Mahayana Temple

GuanYin/Avalokisarva’s Enlightenment Celebration
2024-12-20 - 2024-12-21 | Mahayana Temple Retreat, 700 Ira Vail Road, Leeds, NY, 12451, United States
GuanYin/Avalokisarva’s Enlightenment Celebration 12 / 20 – 12 / 21 / 2024
This is the day of Guanyin/Avalokiteshvara观音 Bodhisattva’s attainment of Buddhahood, Avalokiteshvara achieved ultimate enlightenment and entered the state of Anuttarā Samyaksaṃbodhi阿耨多罗三藐三菩提, becoming the Tathagata of Right Dharma Illumination, known as “Right Dharma Illumination Tathagata.正法明如来” Subsequently, he chose to return in the guise of a bodhisattva, driven by his vows to traverse the Sahā world娑婆世界 and universally save all sentient beings.
The Right Dharma Illumination Tathagata is a primordial Buddha among ancient Buddhas. His teachings and influence have been boundless and immeasurable, extending from time immemorial to the present across countless galaxies in the Dharma universe. He has cultivated innumerable Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas 菩萨摩诃萨 to achieve Buddhahood, serving as the teacher of Tathagatas in all directions.
“Right Dharma Illumination Tathagata,” in his mission to liberate sentient beings from the ocean of suffering, embarked on the path of cause while bearing the fruit, and reversed the journey on the compassionate ship. He became Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. On one hand, he manifested in billions of forms, liberating beings across all realms and paths. He appeared everywhere without limit, embodying the bodhisattva who responds to a thousand calls in a thousand places – the ultimate savior in countless lands.

GuanYin/Avalokisarva’s Enlightenment Celebration
2024-12-20 - 2024-12-21 | Mahayana Temple City Campus, 133 Canal Street, New York, NY, 10002, United States

Chan Meditation Class
2024-12-28 10:00 - 2025-02-08 15:30 (America/New_York) | Mahayana Temple, 133 Canal Street, New York, NY, 10002, United States
Welcome to the “Chan Meditation Class”!
Join us every Saturday from December 28, 2024, to February 8, 2025, at the Mahayana Temple. The class is divided into two sessions to suit your level of practice:
Beginner Class: The Seven-Point Sitting Posture
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Advanced Class: Chan Meditation
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
These sessions provide a structured introduction to Chan Buddhism for beginners and a deeper exploration of its profound practices for advanced practitioners. Whether you’re just starting out or seeking to deepen your spiritual journey, these classes offer the perfect opportunity to learn and grow. Come and discover the peace and wisdom that Chan Buddhism has to offer!

This Chan Meditation class is designed by Venerable Rumu. It is aimed to guide those of us who are busy chasing dreams in the big apple, to redirect our attention to the nature of ourselves, to clear affliction and delusion, and to eventually get in touch with the purest wisdom we are endowed with.Venerable Rumu was born in 1980 and has grown up in a temple since childhood.
After high school, he studied at the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist College and was ordained as a monk in 1999.
He graduated from the Buddhist college in 2004 and received full bhikkhu ordination the same year.
Ven. Rumu then entered the Buddhist Vimutti-Magga Institute, specializing in the studies of Mahayana ChanBuddhism’s Kanhua Can Chan under the tutelage of Chan Master Hui Men of Viriyachan Monastery. He has followed Master Hui Men to lead meditation retreats in the United States, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and China.
He has also been invited to give lectures on KanhuaCan Chan at various universities and temples, including Wuhan University’s School of Philosophy Studies, Tzu Chi University’s Institute of Religion and Humanities, Fo Guang University’s Department of Buddhist Studies, and several other temples in New Zealand, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
In 2013, Ven. Rumu received the Dharma transmission from Master Hui Men, becoming the 43rd generation Dharma heir in the Linji lineage and the 49th generation Dharma heir of the Caodong school of Chan Buddhism and holds the appointment of the Head Instructor Monk of the Viriyachan Monastery.
Ven. Rumu served as the Dean of the Viriya Chan University from 2013 to 2014. From 2014 to 2020, he served as the abbot of Taipei Puji Temple. Since 2016, he has also been the Director of the “Unveiling the Potential of Youth – Chan Meditation Camps” organized by Malaysia’s Buddha Sasana Foundation.

Registration link：https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chan-meditation-class-tickets-1108582282449

Google LINK：https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DXKeAdSaOuAUyUwb8lsMfIZPq4U_7CaaQda6QNxhjXM/edit

Annual Laba Festival Celebration at Mahayana Temple 2025
2025-01-07 11:30 - 13:30 | NY
Annual Laba Festival Celebration at Mahayana Temple
Mahayana Temple warmly invites you to join us for the Annual Laba Festival Celebration, a cherished tradition that honors the Buddhist Festival of Enlightenment. This special event is a time for prayer, blessings, and the sharing of kindness and compassion.
We will prepare and distribute Laba Congee, a traditional and symbolic dish, to spread warmth, good fortune, and harmony to all who attend. Let us come together to pray for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of the community.
Event Details:

Date: January 7, 2025 (Lunar Calendar: 12th Month, 8th Day)
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: Mahayana Temple (大乘寺)
133 Canal Street, New York, NY 10002

We look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones to this meaningful celebration. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the temple staff.
May this Laba Festival bring joy, peace, and blessings to you and your family!
Sincerely,
Contact Phone: 212-923-8787
Contact Email: pr@mahayana.us
Mahayana Temple
133 Canal Street
New York, NY 10002

Annual Laba Festival Celebration Registration Form QR Code

2025 Lunar New Year Celebration at Mahayana （Temple Retreat）
2025-01-28 11:00 - 2025-02-23 17:00 | NY
2025 Lunar New Year Celebration at Mahayana Temple
Mahayana Temple invites you to join us for the 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration. Through a series of sacred ceremonies, we will welcome the Year of the Snake with prayers, blessings, and Buddhist practices that inspire compassion, wisdom, and renewal. These ceremonies offer an opportunity to honor traditional Buddhist teachings, cultivate spiritual merit, and bring peace and prosperity into the New Year.
The New Year is a time to express gratitude, purify our hearts, and plant the seeds of kindness and harmony. We invite you and your loved ones to join us for the following events:
Event Schedule
Welcoming Wealth and Blessings Ceremony (接财神法会)

Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 (Lunar Calendar: 12th Month, 19th Day)
Time: 11:00 PM
Location: Temple Retreat (710 Ira Vail Rd., Leeds, NY 12451)
As we prepare to enter the New Year, this special ceremony invites wealth, blessings, and auspiciousness into our lives. By chanting and making offerings, we express gratitude to the Buddhas and pray for abundance and good fortune in the year ahead.

Repentance Chanting Ceremony (瑜伽焰口施食法会)

Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 (Lunar Calendar: 1st Month, 1st Day)
Location: Temple Retreat (710 Ira Vail Rd., Leeds, NY 12451)
This ceremony focuses on repentance and purification of past actions. It is a profound Buddhist practice that allows participants to reflect, let go of obstacles, and start the New Year with a clear and peaceful mind.

Amitabha Buddha Repentance Ceremony (华严宝忏法会)

Dates: Thursday, February 20, 2025 – Saturday, February 22, 2025
Lunar Calendar: 1st Month, 13th Day – 1st Month, 15th Day
Location: Temple Retreat (710 Ira Vail Rd., Leeds, NY 12451)
Over three days, this sacred ceremony honors Amitabha Buddha and the profound teachings of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Participants will chant, repent, and dedicate merit to all sentient beings, fostering spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Heavenly Offerings Ceremony (斋天法会)

Date: Sunday, February 23, 2025 (Lunar Calendar: 1st Month, 16th Day)
Location: Temple Retreat (710 Ira Vail Rd., Leeds, NY 12451)
The Heavenly Offerings Ceremony is a significant practice in the Buddhist tradition, expressing gratitude to heavenly beings for their protection and blessings. We cultivate harmony between the spiritual and earthly realms by offering food and prayers.

Live Stream Available: For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be broadcast live on YouTube.
Locations：
Temple Retreat
710 Ira Vail Rd., Leeds, NY 12451
Contact Phone: 518-622-3619
Join Us in Celebrating the Year of the Snake
These ceremonies are an opportunity to deepen your connection to the Dharma, bring peace and joy into your life, and dedicate prayers for the happiness and well-being of all sentient beings. We welcome everyone, whether you are a devout practitioner or seeking spiritual renewal, to participate in this meaningful celebration.
May the Buddha’s light shine upon you and your family, and may the Year of the Snake bring wisdom, harmony, and blessings!

