The birthday of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Guan Yin) falls on March 10, 2023 (the 19th day of the second lunar month). Lingyin Temple held a solemn Triple Gem Refuge Ceremony and abbot Venerable Master Guangquan conducted the ceremony.
The ceremony started at 9:00 in the morning. Under the guidance of the ceremony host, the participants who came for conversion to Buddhism sincerely invited Venerable Master Guangquan to be seated onto the lion throne and then preside over the ritual. This ceremony marks the beginning of their commitment to the most precious gems and the ending of attachments.
In a following Dharma talk, Venerable Master Guangquan explained to the participants the meaning of the Triple Gem – Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. As the ceremony was undertaken, the participants honestly showed repentance for previous defilements and turned to the Triple Gem for liberation and salvation from suffering. Then, they made the Four Great Vows – to take across the numberless living beings, to cut off the endless afflictions, to study the countless Dharma doors and to realize the supreme Buddha way.
With the teachings of Venerable Master Guangquan and the melodious Buddhist chanting, all participants were filled with Dharma bliss and empowered by the Triple Gem at such a solemn and orderly ceremony.
Lingyin Temple holds the Triple Gem Refuge Ceremony three times a year on the Birthday (the 19th day of the second lunar month), Enlightenment Day (the 19th day of the sixth lunar month) and Renunciation Day (the 19th day of the ninth lunar month) of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
