News and Announcements
Words of Wisdom
Enlightenment is the realization of the original mind, that all is just as it is . Cultivation is the practice of just letting be, so true cultivation is non-cultivation. No matter what the circumstances, at work or at rest, facing prosperity or adversity, during daytime or nighttime, we can always cultivate..
悟，就是悟到本心，一切都是現成的。修，是對治，要修而無修。無論動、靜，順境、逆境，白天、晚上，都要用功，都能夠修行。
—Words of Wisdom from Grand Master Wei Chueh, 惟覺大和尚法語 (For more words of wisdom)
Diamond Sutra Ceremony
On Sunday, November 22 from 9:30 am to noon, Buddha Gate Monastery invites you to participate in our monthly ceremony and chant the Diamond of Perfect Wisdom Sutra. Chanting the sutra and prostrating to the Buddha allow us to repent our misdeeds, purify our karma, receive Buddha’s blessings, and be in touch with our Buddha nature. Join us for a free vegetarian lunch immediately following the ceremony.
Liang Huang Jeweled Repentance Ceremony
Please join us for the Liang Huang Jeweled Repentance Ceremony taking place every day from December 27 to January 2. (Click on the daily schedule in English or Chinese). This is an opportunity for repentance, reflection, and forgiveness. Cleanse the improper karma of our past and welcome 2015 with a pure mind. The repentance liturgy will be recited each day in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Click here for more details.
Half-Day Meditation Retreat
Meditation can help you focus your mind, calm down, become more aware, and see things as they truly are. If you have completed the beginning meditation classes, we invite you to participate in the half-day meditation retreat to further advance your meditation practice. The upcoming half-day meditation retreats are on November 1, 8 and 15 from 8:30 am to noon.
Lamp Offering
Making a Lamp Offering to the Buddha is a way to honor the Buddha while awakening our own intrinsic wisdom. According to the scriptures, when making a Buddha lamp offering, we gain good health, purity of the mind, freedom from worries, and extinction of ignorance. We can also dedicate the merits to our loved ones and all humanity. You can now sign up to make a Lamp Offering for the year 2016 (January 1 to December 31).
Kitchen Remodeling
Our kitchen at Buddha Gate Monastery is over 50 years old, and needs to be upgraded for improved energy efficiency, work space, and safety.
The blessings and merits of maintaining a monastery are inconceivable. By providing support, you help provide a peaceful environment for everyone to associate with the Three Jewels, understand the Truth, liberate from suffering and obtain perfect wisdom. With a respectful mind, we invite everyone to make offerings to support the Buddha Gate Monastery kitchen remodeling project.
Food Drive
This holiday season, Buddha Gate Monastery is conducting a Vegetarian Food Drive to benefit our local Food Bank. In these difficult economic times, please consider giving generously to those less fortunate. Thank you for your support!
Food donations must be non-perishable (i.e., rice, pasta, canned goods) and not expired. Ingredients such as alcohol, meat, seafood, eggs, gelatin, rennet, garlic, onions, scallions, leeks, chives, Chinese chives, and cilantro are not recommended.
Meritorious Volunteering
Volunteers form an important part of the Buddha Gate community. You can help the monastery by maintaining the buildings and grounds, working in the kitchen, and preparing for ceremonial events. By generously offering your time to support the monastery you not only accumulate blessings, but also practice patience, compassion, tolerance and working harmoniously with others, thereby developing the Chan state of mind and applying it toward everyday life. The monastery invites everyone to participate in the meritorious volunteering every Sunday afternoon.