Volunteer Application Link：https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1h-iuwFYtoV5lzXavRlz1dgcxgSiTqSRl_M2KF-Gc8fc/edit

Maitreya Buddha's Birthday Dharma Assembly.（City Campus）
2025-01-29 | NY
Maitreya Buddha’s Birthday Dharma Assembly

Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
Location: Mahayana Temple
133 Canal Street, New York, NY 10002

Join us as we celebrate Maitreya Buddha’s Birthday with a special Dharma Assembly. The day will feature chanting, teachings, and blessings to foster kindness and joy in our lives.
We warmly welcome everyone to participate in this auspicious event.
For more details, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website regularly for updates.
The Birthday of Maitreya Buddha Falls on the First Day of the Lunar New Year
Introduction to Maitreya Buddha
Maitreya, known as Maitreya in Sanskrit and Metteyya in Pali, is translated as “The Benevolent One.” In India, Maitreya Bodhisattva has long been venerated as a significant spiritual figure. Texts such as the Ekottarika Āgama (Chapter 45) and the Bhadrakalpika Sutra (Chapter 7) identify Maitreya as the first Buddha to appear in the future. Similarly, the Abhidharma Mahāvibhāṣa Śāstra (Chapter 27) also narrates the prophecy of Maitreya attaining Buddhahood.
According to The Biographies of Eminent Monks (法盛传), 480 years after the Buddha’s parinirvana, the Arhat Ānanda ascended to the Tusita Heaven, painted an image of Maitreya, and brought it to the northeastern region of Ucchaṅga (尤长国), where a large sandalwood statue of Maitreya was sculpted.
The Tradition of Maitreya Worship in China
The veneration of Maitreya in China began during the Northern and Southern Dynasties and gradually gained popularity. After the Tang Dynasty, due to the translation and spread of the Amitābha Sūtra, the aspiration for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Amitābha became increasingly widespread. Nevertheless, the devotion to Maitreya did not fade and continued to influence Chinese Buddhism into the modern era.
In Chinese Buddhism, Maitreya worship is divided into two main traditions:

The Upper Birth Tradition
This tradition venerates Maitreya Bodhisattva in his current form as a teacher in the Tusita Heaven, with practitioners aspiring to be reborn there.

Key Figures and Practices:

Dao’an: As recorded in the Biographies of Eminent Monks (Volume 5), the Qin ruler Fu Jian sent emissaries to Central Asia to bring back jeweled Maitreya images, which Dao’an displayed during his Dharma assemblies.
Dai Yong: According to the Jewel Forest of the Dharma Garden (Volume 16), Dai Yong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty built a Maitreya statue based on a dream and enshrined it in Longhua Monastery.
Fa Xiang: In 432 CE, during the Liu Song period, he constructed the Maitreya Monastery (Mile Jing She).

Other advocates include Daojiao, Sengye, Huiyan, Xuanzang, and Kuiji.

The Lower Birth Tradition
This tradition focuses on the prophecy of Maitreya descending to this world in the future, where he will preach the Dharma beneath the Dragon Flower Tree during the “Three Assemblies of the Dragon Flower.” Practitioners aspire to participate in these gatherings.

Notable Texts and Contributions:

The Vow of the Dragon Flower (龙华誓愿文), authored by Emperor Ming of Liu Song (465–471 CE).
The Record of the Dragon Flower Assembly (龙华会记) by Prince Wenxuan of Qi.
The Vow of the Dragon Flower by Master Hui Si of Nanyue.

Historical Accounts:

During the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian forged the Mahāmegha Sūtra, claiming to be Maitreya reborn.
In the Five Dynasties period, the monk Budai (布袋和尚) was considered an incarnation of Maitreya. Budai’s passing was marked by his famous verse:
“Maitreya, true Maitreya,
Manifesting countless forms;
Constantly revealing himself to people,
Yet they fail to recognize him.”

The Birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva
In Chinese Buddhism, the first day of the Lunar New Year is celebrated as the birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva. This tradition originates from the association of Budai’s birthday with this date, as he was believed to be an incarnation of Maitreya. Consequently, many monasteries hold Dharma assemblies on this day to honor Maitreya Bodhisattva, promoting the values of benevolence, compassion, and joy.

Maitreya Buddha's Birthday Dharma Assembly.（Temple Retreat）
2025-01-29 | NY
Maitreya Buddha’s Birthday Dharma Assembly. Temple Retreat

Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
Location: Mahayana Temple, 710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451

Join us as we celebrate Maitreya Buddha’s Birthday with a special Dharma Assembly. The day will feature chanting, teachings, and blessings to foster kindness and joy in our lives.
We warmly welcome everyone to participate in this auspicious event.
For more details, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website regularly for updates.
The Birthday of Maitreya Buddha Falls on the First Day of the Lunar New Year
Introduction to Maitreya Buddha
Maitreya, known as Maitreya in Sanskrit and Metteyya in Pali, is translated as “The Benevolent One.” In India, Maitreya Bodhisattva has long been venerated as a significant spiritual figure. Texts such as the Ekottarika Āgama (Chapter 45) and the Bhadrakalpika Sutra (Chapter 7) identify Maitreya as the first Buddha to appear in the future. Similarly, the Abhidharma Mahāvibhāṣa Śāstra (Chapter 27) also narrates the prophecy of Maitreya attaining Buddhahood.
According to The Biographies of Eminent Monks (法盛传), 480 years after the Buddha’s parinirvana, the Arhat Ānanda ascended to the Tusita Heaven, painted an image of Maitreya, and brought it to the northeastern region of Ucchaṅga (尤长国), where a large sandalwood statue of Maitreya was sculpted.
The Tradition of Maitreya Worship in China
The veneration of Maitreya in China began during the Northern and Southern Dynasties and gradually gained popularity. After the Tang Dynasty, due to the translation and spread of the Amitābha Sūtra, the aspiration for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Amitābha became increasingly widespread. Nevertheless, the devotion to Maitreya did not fade and continued to influence Chinese Buddhism into the modern era.
In Chinese Buddhism, Maitreya worship is divided into two main traditions:

The Upper Birth Tradition
This tradition venerates Maitreya Bodhisattva in his current form as a teacher in the Tusita Heaven, with practitioners aspiring to be reborn there.

Key Figures and Practices:

Dao’an: As recorded in the Biographies of Eminent Monks (Volume 5), the Qin ruler Fu Jian sent emissaries to Central Asia to bring back jeweled Maitreya images, which Dao’an displayed during his Dharma assemblies.
Dai Yong: According to the Jewel Forest of the Dharma Garden (Volume 16), Dai Yong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty built a Maitreya statue based on a dream and enshrined it in Longhua Monastery.
Fa Xiang: In 432 CE, during the Liu Song period, he constructed the Maitreya Monastery (Mile Jing She).

Other advocates include Daojiao, Sengye, Huiyan, Xuanzang, and Kuiji.

The Lower Birth Tradition
This tradition focuses on the prophecy of Maitreya descending to this world in the future, where he will preach the Dharma beneath the Dragon Flower Tree during the “Three Assemblies of the Dragon Flower.” Practitioners aspire to participate in these gatherings.

Notable Texts and Contributions:

The Vow of the Dragon Flower (龙华誓愿文), authored by Emperor Ming of Liu Song (465–471 CE).
The Record of the Dragon Flower Assembly (龙华会记) by Prince Wenxuan of Qi.
The Vow of the Dragon Flower by Master Hui Si of Nanyue.

Historical Accounts:

During the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian forged the Mahāmegha Sūtra, claiming to be Maitreya reborn.
In the Five Dynasties period, the monk Budai (布袋和尚) was considered an incarnation of Maitreya. Budai’s passing was marked by his famous verse:
“Maitreya, true Maitreya,
Manifesting countless forms;
Constantly revealing himself to people,
Yet they fail to recognize him.”

The Birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva
In Chinese Buddhism, the first day of the Lunar New Year is celebrated as the birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva. This tradition originates from the association of Budai’s birthday with this date, as he was believed to be an incarnation of Maitreya. Consequently, many monasteries hold Dharma assemblies on this day to honor Maitreya Bodhisattva, promoting the values of benevolence, compassion, and joy.

2025 Lunar New Year Celebration at Mahayana Temple （City Campus）
2025-01-29 - 2025-02-12 | NY
2025 Lunar New Year Celebration at Mahayana Temple City Campus
Mahayana Temple City Campus (New York) welcomes you to celebrate the 2025 Lunar New Year with us. Through traditional Buddhist ceremonies, we welcome the Year of the Snake, offering prayers for peace, prosperity, and blessings for all sentient beings. Join us as we chant, pray, and dedicate merit, spreading the Buddha’s wisdom and compassion to usher in a harmonious and auspicious new year.
Event Schedule

New Year Bell Ringing and Blessing Ceremony

Dates: January 29, 2025 – February 12, 2025 (Lunar Calendar: 1st Month, 1st Day to 15th Day)
During this 15-day period, we will hold daily prayer ceremonies to mark the Lunar New Year. The bell ringing symbolizes the dispersal of obstacles and negative karma, bringing in good fortune and blessings for the year ahead.

Universal Blessing Ceremony

Date: Friday, January 31, 2025 (Lunar Calendar: 1st Month, 3rd Day)
Join us for this profound Buddhist ceremony to pray for health, happiness, and prosperity for all beings. By participating in this prayer service, we dedicate our collective merit to peace in the world and harmony in the community.

Location
Mahayana Temple City Campus (下院)
133 Canal Street, New York, NY 10002
Contact Phone: 212-925-8787
Join Us in Welcoming the Year of the Snake
The Lunar New Year is a time of renewal, reflection, and gratitude. At Mahayana Temple City Campus, we embrace this season with sincerity and devotion, offering everyone an opportunity to connect with the Dharma, cultivate inner peace, and spread loving kindness.
May the Buddha’s blessings fill your life with wisdom, peace, and joy in the Year of the Snake!

Volunteer Application Link：https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1h-iuwFYtoV5lzXavRlz1dgcxgSiTqSRl_M2KF-Gc8fc/edit

Avatamsaka Repentance Ceremony（Temple Retreat）
2025-02-20 08:00 - 2025-02-22 17:00 | NY
Avatamsaka Repentance Ceremony
Date: February 20–22, 2025 (Thursday to Saturday, Lunar Calendar: 22nd–24th of the First Month)Location: Mahayana Temple Retreat710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451
We sincerely invite you to participate in the Avatamsaka Repentance Ceremony, a profound practice of reciting and paying homage to the Avatamsaka Sutra. Through sincere repentance and devotion, we aim to purify karma, cultivate merit and wisdom, and dedicate blessings to all sentient beings for peace and harmony.
Join us in the serene and sacred space of Mahayana Temple to deepen your spiritual practice and experience the boundless wisdom of the Avatamsaka Sutra.
For more information, please email info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

The Origins and Supreme Merits of the Avatamsaka Repentance Ceremony
The Supreme Status of the Avatamsaka Sutra
The Avatamsaka Sutra (Sanskrit: Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra), fully titled The Great and Expansive Buddha Avatamsaka Sutra, is the first great Mahayana scripture expounded by Shakyamuni Buddha after attaining enlightenment in deep samadhi. Revered as the “King of Sutras,” it embodies the essence of the Tripitaka, systematically elucidating the origins of the universe, the true nature of sentient beings, and the ultimate realization of Buddhahood. Therefore, it is often said, “Without reading the Avatamsaka Sutra, one does not know the vast wealth of the Buddha’s teachings.”
On the night of his enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, Shakyamuni Buddha beheld the morning star and instantly awakened to the truth of all Dharma realms. In that very moment, he expounded the Avatamsaka Sutra, revealing a vast and boundless teaching. Like the rising sun illuminating all beings, this sutra guides great Bodhisattvas, Pratyekabuddhas, Sravakas, and all sentient beings toward ultimate liberation. Those who recite the Avatamsaka Sutra or sincerely participate in the Avatamsaka Repentance Ceremony will generate immeasurable merit, beyond all words and comparison.
Core Teachings of the Avatamsaka Sutra
The Avatamsaka Sutra primarily elucidates the interdependent arising of all phenomena, revealing the profound interconnection of the universe and all existences. Its key doctrines include:

Four Dharma Realms – The phenomenal realm (事法界), the noumenal realm (理法界), the non-obstruction of phenomena and noumenon (理事无碍法界), and the non-obstruction of all phenomena (事事无碍法界).
Six Aspects of Interpenetration – Totality, Particularity, Identity, Difference, Integration, and Disintegration (总相、别相、同相、异相、成相、坏相).
Ten Mysterious Gates – Illustrating the infinite, interwoven relationships of the Dharma realm, likened to the Indra’s Net of infinite interpenetration.

These teachings manifest the highest wisdom of Mahayana Buddhism, presenting an inconceivable, all-encompassing, and perfectly harmonious vision of reality.
The Three Holy Ones of the Avatamsaka Sutra
The most revered figures in the Avatamsaka Sutra are known as the Three Holy Ones of Avatamsaka:

Vairocana Buddha – The embodiment of the pure Dharmakaya (Ultimate Reality).
Manjushri Bodhisattva – The manifestation of supreme wisdom.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva – The embodiment of universal vows and virtuous actions.

The well-known Chapter on the Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, found within the Avatamsaka Sutra, describes the Ten Great Vows, which encapsulate the essence of the Buddha’s 84,000 Dharma teachings. These vows serve as a guiding path for all practitioners, leading them from faith and understanding to practice and realization, ultimately attaining perfect enlightenment.
Five Supreme Merits of the Avatamsaka Repentance Ceremony
The Avatamsaka Repentance Ceremony is a profound practice based on the principles of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Sincerely participating in this ceremony can bring five great merits:

Eliminating the Five Heinous Karmic OffensesThe Avatamsaka Sutra states:“If one, with deep faith, upholds, recites, or even copies a single four-line verse of this great vow, they will swiftly eradicate the karma of the Five Heinous Offenses.”Even those who have committed the gravest of sins can purify their karma through sincere repentance, transforming misfortune into blessing.

Healing from Illness and Mental DistressBy faithfully upholding and reciting the Avatamsaka Sutra, whether by chanting, transcribing, or contemplating its teachings, one can alleviate physical ailments, mental suffering, and all forms of affliction, attaining peace and well-being.

Attaining Rebirth in the Realms of Virtue and WisdomThe sutra describes a vision drawn by Samantabhadra Bodhisattva:“Wherever such a person is reborn, they will be in noble lineages, free from evil realms, distanced from negative influences, victorious over non-Buddhist teachings, and completely liberated from afflictions. Like a lion among beasts, they will be honored and revered by all beings.”Those who devotedly recite the Avatamsaka Sutra will escape all suffering, transcend all negative karma, and attain rebirth in virtuous realms.

Subduing Evil Forces and Receiving the Protection of the BuddhasThe merit of practicing the Avatamsaka Repentance Ceremony causes malevolent spirits to recede and even transform, inspiring them to take refuge in the Dharma and offer their protection to sincere practitioners.

Fulfilling Aspirations and Attaining Prosperity in All EndeavorsThose who uphold the Avatamsaka Sutra are praised and safeguarded by all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout time and space. Their careers, families, and spiritual practice will be harmonious and successful, and their aspirations will be fulfilled.

The Place of the Avatamsaka Sutra in the Buddha’s Lifetime Teachings
After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha spent twenty-one days expounding the Avatamsaka Sutra, known as the “Three Weeks of Avatamsaka”, radiating the vast and profound teachings of Mahayana Buddhism. Following this, he gradually adapted his teachings to the capacities of different beings:

Twelve Years of the Agama Period – Establishing the foundation of Buddhism and teaching the early disciples.
Eight Years of the Vaipulya Period – Transitioning from Hinayana to Mahayana teachings.
Twenty-Two Years of the Prajna Period – Expounding the wisdom of emptiness, clarifying the distinction between Buddhist and non-Buddhist doctrines.
Eight Years of the Lotus-Nirvana Period – Concluding with the doctrine of One Vehicle (Ekayana), declaring that all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature and can attain Buddhahood.

The Avatamsaka Sutra encapsulates the original enlightenment experience of the Buddha, a truth later affirmed by the Lotus Sutra and the Nirvana Sutra. These three scriptures, widely transmitted in Chinese Buddhism, have had the greatest impact on Buddhist philosophy and practice, as they directly unveil the ultimate reality of the Buddha’s teachings.

Heaven Worship Dharma Assembly （Temple Retreat）
2025-02-23 | NY
Heaven Worship Dharma Assembly

Date: February 23, 2025 (Wednesday, Lunar New Year’s 15th Day)
Location: Mahayana Temple Retreat
710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451

Offering to the Heavens (斋天): Origin and Significance
The practice of Offering to the Heavens (斋天), also known as Supplying to the Heavens (供天), originated during the Sui Dynasty. It was established by Master Zhiyi of the Tiantai School based on the Golden Light Sutra (Suvarṇaprabhāsa-sūtra), from which the Golden Light Repentance Rite was compiled.
In modern temples, the ceremonial complexity of Offering to the Heavens varies, leading to distinctions between Major Offering and Minor Offering. The Minor Offering (小斋天), known for its simplicity, follows the “Golden Light Sutra Offering Ritual” (金光明经斋天科仪), while the Major Offering (大斋天) is based on the “Mount Hua Offering Ritual” (华山斋天科仪), characterized by elaborate and solemn procedures. The Major Offering features grand ceremonies, dignified altars, melodious chanting, and elegant rhythms. It adheres to the rigorous inner rituals of the Water-Land Dharma Assembly, but the spiritual significance of both forms remains identical.
Scriptural Background and Spiritual Significance
In the Lotus Sutra (Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra), the Skillful Means Chapter states:
“The wisdom I have attained is profound and unsurpassed, yet sentient beings are dull in faculties, attached to worldly pleasures, and blinded by ignorance. How can such beings be liberated?”
Sentient beings are often deeply attached to the pleasures of the five senses, making it difficult for them to awaken to the truths of the Dharma. As a result, the Buddha contemplated entering Nirvana. Recognizing this, the great celestial kings, including Mahābrahmā and Śakra, approached the Buddha with reverence, hands joined in supplication, and requested him to remain in the world to turn the Dharma wheel.
Reflecting on the skillful means used by past Buddhas, the Buddha resolved:
“The path I have attained should also be taught through the Three Vehicles.”
He thus consented and first preached in the Deer Park of Varanasi, then traveled to various places, enlightening many sentient beings.
The Golden Light Sutra recounts that during the “Golden Light Assembly,” celestial beings made bodhicitta vows before the Buddha. They pledged to protect Buddhism, uphold the Dharma, cultivate good deeds, and refrain from evil actions. The Buddha instructed these celestial beings to traverse the human world with compassion, aiding virtuous individuals and supporting practitioners in their journey toward Buddhahood. Consequently, these celestial beings are also known as Dharma Protectors (护法诸天).
The Practice and Merit of Offering to the Heavens
Anyone who sincerely pays homage to and makes offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, recites the Golden Light Sutra, and follows its rituals with fragrant flowers and fine offerings scattered in all directions will receive the blessings of the Dharma-protecting deities, fulfilling their virtuous aspirations.
The celestial beings themselves emphasize that the Golden Light Sutra is a supreme ambrosial Dharma for them. Hearing its teachings not only enhances their vitality but also strengthens their supernatural powers. Reciting the Emptiness Chapter (空品) of the sutra during the Offering to the Heavens is considered the most sublime offering to the celestial beings.
The Deeper Meaning of Offering to the Heavens
Offering to the Heavens is not merely a folk practice of worshiping the Heavenly Emperor; it is a profound act of supporting and practicing the Dharma. It expresses gratitude for the protection of the celestial beings while praying for their descent to receive the offerings. Through these acts, practitioners aspire for the flourishing of the Dharma, ensuring that the Three Jewels—Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—continue to serve as guiding lights for all sentient beings in the darkness of ignorance.
By honoring the celestial beings, making offerings with sincerity, and venerating the Three Jewels, practitioners pray for peace, harmony, and prosperity in the world. May the blessings of the celestial beings inspire all sentient beings to awaken bodhicitta and ultimately attain Buddhahood.
We invite you to join the sacred Heaven Worship Dharma Assembly to pray for blessings in the new year, including increased wisdom and compassion, family harmony, and career success, while sowing the seeds of merit for all sentient beings.
Come and experience the profound blessings of this ceremony in the serene surroundings of the Mahayana Temple Retreat.
For more information, please contact us at pr@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Guan Yin Dharma Assembly · Lunar February 19 （Temple Retreat）
2025-03-18 | NY
Guan Yin Dharma Assembly

Dates:

Lunar February 19 (March 18, 2025, Tuesday)
Lunar June 19 (July 13, 2025, Sunday)
Lunar September 19 (November 8, 2025, Saturday)

Location: Mahayana Temple Retreat
710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451

Guan Yin Bodhisattva is one of the most revered figures in Chinese Buddhism. The three Guan Yin Dharma Assemblies each year commemorate the Bodhisattva’s birth, ordination, and enlightenment. These events symbolize the emergence of wisdom and compassion in the world, guiding sentient beings from ignorance to liberation.
The Origins of Guan Yin’s Three Holy Days
Lunar February 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Birthday
This marks the day when Guan Yin descended into the human world, symbolizing the Bodhisattva’s great compassion to aid all sentient beings. According to the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra, Guan Yin was already enlightened as a Buddha named “Righteous Dharma Bright Tathagata” in immeasurable eons past. Out of compassion, Guan Yin took the form of a Bodhisattva to guide beings to liberation. Many devotees observe this day by practicing vegetarianism and attending Dharma assemblies, a tradition known as “Guan Yin Fast.”
Lunar June 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day
This day celebrates the Bodhisattva’s attainment of Buddhahood, becoming the “Greatly Compassionate Avalokiteshvara.” According to The Sutra of the Buddha’s Garland of Jewels (Bhadrakalpika Sutra), Guan Yin was once a prince named Bu Xun who renounced his royal life to cultivate the path of liberation. In Chinese folklore, the story of Princess Miao Shan, who sacrificed her hands and eyes to save her father, is also connected to this day. These tales remind devotees of Guan Yin’s boundless compassion and resolve to save all beings.
Lunar September 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Ordination Day
This day signifies Guan Yin’s renunciation and entry into monastic life, taking the first step on the Bodhisattva path to relieve sentient beings from suffering. The Bhadrakalpika Sutra records that Prince Bu Xun vowed before the Buddha of Jeweled Treasures to practice the Bodhisattva path and offer refuge to all beings.
The Significance of Participating in the Guan Yin Dharma Assembly
The Guan Yin Dharma Assembly is a time to honor the Bodhisattva’s virtues and align with her compassionate vows. Through chanting, offering lamps, and making prayers, devotees can connect with Guan Yin’s boundless wisdom and compassion. The assembly is an opportunity to pray for peace, prosperity, and the liberation of all beings.
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Qingming Transcendence Ceremony（Temple Retreat）
2025-04-04 | NY
Qingming Transcendence Ceremony

Date: April 4, 2025 (Friday)
Location: Mahayana Temple Retreat
710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451

Qingming Festival: A Harmonious Blend of Tradition, Culture, and Spirituality
The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a deeply rooted Chinese tradition with a history spanning over 2,500 years, originating during the Zhou Dynasty. This festival, held annually on April 4th or 5th, coincides with the blossoming of spring, symbolizing renewal and life. The clear skies and revived landscapes make it an ideal time for tomb-sweeping, ancestor worship, and spring outings. These customs are imbued with both solemnity and joy, reflecting the balance of reverence for ancestors and the celebration of life. In 2006, the Qingming Festival was officially recognized as part of China’s first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Origins and Evolution of Qingming Customs
The customs associated with Qingming trace their roots to an ancient festival called Hanshi Jie (Cold Food Festival), which commemorates the selfless devotion of Jie Zitui, a loyal minister to Duke Wen of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. Legend has it that Jie, unwilling to seek rewards for his service, chose to retreat into the mountains with his mother. Unable to persuade Jie to return, Duke Wen set the forest ablaze to force him out. Tragically, Jie perished in the fire. Deeply grieved, Duke Wen designated the day of Jie’s death as the Cold Food Festival, during which lighting fires was forbidden, and cold food was consumed to honor Jie’s memory.
To counterbalance the physical hardship of eating cold food in winter, outdoor activities such as hiking and sunbathing were introduced to promote health and resilience. Over time, the Cold Food Festival merged with Qingming, as their dates were only a day or two apart. By the Song Dynasty, the two festivals had become one, combining the solemn practices of tomb-sweeping with the lighthearted activities of spring outings.
A Rich Cultural Tapestry
Beyond tomb-sweeping, Qingming is known for its vibrant traditions such as spring outings, willow-branch picking, kite-flying, tug-of-war, and playing cuju (an ancient form of soccer). These activities celebrate life and nature, reflecting the festival’s dual essence of remembrance and rejuvenation. As the Tang poet Yang Shiyi described:
“In faraway green hills, travelers break off willow branches;
Falling blossoms and light rain grace the Qingming day.”
These activities embody Qingming’s evolution from a simple agricultural observance to a major cultural festival, blending remembrance with the joy of spring.
Qingming and the Confucian-Buddhist Connection
Qingming intertwines deeply with the Confucian emphasis on filial piety and the Buddhist teachings on gratitude and merit dedication. Confucius emphasized filial piety as the cornerstone of harmony in society, and the Qingming tradition reflects this value by honoring ancestors through tomb-sweeping, offering sacrifices, and making vows to uphold their virtues.
Similarly, Buddhism highlights the importance of transferring merit to deceased loved ones as an act of compassion and filial devotion. The Sigalovada Sutta (Sutra of Good Conduct) teaches that it is the duty of children to create and dedicate merit for their deceased parents. Therefore, during Qingming, Buddhist temples often host memorial services to liberate the departed from suffering and guide them toward peace.
Buddhist Practices During Qingming
For Buddhists, Qingming is not just a time for remembrance but also an opportunity to cultivate virtues and perform merit-making activities. Common practices include:

Tomb-Sweeping and Ancestral Worship: Cleaning and offering respect at ancestors’ tombs or memorial sites.
Participating in Transcendence Ceremonies: Attending memorial services at temples to dedicate merits to the deceased.
Taking Vows on Behalf of the Departed: Dedicating the merit of taking precepts for the deceased.
Offering Alms and Lighting Lamps: Supporting the monastic community and dedicating the merit to ancestors.
Performing Acts of Compassion: Engaging in good deeds such as releasing animals or making donations and transferring the merit to the departed.

The Deep Meaning of Qingming
Qingming embodies both reverence and renewal. It allows individuals to connect with their ancestors and reaffirm their cultural identity while celebrating the beauty of life and nature. It also fosters intergenerational harmony, linking the past, present, and future.
From a Buddhist perspective, Qingming is a profound reminder to express gratitude to those who came before us, honor their teachings, and dedicate our virtues to their well-being. By doing so, we cultivate compassion, bring light to their journey, and nurture harmony within our families and communities. Through these practices, Qingming continues to be a living tradition, inspiring generations to bridge the spiritual and the practical, the past and the present, in a spirit of gratitude and renewal.
We sincerely invite you to participate in the Qingming Transcendence Ceremony, a sacred event to honor and remember our ancestors and departed loved ones. This ceremony offers prayers for the liberation of their souls, as well as blessings for peace and happiness in the present and future generations.
Join us at Mahayana Temple Retreat for this meaningful occasion, where we come together to express gratitude, cultivate merit, and offer prayers for universal harmony and the well-being of all sentient beings.
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Qingming Dharma Assembly （City Campus）
2025-04-04 | NY
Qingming Dharma Assembly

Date: April 4, 2025 – April 5, 2025 (Friday and Saturday)
Location: Mahayana Temple City Campus
133 Canal Street, New York, NY 10002

Qingming Festival: A Harmonious Blend of Tradition, Culture, and Spirituality
The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a deeply rooted Chinese tradition with a history spanning over 2,500 years, originating during the Zhou Dynasty. This festival, held annually on April 4th or 5th, coincides with the blossoming of spring, symbolizing renewal and life. The clear skies and revived landscapes make it an ideal time for tomb-sweeping, ancestor worship, and spring outings. These customs are imbued with both solemnity and joy, reflecting the balance of reverence for ancestors and the celebration of life. In 2006, the Qingming Festival was officially recognized as part of China’s first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Origins and Evolution of Qingming Customs
The customs associated with Qingming trace their roots to an ancient festival called Hanshi Jie (Cold Food Festival), which commemorates the selfless devotion of Jie Zitui, a loyal minister to Duke Wen of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. Legend has it that Jie, unwilling to seek rewards for his service, chose to retreat into the mountains with his mother. Unable to persuade Jie to return, Duke Wen set the forest ablaze to force him out. Tragically, Jie perished in the fire. Deeply grieved, Duke Wen designated the day of Jie’s death as the Cold Food Festival, during which lighting fires was forbidden, and cold food was consumed to honor Jie’s memory.
To counterbalance the physical hardship of eating cold food in winter, outdoor activities such as hiking and sunbathing were introduced to promote health and resilience. Over time, the Cold Food Festival merged with Qingming, as their dates were only a day or two apart. By the Song Dynasty, the two festivals had become one, combining the solemn practices of tomb-sweeping with the lighthearted activities of spring outings.
A Rich Cultural Tapestry
Beyond tomb-sweeping, Qingming is known for its vibrant traditions such as spring outings, willow-branch picking, kite-flying, tug-of-war, and playing cuju (an ancient form of soccer). These activities celebrate life and nature, reflecting the festival’s dual essence of remembrance and rejuvenation. As the Tang poet Yang Shiyi described:
“In faraway green hills, travelers break off willow branches;
Falling blossoms and light rain grace the Qingming day.”
These activities embody Qingming’s evolution from a simple agricultural observance to a major cultural festival, blending remembrance with the joy of spring.
Qingming and the Confucian-Buddhist Connection
Qingming intertwines deeply with the Confucian emphasis on filial piety and the Buddhist teachings on gratitude and merit dedication. Confucius emphasized filial piety as the cornerstone of harmony in society, and the Qingming tradition reflects this value by honoring ancestors through tomb-sweeping, offering sacrifices, and making vows to uphold their virtues.
Similarly, Buddhism highlights the importance of transferring merit to deceased loved ones as an act of compassion and filial devotion. The Sigalovada Sutta (Sutra of Good Conduct) teaches that it is the duty of children to create and dedicate merit for their deceased parents. Therefore, during Qingming, Buddhist temples often host memorial services to liberate the departed from suffering and guide them toward peace.
Buddhist Practices During Qingming
For Buddhists, Qingming is not just a time for remembrance but also an opportunity to cultivate virtues and perform merit-making activities. Common practices include:

Tomb-Sweeping and Ancestral Worship: Cleaning and offering respect at ancestors’ tombs or memorial sites.
Participating in Transcendence Ceremonies: Attending memorial services at temples to dedicate merits to the deceased.
Taking Vows on Behalf of the Departed: Dedicating the merit of taking precepts for the deceased.
Offering Alms and Lighting Lamps: Supporting the monastic community and dedicating the merit to ancestors.
Performing Acts of Compassion: Engaging in good deeds such as releasing animals or making donations and transferring the merit to the departed.

The Deep Meaning of Qingming
Qingming embodies both reverence and renewal. It allows individuals to connect with their ancestors and reaffirm their cultural identity while celebrating the beauty of life and nature. It also fosters intergenerational harmony, linking the past, present, and future.
From a Buddhist perspective, Qingming is a profound reminder to express gratitude to those who came before us, honor their teachings, and dedicate our virtues to their well-being. By doing so, we cultivate compassion, bring light to their journey, and nurture harmony within our families and communities. Through these practices, Qingming continues to be a living tradition, inspiring generations to bridge the spiritual and the practical, the past and the present, in a spirit of gratitude and renewal.
We sincerely invite you to join the Qingming Dharma Assembly at Mahayana Temple. This sacred event is an opportunity to honor and remember ancestors, as well as to pray for the liberation of departed loved ones and all sentient beings. Through chanting, offerings, and prayer, we dedicate merit to the deceased, wishing them peace, happiness, and rebirth in pure realms.
Qingming is also a time to express gratitude and practice filial piety. With heartfelt devotion, let us gather to honor the past, cultivate virtue, and pray for harmony, prosperity, and the well-being of all beings.
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Buddha Bathing Festival Ceremony（Temple Retreat）
2025-05-05 08:00 - 17:00 | NY
Buddha Bathing Festival Ceremony

Date: May 5, 2025 (Monday, Lunar April 8th)
Location: Mahayana Temple Retreat
710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451

Introduction to the Bathing Buddha Festival
The Bathing Buddha Festival, also known as “Buddha’s Birthday,” “Bathing the Buddha,” or “Anointing the Buddha,” is a traditional Buddhist holiday. According to Buddhist legend, when Shakyamuni Buddha was born, nine dragons sprayed fragrant water to bathe his body. Based on this story, Buddhists hold a bathing ceremony on Buddha’s Birthday.
Timing and Customs of the Bathing Buddha Festival

Timing
The Bathing Buddha Festival falls on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month.

