The Qing Ming Festival (清明節) is synonymous with the observance of All Soul’s Day in Philippines. It is a traditional Chinese activity, which falls sometime in April, when people and their families sweep the tomb of deceased relatives, or dedicate a memorial ceremony for them.

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:

In upholding the Buddhist teaching of universal compassion by helping all sentient beings eradicate suffering and attain true happiness, Ocean Sky Chan Monastery has prepared an array of blessing activities to celebrate this year’s Chinese New Year, from January 28 to February 4, giving all people an opportunity to cultivate merits broadly. We welcome everybody to visit the monastery to pay respect to the Buddha, make offerings to the Three Jewels, cultivate both blessings and wisdom, at the same time, pray that all of our undertakings for the coming year be propitious, and that all our loved ones be spared from harm.

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: