Nung Chan Monastery Holds New Year’s Day Morning Service to Welcome the New Year

Nung Chan Monastery of Dharma Drum Mountain in Beitou held its New Year's Day Morning Service starting at 6:00 a.m. on January 1, 2026. More than a thousand public participants, volunteers, and monastics gathered to take part in the first communal practice of the year, marking a fresh beginning. The New Year's Day Morning Service included sutra chanting for blessings as well as an outdoor walking meditation around the Water Moon Pond.
 
Venerable Guo Yi (果毅法師), Director of Nung Chan Monastery, noted that attendance this year was twice that of previous years. She expressed great joy that so many people chose to come to the monastery to practice together on the first day of the new year. In addition, she offered heartfelt thanks to all the monastics and volunteers whose support made it possible to provide such a place of physical and mental tranquility. Nung Chan Monastery offers a wide range of meditation courses, Dharma services, and activities, and warmly welcomes everyone to return often.
 
This year's annual theme of Dharma Drum Mountain is "Blessings and Joy in Abundance." During the event, a video of teachings by the founder, Master Sheng Yen, was played. In the video, the Master explained that happiness comes from inner spiritual abundance. When one's body and mind are peaceful and joyful, one can also bring happiness to family and friends. After the event concluded, Nung Chan Monastery prepared New Year's meal boxes to share with participants. These included DIY cranberry cookies and crispy walnut pastries made by volunteers, along with bread, egg-free cake, and beverages. It was hoped that these blessings would introduce a year filled with blessed joy and abundance for everyone.

Mr. Chang Chih-ming (張治銘) and Mrs. Huang Meng-ling (黃孟鈴) attended with their twin daughters, a family of four. They were deeply moved by the collective dedication of so many volunteers and monastics in supporting the event, and the whole family felt truly blessed. Ms. Chen Yu-his (陳禹希), who came with friends, said she could hardly wait to share with those she knows the newly received "Blessings and Joy in Abundance" Spring Festival couplets, along with the sense of happiness that comes from contentment and cherishing one's blessings.
 
Ms. Tsai Hui-min (蔡慧敏) shared that this year's theme of "Blessings and Joy in Abundance" made her feel joyful and fulfilled; she hopes that every day of the new year will be even better. Mr. Li Xiao-chun (李曉春) also said that receiving the blessings of the monastics at Nung Chan Monastery filled him with warmth and tenderness, and he wished everyone peace, health, and happiness.


 
Original text in Chinese and photos: 傅莉嫻
Translation: Patricia Yang 
Editing: Keith Brown