Chinese Buddhism: In the early Northern and Southern Dynasties, it was observed on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month. During the Liang Dynasty through to the Tang and early Liao Dynasties, it was changed to the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the northern regions celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, while the southern regions maintained the 4th lunar month tradition. From the Yuan Dynasty onward, the festival was unified nationwide on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month.
Theravāda Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism: In Theravāda Buddhism and regions like Mongolia and Tibet, Buddha’s Birthday is usually celebrated on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month, coinciding with Buddha’s Enlightenment Day and Parinirvana Day.
Dai Water-Splashing Festival: The Dai people celebrate their Water-Splashing Festival in the 6th month of the Dai calendar (4th lunar month).

Chinese Customs
Residents create a red paper cross inscribed with the words: “On the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, Buddha was born, and today caterpillars are married off into the deep mountains, never to return home.” This is pasted on doors and walls, symbolizing warding off evil. Other customs include processions, preparing fragrant soup, and cooking black rice. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Bathing Buddha Festival was confined to monasteries, but it gradually spread to the public during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
Theravāda Buddhism Customs
Among the Dai people, who practice Theravāda Buddhism, everyone, regardless of age or gender, visits temples in the early morning to worship Buddha, make offerings, conduct cleansing rituals for Buddha statues, and perform ceremonies to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. Afterward, they engage in water-splashing, laughter, and games, including launching sky lanterns, dragon boat races, fairs, and throwing love tokens.
Tibetan Buddhism Customs
Tibetan Buddhism refers to the festival as the “Fourth Month Dharma Assembly,” with events lasting several days. Activities include chanting sutras, performing Cham dances (also called ritual dances or Dharma King dances), and worshipping in temples. The water-splashing custom is only popular among young novice monks.

Origin of the Bathing Buddha Festival

Legend of Shakyamuni’s Birth
According to The Sutra of Past and Present Cause and Effect, Queen Maya, nearing her due date, passed through Lumbini Garden and gave birth to Prince Siddhartha under the Ashoka tree (also called Sala or Paricchattaka tree). At that moment, Nanda and Upananda, two dragon kings (or nine dragons in some versions), sprayed pure water to bathe the prince. The newborn prince immediately walked seven steps, with lotus flowers blooming beneath his feet, and declared, “Above the heavens and below the heavens, I alone am honored.”
This legend was widely known in ancient India and is depicted in Buddhist sculptures unearthed in Sarnath and Amaravati.
Historical Background in Ancient India
Over two thousand years ago, there was a prosperous kingdom called Kapilavastu, ruled by King Suddhodana, who was virtuous but childless for many years. Queen Maya dreamt of a six-tusked white elephant entering her body and became pregnant. Following the custom of returning to her family for childbirth, she stopped in Lumbini Garden, where she gave birth joyfully beneath an Ashoka tree.

Significance of the Bathing Buddha Festival
On Buddha’s Birthday, Buddhists gather in temples to participate in the Bathing Buddha ceremony. A statue of the infant Buddha is enshrined in the main hall, and devotees take turns pouring fragrant water over the statue using small copper ladles. Surrounding the ceremony are other related Dharma assemblies, collectively referred to as the Bathing Buddha Festival.
The festival symbolizes reverence and gratitude toward Buddha, encouraging purification, blessings, and the propagation of Buddha’s compassionate spirit.
We warmly invite you to participate in the Buddha Bathing Festival Ceremony to commemorate the sacred birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha. The bathing ritual symbolizes cleansing our inner afflictions, purifying the body and mind, cultivating bodhicitta, and sowing seeds of merit.
Join us at Mahayana Temple Retreat to immerse yourself in the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha. Together, let us pray for world peace, the happiness of all sentient beings, and the growth of wisdom and blessings in our lives.
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Guan Yin Dharma Assembly · Lunar June 19 （Temple Retreat）
2025-07-13 | Mahayana Temple Retreat, 700 Ira Vail Road, Leeds, NY, 12451, United States

Guan Yin Dharma Assembly · Lunar June 19 （City Campus）
2025-07-13 | Mahayana Temple, 133 Canal Street, New York, NY, 10002, United States
Guan Yin Dharma Assembly

Dates:

Lunar February 19 (March 18, 2025, Tuesday)
Lunar June 19 (July 13, 2025, Sunday)
Lunar September 19 (November 8, 2025, Saturday)

Location: Mahayana Temple City Campus
133 Canal Street, New York, NY 10002

Guan Yin Bodhisattva is one of the most revered figures in Chinese Buddhism. The three Guan Yin Dharma Assemblies each year commemorate the Bodhisattva’s birth, ordination, and enlightenment. These events symbolize the emergence of wisdom and compassion in the world, guiding sentient beings from ignorance to liberation.
The Origins of Guan Yin’s Three Holy Days
Lunar February 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Birthday
This marks the day when Guan Yin descended into the human world, symbolizing the Bodhisattva’s great compassion to aid all sentient beings. According to the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra, Guan Yin was already enlightened as a Buddha named “Righteous Dharma Bright Tathagata” in immeasurable eons past. Out of compassion, Guan Yin took the form of a Bodhisattva to guide beings to liberation. Many devotees observe this day by practicing vegetarianism and attending Dharma assemblies, a tradition known as “Guan Yin Fast.”
Lunar June 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day
This day celebrates the Bodhisattva’s attainment of Buddhahood, becoming the “Greatly Compassionate Avalokiteshvara.” According to The Sutra of the Buddha’s Garland of Jewels (Bhadrakalpika Sutra), Guan Yin was once a prince named Bu Xun who renounced his royal life to cultivate the path of liberation. In Chinese folklore, the story of Princess Miao Shan, who sacrificed her hands and eyes to save her father, is also connected to this day. These tales remind devotees of Guan Yin’s boundless compassion and resolve to save all beings.
Lunar September 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Ordination Day
This day signifies Guan Yin’s renunciation and entry into monastic life, taking the first step on the Bodhisattva path to relieve sentient beings from suffering. The Bhadrakalpika Sutra records that Prince Bu Xun vowed before the Buddha of Jeweled Treasures to practice the Bodhisattva path and offer refuge to all beings.
The Significance of Participating in the Guan Yin Dharma Assembly
The Guan Yin Dharma Assembly is a time to honor the Bodhisattva’s virtues and align with her compassionate vows. Through chanting, offering lamps, and making prayers, devotees can connect with Guan Yin’s boundless wisdom and compassion. The assembly is an opportunity to pray for peace, prosperity, and the liberation of all beings.
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Liang Emperor’s Repentance Dharma Assembly（Temple Retreat）
2025-08-30 - 2025-09-06 | Mahayana Temple Retreat, 700 Ira Vail Road, Leeds, NY, 12451, United States
Liang Emperor’s Repentance Dharma Assembly

Date: August 30, 2025 – September 6, 2025
Location: Mahayana Temple Retreat
710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451

