March Dharma Assembly Celebrating Birthday of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara

OPEN TO PUBLIC: MARCH DHARMA SERVICE

Birthday of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara Blessing Ritual

The 19th day of the second lunar month is the birthday of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

Avalokiteśvara is the Bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. Although Avalokitêśvara Bodhisattva manifested himself as a Bodhisattva, he had actually attained  Buddhahood eons ago. His Dharma name is "the Tathāgata who clearly understands the true law". In order to save and liberate all sentient beings, he returned to the Saha world (the secular world) out of kindness and compassion and revealed himself in the body of a Bodhisattva.

Originally a male deity, Avalokiteśvara gradually became indigenized as a female deity in China over the span of nearly a millennium: first as Guanyin in China, and later Kannon in Japan, Gwanseum in Korea, and Quan Am in Vietnam, all meaning “Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World”. Around the 12th century, Guanyin became interpreted as fully female – being represented, at times, with an infant in her arms, implying the relationship between the deity and maternity. By the Ming (1358–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) periods, Guanyin had become the most popular female deity in China. Today, Guanyin is most often seen as a woman dressed in flowing white robes.

Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva possesses infinite compassion, profound wisdom, and skillful means. With deep connections to the Saha world, he/she showed up everywhere with the spirit of great compassion. The Lotus Sutra, one of the most important texts in Mahāyāna Buddhism, describes Avalokiteśvara extensively in Chapter 25, “The Universal Door of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva”:  "In times of suffering, agony, danger, and death, he/she is our refuge and protector. Complete with all merit and virtue, his/her kind eyes watching living beings."   According to this chapter, when sentient beings come across difficulties, as long as they recite her name, Guanyin Bodhisattva will listen to their call and go to rescue them. As such, she liberates sentient beings from various disasters and sufferings in real life. With supremely compassionate vows and universal impartiality, she contemplates and illuminates all beings in suffering with great wisdom and gives them help.

On the Saturday of the same week of the Bodhisattva’s birthday, March 11th, we welcome you to join us in-person or online for a Dharma assembly to encounter and practice Dharma through the forms of chanting practice and blessing rituals. An in-person group guided tour in the Temple’s main building and community events will be offered afterwards, such as tea tasting and calligraphy writing.

Merit-Making Offering 

Merit-making is important in one’s spiritual practice. Merit is the result of good actions or deeds. If you would like to offer to the Buddha through the power of the sangha during this month’s dharma assembly and ritual, please consider making a donation. Any amount would be appreciated. Your gift will be put to work immediately as part of the merit-making offering for this occasion.

Go to Donate page: www.jinyintemple.org/donate

Participate In-Person at: 

1 Fernwood Ln, East Stroudsburg, PA 18302

Participate Dharma Assembly Online via Zoom: 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82887006695?pwd=K1NqMDlMZ3F2STlKZGtKR2Z3WXYvdz09

Meeting ID: 828 8700 6695

Passcode: 007996

愿以此功德，普及于一切。

May the merit of our practice spread everywhere to all.

我等与众生，皆共成佛道。

May I and sentient beings all attain Buddhahood.

十方三世一切佛，一切菩萨摩诃萨，

To all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions and Three Times,

摩诃般若波罗蜜，能断一切波罗蜜!

and maha-prajnaparamita, The perfection that cuts through all illusions!