A Series of Exhibitions Warming up the Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service Are Being Held
DDM will be organizing the 2014 Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service from December 6 through 12. Besides, from October 18 through November 21, a series of special exhibitions warming up the said dharma service. Among them, a special exhibition themed the “Missing Post Office” (a real Japanese post office which specially deals with postcards and mail without addressees) invites the general public to write in a postcard their feeling of unhappiness, regret, yearning, lost love, etc.; these postcards are then displayed in the “Missing Post Office”. The purpose of this process is to enable those who are suffering to face and let go of their unhappiness or sorrow. In addition, devotees could utilize DDM’s Digital Prayer system to pray for the well-being of themselves as well as others. Participation in the form of volunteers during the service is also a good way to gain some merits. Those who wish to support the event by volunteering are invited to sign up at the DDM Volunteers Room.
Ven. Chang Luen of the Environment Maintenance Room mentioned that there are volunteers who will initially hesitate to clean toilets, clear garbage and so on. However, she explained that volunteers could take this opportunity to rid themselves of the vexation and attachment in their minds through the act of maintaining the cleanliness of the environment; attentively doing the work assigned is also a kind of diligent practice.
In regards to kitchen duties, Ven. Chang Di explained that volunteers often attend the Dharma Service for feeding the hungry ghosts after cleaning the dining utensils in the evening. They then wake up early in the next morning to prepare and cook breakfast; the joyful and tireless spirit displayed is truly impressive!
There are many new elements in these exhibitions this year to guide attendees to a better understanding of the significance of this event. For example, there is a cute-version of the Guanyin Bodhisattva that attendees could take photos with, the Missing Post Office, a digital interactive area for blessing as well as animated movie playback, just to name a few. In addition, those who could not physically attend the event but wish to pray for the well-being of family members, friends or even all beings in this world could do so through DDM’s Digital Prayer system. Kindly go to http://goo.gl/vjmkTk for more information.
(Translated by Tom Hsieh/Edited by Leefah)