We warmly invite you to participate in the Liang Emperor’s Repentance Dharma Assembly, a profound practice to dedicate merit for departed loved ones, purify karma, and accumulate blessings and wisdom. The Liang Emperor’s Repentance Sutra was composed by Emperor Wu of Liang to liberate his late empress and is considered one of the most sublime repentance rituals in Buddhism. Through chanting and bowing during this sacred ceremony, we aspire to eliminate karmic obstacles, resolve grievances, and generate blessings for the world’s peace and harmony.
The Significance of the Liang Emperor’s Repentance
This Dharma assembly embodies the essence of repentance. By venerating the Buddhas, chanting sutras, offering lamps, and making offerings, participants seek the Three Jewels’ blessings. The merit generated not only supports the liberation of ancestors but also brings blessings for the living, including family harmony, career success, and physical and mental well-being.
The Liang Emperor’s Repentance Text (Liang Huang Bao Chan) was composed by Emperor Wu of Liang to perform spiritual liberation for his empress, Lady Chi. Known for her jealousy, Lady Chi often harbored ill will towards the women of the harem and spoke with a venomous tongue. She resented Emperor Wu’s devotion to Buddhism and once tore apart a Buddhist scripture, The Lotus Sutra. Additionally, she mocked the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) and defiled monastic rules by offering monks false vegetarian meals wrapped in dough but containing onions, garlic, leeks, and even meat. Fortunately, the monks, endowed with wisdom, prepared their own food and replaced her impure offerings.
Living in the palace, Lady Chi failed to cherish her blessings and ignored the law of karma. Engaging in acts that led to negative cycles of rebirth, she passed away at the age of 30. Due to her wrathful and venomous nature, she was reborn as a python after death.
Several months later, Emperor Wu was startled by rustling sounds outside his bedchamber. He discovered a massive python coiled on the palace steps. Terrified, the emperor was further shocked when the python spoke, saying, “Do not be alarmed, my lord. I am Lady Chi, fallen from grace. Due to my disbelief in Buddhism and misconduct in life, I have descended into the animal realm. I now suffer hunger, pain from venomous insects on my scales, and endless torment. Out of our past bond as husband and wife, I implore you to show mercy and deliver me from this suffering. If freed, I vow to repay your kindness.”
Emperor Wu, overwhelmed by fear and sorrow, sought guidance from Chan Master Zhigong. The emperor asked, “Why has Lady Chi fallen to the state of a python?” Master Zhigong replied, “She lacked faith in Buddhism, was jealous of others, disrespected the Three Jewels, and failed to cultivate virtue. She viewed the palace as a paradise, enjoying blessings without creating merits, disregarding karma, and fearing no retribution.”
The emperor inquired, “How can I liberate her?” Master Zhigong responded, “To liberate her, you must sincerely repent, host grand offerings, invite esteemed monks, establish a sacred venue, and proclaim the Dharma. You, Your Majesty, must personally bow, recite scriptures, and confess sins.”
Following these instructions, Emperor Wu commissioned Master Zhigong and others to draft a repentance text in 30 volumes based on Buddhist scriptures and principles. After the rituals of repentance and prostration were completed, a radiant celestial being appeared before Emperor Wu, expressing gratitude: “Through the power of the Buddha, I have been freed from the python’s form and will ascend to the heavens. I have come to offer my thanks.”
This repentance text, initiated by Emperor Wu and effective in liberating Lady Chi, has been revered for generations. It is credited with transforming countless beings and is known as the Precious Repentance (Bao Chan). It is believed to eliminate disasters, remove sins, and bring blessings. Named The Compassionate Dharma Field Repentance by Maitreya Bodhisattva in a dream, the text was later condensed into ten volumes. Due to its origins with Emperor Wu, it is also called The Liang Emperor’s Repentance Text.
Known as the most extensive repentance text in Chinese Buddhist history, it is honored as the “King of Repentance Texts.” Buddhist practitioners commonly use it for disaster prevention and the liberation of deceased souls, making it one of the longest-practiced repentance rituals in Chinese Buddhism. Its comprehensive content integrates the teachings of Mahayana sutras and the names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Having evolved over more than a millennium, The Liang Emperor’s Repentance Text is suitable for both monastics and laypeople. Repentance teaches us to cleanse our hearts in the waters of the Dharma. The practice purifies the mind stained by sins and encourages proactive acceptance of karma with responsibility. This form of repentance cultivates compassion, inspiring the practitioner to benefit all beings and walk the Bodhisattva Path. The practice combines scripture recitation and prostration, engaging body, speech, and mind in the purest way.
You are sincerely invited to join the Liang Emperor’s Repentance Ritual to pray for the liberation of ancestors, repentance of karmic debts, and the accumulation of merit and wisdom. As one of the most revered repentance texts in Buddhism, The Liang Emperor’s Repentance Text aids beings in eradicating karmic obstacles, resolving enmities, and enhancing blessings. It is also a prayer for world peace and the happiness of all sentient beings.
Join us at the serene and dignified Mahayana Temple Retreat, where we will gather to receive the Buddha’s compassion, cultivate merit, and strengthen our connections with one another.
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Ullambana Festival Ceremony (City Campus)
2025-09-05 - 2025-09-06 | NY
Ullambana Festival Ceremony
Date: September 5 (Friday) – September 6 (Saturday), 2025Location: Mahayana Temple (City Campus)133 Canal Street, New York, NY 10002
We sincerely invite you to join the Ullambana Festival Ceremony at Mahayana Temple, a sacred event dedicated to honoring and liberating ancestors and all sentient beings. Rooted in the profound compassion of Maudgalyayana’s filial piety, the Ullambana Festival emphasizes gratitude, remembrance, and the power of collective merit through Buddhist practice.
Through chanting, offering, and sincere repentance, we seek to generate blessings for the living and liberation for the departed. Let us come together in compassion to cultivate merit and wisdom, and to dedicate this goodness to our ancestors, parents, and all beings in need.
The Origins of the Ullambana Festival
The Ullambana Festival, known as the Ghost Festival in Chinese Buddhism, originates from the story of Maudgalyayana (also known as Mahāmaudgalyāyana), one of the Buddha’s foremost disciples renowned for his supernatural powers. After attaining enlightenment, Maudgalyayana sought to repay the kindness of his deceased mother. Using his clairvoyant abilities, he discovered that she had been reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts (preta) and was suffering immensely. He attempted to offer her food, but it transformed into flames upon reaching her mouth.​
Distressed, Maudgalyayana approached the Buddha for guidance. The Buddha explained that individual efforts were insufficient to alleviate his mother’s suffering. He advised Maudgalyayana to make offerings to the monastic community on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, coinciding with the end of the monks’ summer retreat. By doing so, the collective merit generated would liberate his mother from her torment. Maudgalyayana followed this instruction, and his mother was released from the realm of hungry ghosts.
This event established the Ullambana Festival as a time for Buddhists to honor their ancestors and perform acts of generosity, particularly towards the monastic community, to transfer merit to deceased relatives and all sentient beings. The festival embodies themes of filial piety, compassion, and the transformative power of collective merit.
Overview of Ullambana Festival Customs

The Ullambana Festival is typically celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, though in regions like Guangdong and Hong Kong, it may occur on the 14th.

Key customs include offering sacrifices, burning joss paper, releasing river lanterns, and conducting rituals.

The festival emphasizes filial piety, honoring ancestors, and appeasing spirits, with variations across regions.

Timing and Significance

The Ullambana Festival, also known as the Ghost Festival, is a significant traditional event usually observed on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. In parts of southern China, such as Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, celebrations may take place on the 14th (Ullambana Festival). Rooted in Buddhist and Taoist traditions, it focuses on commemorating ancestors and ensuring the well-being of wandering spirits, reflecting deep cultural values of respect for family.
Main Customs
During the festival, various activities are performed to honor the deceased and pacify spirits:

Offering Sacrifices: Families prepare food, incense, candles, and paper money, either placed on altars or burned to provide for ancestors.

Burning Joss Paper: Especially in Hong Kong and Macau, burning joss paper or “street clothes” is common from the 1st to the 14th of the seventh month to benefit wandering spirits (Ullambana Festival).

Releasing River Lanterns: Small lanterns are set afloat on rivers to guide spirits or bring good fortune, a practice particularly popular in southern China (Ghost Festival).

Rituals and Ceremonies: Buddhist chanting or Taoist rites are conducted to appease spirits and ensure peace for the living.

Regional and Cultural Variations
Customs vary by region, showcasing China’s cultural diversity:

In northern China, the festival is strictly observed on the 15th, while southern areas like Guangdong may celebrate a day earlier.

Urban areas focus on burning paper offerings and releasing lanterns, whereas rural regions may include roadside sacrifices or communal rituals.

Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in China, the festival highlights its enduring importance (Ghost Festival).

