To commemorate the birth of the Fundamental Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha, Ocean Sky Chan Monastery will hold the Buddha Bathing Ceremony on May 21, 2017 (Sunday) at 9:00 am. The Buddha Bathing activity will continue for the whole week until May 28 (Sunday).

Buddha was born to this world 3044 years ago, on the 8th day of the 4th month of the lunar calendar. From birth to nirvana, his life story transpired in eight stages and Buddha used pure Dharma water to wash away the suffering and vexations of sentient beings, in order to help them manifest their original pure nature.

The Sutra states: “By bathing the Buddha as if he was still living in this world, one can obtain limitless blessings, the amount of which cannot be quantified.” All virtues of the Buddha are perfect and pure. By offering flowers, incense, banners, and by bathing the Buddha with fragrant water, we gain limitless blessings and merits.

We urge all devotees to take this auspicious opportunity to bathe the Buddha. By outwardly bathing the Buddha, we inwardly wash away all polluted thoughts and purify our own mind; that is the true meaning of bathing the Buddha.

To celebrate Mothers’ Day, we will also chant The Sutra on the Profound Kindness of Parents, and will dedicate the blessings and merits attained to our parents and teachers, to the Three Jewels, to all sentient beings, and to our country. We will also offer the blessings and merits towards the liberation of all suffering beings in the three miserable realms.

On the same day, after the Buddha Bathing Ceremony, the Monastery will also begin the yearly tradition of summer retreat with the Medicine Buddha Gratitude Ceremony. Afterwards, starting on May 22, lasting a period of four months, the daily chanting of Medicine Buddha Sutra shall take place Mondays thru Fridays, at 7:00–8:00pm.We pray for prosperity for all the people of the world, the attainment of world peace, and the enlightenment of all sentient beings. We welcome your whole family to join in this auspicious triple-event ceremony, and share in Dharma joy.

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Every year, Ocean Sky observes the Qing Ming Festival by promoting the spirit of filial piety, and holding a gratitude memorial ceremony for all our ancestors. This year, 2017, The Eighty-eight Buddhas Repentance Liturgy will be chanted. All merits earned are dedicated to our deceased loved ones, so that they could eradicate their karmic obstacles in whatever realms they are in, be free from suffering, and realize their True Minds.

This is the true Buddhist way of observing Qing Ming.

The blessing activities are as follows:

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The blessing activities include the holding of the Chinese New Year Blessing Ceremony on the first day of the lunar year, January 28, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. During the ceremony, The Universal Gateway of Guanyin Bodhisattva will be chanted, followed by Grand Meal Offering, Blessing Ceremony and the Striking of the Monastic Drum and the Bodhi Bell. After the ceremony, we shall offer all merits towards the attainment of peace, happiness, blessings, and longevity; we shall also pray for prosperity for all nations, and world peace.

Over the period of eight days, from January 28 to February 4, the monastery will also highlight the Ten Auspicious Gateways to the Mind ~ Find the Precious Jewel of our True Nature. The Treatise on Awakening of Faith says: “When one cultivates by performing all good deeds, the process will naturally lead to Suchness (Buddhahood).” By doing meritorious deeds such as repentance, making vows, striking of the Bodhi bell, making offering to the Enlightened Sages, and making other extensive offerings, which are all aimed at finding the precious jewel of one’s true nature, one can truly say that he/she has obtained the most auspicious and precious wealth in the world.

The blessing activities are as follows:

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Vegetarian lunch is served after the ceremony.

Date: 1st and 15th of each lunar month: 5/7 (Sat),  5/14(Sat)

Time: 11 am ~ 11:30 am

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