A New Landmark of DDM: the Consecration of Welcoming Guanyin
Up to one thousand pilgrims came to Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education in Jinshan Township, Taipei County, to participate the Consecration Ceremony of Welcoming Guanyin in the morning of October 21th. The internationally well-known movie star Lin Qingxia also attended the dignified and solemn occassion.
Altogether standing in front of the Stone of Spiritual Mountain and Pure Land, mainly presided over by the Abbot President of DDM, Venerable Guo Dong, the solemn ceremony was first started with the red ribbon-cutting ritual, and with the President of General Association of Dharma Upholders (GADU), Chen Jianan, and other four vice presidents of GADU---Chou Wenjin, Yang Wenxiong, Wang Jinyi and Huang Chuchi---amid a holy sound of chanting Buddhist scriptures for celebrating its accomplishment and placement.
Soon after the ribbon-cutting ritual, led by 80 Fashis, devoted pilgrims walked slowly uphill in line to the place where the Welcoming Guanyin is situated for the Consecration Ceremony.
After half an hour of chanting Buddhist scriptures, the Abbot President slowly pulled down altogether the red carpet originally covered on the head of Welcoming Guanyin with the President of Sheng Yen Education Foundation, Shi Jianchang, the General Manager of Chie Chin Electronic Company, Yo Chunshu, the representative of Philippine Airlines, Song Limin, and Lin Qingxia.
In addition to expressing the greatest gratitude to all the DDM's followers, with presenting a small-size statue of Welcoming Guanyin to the Philippine Airlines received by its representative Song Limin as a gift from DDM, Venerable Guo Dong appreciated much the Philippine Airlines for giving much help to the accomplishment of Welcoming Guanyin in the past.
The Abbot President said that DDM welcomed all people to come to the Spiritual Mountain and Pure Land (the DDM World Center for Buddhist Education) for Dharma learning and upholding the Dharma and practicing the ideas of Pure Land on Earth for the purification of human mind.
At the end, the Most Venerable Master Sheng Yen also presented the ceremony to take a group photo with honored guests in front of the Welcoming Guanyin. The ceremony ended successfully and joyfully.
In the afternoon, the 'Meet with the Dharma' activity was held by the Sheng Yen Education Foundation at the International Conference Hall. The activity was mainly hosted by Venerable Shen Ru from Beijing University and Professor Daniel Stevenson from University of Kansas in USA in order to share their experiences of Dharma learning with around 200 attendants for compassion and wisdom of the Buddha.
(Translated and photos taken by Jin Yang)
