrate the New Year's by visiting Nung Chan Monastery, where they can read their fortunes containing the 100 Adages of Dharma Wisdom by Master Sheng Yen, as well as enjoy longan cake. Ven. Guo Yi, Director of the Monastery, maintained that "for Buddhists, each and every present moment is a brand-new beginning." After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this New Year's Eve event has finally returned. The Monastery gave out free copies of the Diamond Sutra to participants, wishing everyone can constantly practice renouncing the ego, thereby renewing their aspirations and hope in the new year.

At the break of dawn on the first day of 2023, devotees congregated in DDM's monasteries and practice centers for the morning service. At the same time, at 6 a.m. Abbott President Ven. Guo Huei led the monastics to perform the first morning service of the New Year at the Grand Buddha Hall of Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education in Jinshan, in addition to chanting the Great Compassion Dharani to pray for the world. Meanwhile, the Peaceful-Life Rice-- small packets of rice for free distribution-- were placed in front of the Buddha statue in the Center's Grand Buddha Hall to receive the empowerment of the Buddha, before being distributed to the public to build a good karmic connection with them for this year.

According to the Center's managing director, Ven. Guo Gao, the Peaceful-Life Rice offered by DDM is being cultivated using environmentally friendly agricultural practices in recent years. This year, for the first time, locally-produced rice from the Jinshan area was chosen to help promote eco-friendly paddy cultivation, which has been adopted for years with great success. Though the yield may not be high, it is certainly worth uplifting the spirit to make good use of land while taking good care of the environment. Upon completion of the blessing ceremony, the Rice was ready to be shared for free during the Chinese New Year holidays, to establish karmic affiliation with members of society.

Text: Yao-chung Chang (張曜鐘) 
Photos: Lee Fan (李東陽), Yao-chung Chang (張曜鐘)