Nearly 800 People Attended the Morning Service at Baoyun Monastery on New Year's Day

At 6:30 a.m. on New Year's Day 2025, nearly 800 people gathered at Baoyun Monastery in Taichung to participate in the morning service led by Ven. Guo Lii (果理法師), the Managing Director of Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) branch monastery administration; Ven. Chang Sheng (常乘法師), the Head Instructor of the Chan Hall; Ven. Yan Chii (演啟法師), the Director of Baoyun Monastery, and the resident monastic members of the Monastery. Everyone recited the Śūraṅgama Mantra together, hoping that in the New Year, they, their families, and the society as a whole would have the power to fulfill great aspirations, thereby creating a pure land on earth together.

"On the first day of the New Year, everyone immediately came before the Buddha at the monastery. Under the Buddha's light that shines universally, our innate Buddha nature becomes brighter. When the brightness appears in our mind, afflictions will dissolve, and wisdom will arise." In addition to reciting sutras, verses for praising the Buddha, and mantras as the morning service, Ven. Guo Lii encourages everyone to have aspirations, as well as transform a small aspiration into a great one. When everyone's good aspirations are combined, unlimited power results. 

For many years, Ven. Chang Sheng visits Baoyun Monastery on New Year's Day consecutively to lead the devotees in Central Taiwan in the Buddha's name recitation as Chan practice. He shared that Master Sheng Yen, the founder of DDM, had recited Guanyin Bodhisattva's name and practiced Guanyin Dharma approach all his life. Ven. Chang Sheng encouraged everyone to apply the ten recitation method, so that the mind can stay clear and be anchored to the names of buddhas and bodhisattvas. This way, the brightness in our mind will naturally reveal itself.

"I am grateful to the Three Jewels. I hope that my parents will always be safe and sound under the blessing of the Buddha's light," said Chung Shih-yi (鍾世怡), who accompanies her father Chung Yu-ju (鍾裕鑄) and her mother Shih Li-hua (施麗華) to attend the New Year's Day morning service every year. Her father, aged 95, was the representative to cut the longevity cake on the occasion of the 2024 "Treasure of the Family," an annual Buddhist-style Joint Longevity Celebration for the Elderly. "I am thankful to be able to attend the morning service with my parents at the monastery. It feels like my family will bask in the Buddha's universal light throughout the year," said Chung Shih-yi affectionately.

A couple, Lin Chih-yuan (林致遠) and Lin Pei-yi (林佩儀), brought their daughters, Lin Ruei-ju (林瑞筑) and Lin Wei-ju (林薇筑), a junior high school student and elementary school pupil, to join the New Year's Day morning service. "We have identified with Master Sheng Yen's vision, so we come to the monastery every year to attend the (New Year) morning service," said Mr. Lin, who wishes everyone a peaceful mind and body in the New Year. His daughter, Lin Wei-ju, shared that reciting Buddhist scriptures at the monastery with her family on New Year's Day helped her mind stay clean and clear. She wished all her family members peace and health.

Chang Shih-hsin (張世欣), who is usually busy with his work, urges himself to attend the morning service on New Year's Day every year. "On the first day of the New Year, visiting Baoyun Monastery for blessings and teachings of the Venerables really helps to boost my perseverance as I familiarize myself with Buddhist teachings," he said. His sister, Chang Chia-pei (張嘉珮), also shared that, as everything starts anew with a New Year, she felt joyful to have the opportunity to become exposed to Buddhadharma at the monastery.



Original Chinese text / Chen Yi-huei (陳逸慧)
Photos / He Guo-liang (何國亮)
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, YKL