These practices underscore the festival’s role in fostering familial bonds and spiritual harmony, with adaptations reflecting local traditions.
For more information, please email: info@mahayana.usVisit our website: http://en.mahayana.us

Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Birthday Dharma Assembly（Temple Retreat）
2025-09-21 10:00 - 17:00 | Mahayana Temple Retreat, 700 Ira Vail Road, Leeds, NY, 12451, United States
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Birthday Dharma Assembly

Date: September 21, 2025 (Sunday, Lunar July 29th)
Location: Mahayana Temple Retreat
710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451

We warmly invite you to join the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Birthday Dharma Assembly to honor his great vow and boundless compassion. Known for his profound vow, “If hell is not empty, I shall not attain Buddhahood,” Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva is revered for his dedication to liberating sentient beings from suffering and guiding them toward enlightenment. During this sacred assembly, we will chant sutras, make offerings, and dedicate merit, expressing gratitude and devotion to the Bodhisattva while praying for peace and liberation for all beings.
The Significance of the Dharma Assembly
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Birthday is a profound opportunity to accumulate merit and cultivate virtue. Through the recitation of the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, participants can purify their minds, dedicate merit to their ancestors and departed loved ones, and pray for their liberation and rebirth in the Pure Land. It is also a chance to generate blessings for the living, wishing all beings peace, happiness, and freedom from suffering.
Join us at Mahayana Temple Retreat to immerse yourself in this solemn ceremony, cultivate wisdom and compassion, and experience the radiant vow and kindness of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva.
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Chongyang Dharma Assembly（Temple Retreat）
2025-10-29 10:00 - 17:00 | Mahayana Temple, 133 Canal Street, New York, NY, 10002, United States
Chongyang Dharma Assembly

Date: October 29, 2025 (Wednesday, Lunar September 9th)
Location: Mahayana Temple Retreat
710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451

We warmly invite you to join the solemn Chongyang Dharma Assembly to pray for the liberation of all sentient beings from suffering and to cultivate wisdom and blessings. The Chongyang Festival is a meaningful occasion to honor parental love, express gratitude, and pray for health and well-being. It is also a special opportunity to practice compassion and filial piety. On this day, through Buddhist practice, we express our gratitude to parents and elders while extending our aspirations to benefit all beings, bringing harmony and peace to the world.
The Spirit of the Chongyang Festival in Buddhism
Buddhism emphasizes “compassion as the foundation and filial piety as the root.” Filial piety is not only about repaying the kindness of one’s parents but also extends to caring for and liberating all sentient beings. The Chongyang Festival, as a time to reflect on life, reminds us to cherish our present opportunities, cultivate virtue, and sow seeds of goodness for ourselves and others. Through chanting and bowing to the Buddha, we pray for the liberation of departed loved ones, the health and well-being of elders, and dedicate merit to all beings for their peace and liberation.
You are warmly welcome to join us at Mahayana Temple Retreat, where we will gather in a serene and sacred setting to practice together, share the joy of Dharma, and pray for world peace and the happiness of all beings!
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Guan Yin Dharma Assembly · Lunar September 19 （City Campus）
2025-11-08 | Mahayana Temple, 133 Canal Street, New York, NY, 10002, United States
Dates:

Lunar February 19 (March 18, 2025, Tuesday)
Lunar June 19 (July 13, 2025, Sunday)
Lunar September 19 (November 8, 2025, Saturday)

Location: Mahayana Temple City Campus
133 Canal Street, New York, NY 10002

Guan Yin Bodhisattva is one of the most revered figures in Chinese Buddhism. The three Guan Yin Dharma Assemblies each year commemorate the Bodhisattva’s birth, ordination, and enlightenment. These events symbolize the emergence of wisdom and compassion in the world, guiding sentient beings from ignorance to liberation.
The Origins of Guan Yin’s Three Holy Days
Lunar February 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Birthday
This marks the day when Guan Yin descended into the human world, symbolizing the Bodhisattva’s great compassion to aid all sentient beings. According to the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra, Guan Yin was already enlightened as a Buddha named “Righteous Dharma Bright Tathagata” in immeasurable eons past. Out of compassion, Guan Yin took the form of a Bodhisattva to guide beings to liberation. Many devotees observe this day by practicing vegetarianism and attending Dharma assemblies, a tradition known as “Guan Yin Fast.”
Lunar June 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day
This day celebrates the Bodhisattva’s attainment of Buddhahood, becoming the “Greatly Compassionate Avalokiteshvara.” According to The Sutra of the Buddha’s Garland of Jewels (Bhadrakalpika Sutra), Guan Yin was once a prince named Bu Xun who renounced his royal life to cultivate the path of liberation. In Chinese folklore, the story of Princess Miao Shan, who sacrificed her hands and eyes to save her father, is also connected to this day. These tales remind devotees of Guan Yin’s boundless compassion and resolve to save all beings.
Lunar September 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Ordination Day
This day signifies Guan Yin’s renunciation and entry into monastic life, taking the first step on the Bodhisattva path to relieve sentient beings from suffering. The Bhadrakalpika Sutra records that Prince Bu Xun vowed before the Buddha of Jeweled Treasures to practice the Bodhisattva path and offer refuge to all beings.
The Significance of Participating in the Guan Yin Dharma Assembly
The Guan Yin Dharma Assembly is a time to honor the Bodhisattva’s virtues and align with her compassionate vows. Through chanting, offering lamps, and making prayers, devotees can connect with Guan Yin’s boundless wisdom and compassion. The assembly is an opportunity to pray for peace, prosperity, and the liberation of all beings.
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Guan Yin Dharma Assembly · Lunar September 19 （Temple Retreat）
2025-11-08 | Mahayana Temple, 133 Canal Street, New York, NY, 10002, United States
Dates:

Lunar February 19 (March 18, 2025, Tuesday)
Lunar June 19 (July 13, 2025, Sunday)
Lunar September 19 (November 8, 2025, Saturday)

Location: Mahayana Temple Retreat
710 Ira Vail Rd, Leeds, NY 12451

Guan Yin Bodhisattva is one of the most revered figures in Chinese Buddhism. The three Guan Yin Dharma Assemblies each year commemorate the Bodhisattva’s birth, ordination, and enlightenment. These events symbolize the emergence of wisdom and compassion in the world, guiding sentient beings from ignorance to liberation.
The Origins of Guan Yin’s Three Holy Days
Lunar February 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Birthday
This marks the day when Guan Yin descended into the human world, symbolizing the Bodhisattva’s great compassion to aid all sentient beings. According to the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra, Guan Yin was already enlightened as a Buddha named “Righteous Dharma Bright Tathagata” in immeasurable eons past. Out of compassion, Guan Yin took the form of a Bodhisattva to guide beings to liberation. Many devotees observe this day by practicing vegetarianism and attending Dharma assemblies, a tradition known as “Guan Yin Fast.”
Lunar June 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day
This day celebrates the Bodhisattva’s attainment of Buddhahood, becoming the “Greatly Compassionate Avalokiteshvara.” According to The Sutra of the Buddha’s Garland of Jewels (Bhadrakalpika Sutra), Guan Yin was once a prince named Bu Xun who renounced his royal life to cultivate the path of liberation. In Chinese folklore, the story of Princess Miao Shan, who sacrificed her hands and eyes to save her father, is also connected to this day. These tales remind devotees of Guan Yin’s boundless compassion and resolve to save all beings.
Lunar September 19: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Ordination Day
This day signifies Guan Yin’s renunciation and entry into monastic life, taking the first step on the Bodhisattva path to relieve sentient beings from suffering. The Bhadrakalpika Sutra records that Prince Bu Xun vowed before the Buddha of Jeweled Treasures to practice the Bodhisattva path and offer refuge to all beings.
The Significance of Participating in the Guan Yin Dharma Assembly
The Guan Yin Dharma Assembly is a time to honor the Bodhisattva’s virtues and align with her compassionate vows. Through chanting, offering lamps, and making prayers, devotees can connect with Guan Yin’s boundless wisdom and compassion. The assembly is an opportunity to pray for peace, prosperity, and the liberation of all beings.
For more information, please contact us at info@mahayana.us or visit our website.

Dongzhi Winter Solstice
2025-12-21 10:00 - 2025-12-22 15:00 | NY
Dongzhi Ritual

Date: December 21 (Sunday) – December 22 (Monday), 2025
Location: Mahayana Temple City Campus
Address: 133 Canal Street, New York, NY 10002

Dongzhi is a traditional Chinese holiday occurring during the Winter Solstice to pay respects to deceased ancestors. The Mahayana Temple invites you to join us in our two-day Dongzhi ritual. Worshippers will gather with monastics to chant the Ksitigarbha Sutra and pray for their ancestors. As stated in Chapter 7 of the Ksitigarbha Sutra, reciting the sutra with a sincere heart of gratitude will generate seven parts of merit; one of these merit parts goes to the ancestor, and six go to the praying descendant. In addition to paying respects to the deceased, worshippers can also dedicate gratitude toward living loved ones through this ceremony.
