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BLIAQ Newsletter Email: Ibaq@Chungtian.Org.Au Edition 115 June 2016 Chung Tian Buddhist Temple 1034 Underwood Road Priestdale QLD 4127, Australia Website: www.chungtian.org.au BLIAQ Newsletter Email: [email protected] Buddha’s Light International Association of Queensland, Australia Ph: 3841 3511 Fax: 3841 3522 ha The Great Compassion Repentance Service Upcoming Events In our daily lives, when our clothes become dirty, we wash them with water. When our minds 9 July 2016 are polluted by greed, anger, and delusion, we Ven. Master Hsing Yun’s become worried and troubled. In Buddhism, One-Stroke Calligraphy devotees practice repentance to cleanse their Exhibition & minds, and rid themselves of worries. There are Foguangshan different repentance ceremonies, with the Great th 50 Anniversary Compassion Repentance Service being one of Photography Exhibition the most popular. 10 July 2016 The Great Compassion Repentance Service is One Day Meditation based on the Great Compassion Mantra. The full Retreat name of the Great Compassion Mantra literally means, “Thousand-arms and thousand-eyes 16 July 2016 Avalokitesvera Bodhisattva’s all embracing great Great Compassion compassion Dharani.” The mantra consists of Repentance Service eighty-four phrases. It is very popular in the Chinese culture, and widely recited among 22 July 2016 devotees. Some of the merits often associated Commemoration of with the Great Compassion Mantra are: rebirth Avalokitesvara into higher realms, meeting beneficial Bodhisattva’s acquaintances, having competent facilities, Enlightenment Day bountiful food and wealth, gaining great respect, and the opportunity to learn Buddhist teachings. Moreover, those who recite this mantra will not suffer death by starvation, disease, poison, flood, or fire. Water blessed with the Great Compassion Mantra is called the Great Compassion Water, and is taken by devotees for its spiritually cleansing qualities. Buddhists believe that faith in Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva not only improves conditions of this life, but also for rebirth into the Western Pure land. Other than gaining the above benefits, by participating in the ceremony, devotees also benefit from the strength of the compassionate vows of Avalokitesvera Bodhisattva to find peace within themselves. They learn to treat others with respect and humility, bringing harmony to their families and society. Great kindness means giving happiness to all living beings. Great compassion means eradicating suffering from all living beings. Always practice the Bodhisattva way. Manifestation. Liberation, Compassion and Wisdom. 22 July 2016 is to commemorate the Enlightenment Day of Avalokitesvara (Kuan Yin) Bodhisattva. Foguangshan Chung Tian Temple is conducting the ‘Great Compassion Repentance Service’ on 16 July 2016 from 9.30am to 12.00noon so that people can come to cultivate repentance and to pay homage and gratitude to the great compassionate Boddhisattva. It is free entry and all are welcome to participate. By the blessings of Buddha and Bodhisattva’s vow of compassion, may we have bliss and all calamities be eradicated. May we enlighten ourselves to recover our Prajna basic nature that we will be generous and dedicate ourselves always to help others to create a Pure Land on earth. Great Compassionate Heart Great Dharani. The Dharani is: Namo ratna-trayāya. Namo āriyā-valokite-śvarāya. Bodhi-sattvāya Maha-sattvāya Mahā-kārunikāya. Om sarva rabhaye sudhanadasya. Namo skritva imam. āryā-valokite-śvara ramdhava. Namo narakindi hrih Mahā-vadha-svā-me. Sarva-arthato-śubham ajeyam. Sarva-sata Namo-vasat Namo- vāka mavitāto. Tadyathā. Om avaloki-lokate-karate-e-hrih Mahā-bodhisattva. Sarva sarva. Mala mala. Mahi Mahi ridayam. Kuru kuru karmam. Dhuru dhuru. vijayate Mahā-vijayati. Dhara dhara dhrini. śvarāya cala cala. Mama vimala muktele. Ehi ehi śina śina. ārsam prasari. viśva viśvam prasaya. Hulu hulu mara. Hulu hulu hrih. Sara sara Siri siri Suru suru. Bodhiya Bodhiya Bodhaya Bodhaya Maitreya narakindi dhrish-nina bhayamana svāhā Siddhāya svāhā Maha siddhāya svāhā Siddha-yoge-śvaraya svāhā Narakindi svāhā Māranara svāhā śira simha-mukhāya svāhā Sarva mahā-asiddhaya svāhā Cakra-asiddhāya svāhā Padma-kastāya svāhā Narakindi-vagalāya svaha Mavari-śankharāya svāhā Namo ratna-trāyāya Namo āryā-valokite-śvaraya svāhā Om Sidhyantu mantra padāya svāhā Page 1 Australian’s of Chinese Heritage War Memorial Ceremony at RSL Sunnybank Sub-Branch Australians of Chinese Heritage War Memorial Ceremony dedicated to the th contribution of Chinese soldiers in Australia. On 18 June, Abbess Venerable Chueh Shan of Chung Tian Temple and Chaplain Ms. Petra Milaudi invited by Sunnybank Returned Services League (RSL) attended the Australian of Chinese Heritage War Memorial Ceremony to pray for the Australian Chinese soldiers who were killed in war. 60 people including VIPs and community representatives attended. The first ‘Australian Chinese War Memorial’ of RSL at Sunnybank Sub-Branch was completed on 16th July 2010. At that time, Prime Minister Hon Julia Gillard