As the old year ends and spring returns, the earth is graced with gentle rain;
In harmonious times and fruitful years, people everywhere celebrate the east wind.
I am Guangquan from Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou. On the occasion of the Year of the Snake, I would like to extend my heartfelt New Year wishes on behalf of the Lingyin Sangha to friends from all walks of life, our faithful followers, and overseas Chinese communities!
The Spring Festival is our country’s most profound and widely celebrated traditional holiday. Recently, "Spring Festival: social practices of the Chinese People in celebration of traditional new year" was inscribed in 2024 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Spring Festival is not only a marker of time and an expression of emotions but also embodies the enduring identity and hopes of millions of Chinese people over thousands of years.
Master Yuansou Xingduan, the abbot of Lingyin Temple during the Song Dynasty, once said in his New Year Dharma speech:
"The old year departs, and the new year arrives.
From the Nine Heavens, auspicious energy rises, and all nations resonate with joyful sounds."
Leaving the past behind and embracing the future are two aspects of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, as well as two themes in Buddhist practice. Whether we have achieved great success or faced some regrets, whether we are filled with joy or still harbor confusion, the old year is already fading away, and we should release both gains and losses. As the old saying goes, "The good of the snake is to rise," which shall bring great fortune. The new Year of the Snake requires us to embrace it with joy, to strive for it, and to create new beginnings. Our circumstances arise from our minds, and our surroundings shift with our thoughts. Only by fully letting go of the past and moving forward towards the future, with hearts filled with joy and courage, can we increase our blessings and wisdom, bringing auspiciousness to every household and joy to all.
As we joyfully welcome the new year, let us come together in prayer:
May our nation’s foundation be strengthened, governance flourish,
May the people enjoy peace, and the world be harmonious!
