Hundreds of Monks Participate in Alms Round Themed “Dream-Seek in China: Proper Speech and Proper Deeds”
On May 25, 2015, Lingyin Temple officially launched a series of religious and cultural activities initiated by Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of Zhejiang Province in the theme “Dream-Seek in China: Proper Speech and Proper Deeds”. As part of the series, the alms round in the Buddhist Land of Southeast China was held on the same day with 630 Buddhist masters from the greater Hangzhou Buddhist community, including 45 from Lingyin Temple. The alms round procession formed such a magnificent scene before the grand crowd that the sight would be no different from a thousand monks holding alms bowls.
At 8:00 a.m., the Sangha set off from Faxi Temple (also known as Shang Tianzhu) and paced stately strides towards Lingyin Temple, passing the impressive gathering of tourists and Buddhist faithful along the road. As the massive crowd watched the procession, at times gasping in admiration, they gave alms with great joy by placing offerings in the hundreds of alms bowls. As the procession arrived at Lingyin Temple, Chairman of the Buddhist Association of Hangzhou and Abbot of Lingyin Temple Ven. Guangquan presided over the opening ceremony for the activity series of “Dream-Seek in China: Proper Speech and Proper Deeds”. The 468,000 yuan raised in the alms round was donated to Zhejiang Charity Federation for the water treatment project of sewage, flood, waterlogging, water supply and water saving. As Ven. Guangquan emphasized, charity is the significance of alms round, particularly in the contemporary era. It is also a good way for Buddhist masters to practice “proper speech and proper deeds” in promoting social harmony.
Chairman of the Buddhist Association of Zhejiang Ven. Yizang stated the written proposal for “Dream-Seek in China: Proper Speech and Proper Deeds” religious and cultural activities series while Director of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of Zhejiang Province Feng Zhili announced the details of this series.
The 630 Buddhist masters with alms bowls, together with invited officials and guests, then followed an ancient custom in attending the awe-inspiring Yunlin Tea Ceremony in front the Mahavira Hall. The tea ceremony of the Chan School is a set of ritualized procedures practiced by ancient Buddhists to receive guests. The ritual was formed around the Song Dynasty and later spread to Japan, where it has since been preserved until now. By the initiative of Ven. Guangquan, the current Yunlin Tea Ceremony has become a reestablishment of the Chan School custom through research of ancient historical records as well as the Yotsugashira Chakai--a formal ceremony featuring the Japanese tea culture, in which tea is offered by four venerable Buddhist masters of the temple in commemoration of the patriarch--of Tofuku-ji Temple in Japan. On this day of the Buddha Bathing Festival, 630 masters, together with invited officials and guests, witnessed and experienced the elusive ancient Chan tea ceremony.
In the closing ceremony of the day’s grand events, the fourfold assembly (monks and nuns, laymen and laywomen) attended the peace prayer ceremony before the Mahavira Hall. They reflected upon the prayers and merits of the alms round for contribution towards a harmonious society, mitigating disasters and catastrophes as all shall enjoy long-lasting peace.