MP in person gave a speech to recognize the dedication of Chinese people to Australian community with their wisdom and hard-working tradition. For the past 160 years, more than 3,000 Chinese joined the Australian Department of Defense in the First and Second World War and recent warfare. This was to acknowledge the contribution of Australian Chinese military in the country. The Ceremony was opened in the singing of ‘Abide with Me’. Chaplain Ms. Petra Milaudi read a prayer from the Bible. Abbess Venerable Chueh Shan representing Buddhism sang ‘Ode to Triple Gem’ and read the Foguang Prayer, “May our country be protected with good weather without natural and man-made disasters. May we have tolerance among races without ethnic dissidents and strife. May our society be strong and at peace without war and riots.” Then, representatives from the Department of Armed Forces and the Police, Australian Federal Councilor Mr. Graham Perrett MP, Federal Councilor Dr. Jim Chalmers MP, Queensland member Cr. Kim Marx, Life Honorary President of World Arts & Multi-Culture Inc. Melody Chen, community representatives and guests offered flowers in sequence. The flag was held at half-mast and everybody held a minute of silence. They sang the Australian national anthem to pay the highest tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed for the country. Chung Tian Admin Translated by Elaine Pun Students learnt ‘Three Act of Goodness’ in Bathing Buddha Ritual , Venerable Jue Tang of Chung Tian Temple went to Runcorn Height State School to teach Buddhism to more than 20 students of grade 1 to 4. She told the story of Buddha’s birth that there were auspicious signs in the sky and 9 dragons spurted water to bathe the baby prince. The prince was able to walk with seven lotus flowers springing out from the ground, and with one hand pointing to the sky and another hand pointing to the earth, he said, “In the sky above and earth beneath, I am the only honored one.” She also explained the bathing Buddha ritual and guided students to perform it in turn. Students were taught to make vows to practice the ‘Three acts of goodness’ when bathing the Buddha, and besides making vows for themselves, they prayed for others. In the Q & A session, students asked a lot of questions which were answered in detail and they benefited a lot. Venerable Miao Xin went to Darra State School to lead 25 students of grade 1 to 6 to do the bathing Buddha ritual, briefly telling the story of Buddha’s birth and the meaning of the bathing Buddha ritual. She demonstrated the way and students were divided into two rows to bathe the Buddha happily. In the Q & A session, many students knew the names of Buddha’s birth place and Buddha’s mother, and the name of the Buddha at his birth. Teachers praised that the bathing Buddha activity could bring positive energy to the school, hoping that Chung Tian Temple could arrange Venerables every year to come and lead students to bathe the Buddha, and in doing so, to promote the concept of the ‘Three acts of goodness’ in school. Chung Tian Admin Translated by Elaine Pun Page 2 Buddha Birth Day Festival Photography Competition Prize Presentation Ceremony Prize Presentation Ceremony of B20 Buddha Birthday Festival Photography Competition jointly organized by Chung Tian Temple, BLIAQ and Mt Gravatt th Photographic Society was held on 28 of May. The Prize Presentation Ceremony was started with the playing of 2016 Buddha Birthday Festival album. 50 people attended including Logan Mayor Cr. Luke Smith, Logan Councilor Cr. Lisa Bradley, Lai Wei-Chung Director General of Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (Brisbane) and Ms Hilary Coulter Public Programs Manager at the Museum of Brisbane. Abbess Venerable Chueh Shan said that Venerable Master Hsing Yun, Founding Master of Foguangshan established art galleries around the world to act as bridges for cultural exchanges between the east and the west. This time was an exhibition of photos in the ‘B20 Buddha Comes Alive Photography Competition’, sharing with everyone the photographic works of art. The organizers had received a total of 150 entries and 51 were chosen for the display. From these, the winning works would be selected. “Buddha Birthday Festival is like giving light to people in the darkness, and giving joy and hope in disappointment,” said Logan Mayor Cr. Luke Smith. He thanked Chung Tian Temple for the tireless effort in the past 20 years for organizing Buddha Birthday Festival Celebrations. This year, Logan City Council sponsored the B20 Celebration and he personally participated in the event at South Bank Parklands, feeling excellent. He praised the success of the Photography Competition and congratulated the contestants and winners. Mr. Gang Wei President of Mt Gravatt Photographic Society announced the winning list, the first being Johnson Wu, second Liliana Dingle, and the third Ian Cassillis and Franky Nawei. The first winner by public vote was Aras Shot. Awards were presented by Abbess Venerable Chueh Shan, Logan Mayor Cr. Luke Smith, Councilor Cr.
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