The Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva Universal Gate of the Lotus Sūtra states: “It is a harmonious and wondrous Dharma sound of Avalokiteśvara (Guan Yin) Bodhisattva. It is a pure and clear Dharma sound. It is like the sound of the Buddha, Bodhisattva, and reaching sound of sea waves. It transcends the secular vexation and polluted sound. We should always recall and commemorate Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva … the Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva possesses the immeasurable merit and virtue to save all sentient beings. The wisdom eyes of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva looks compassionately at all sentient beings all the time in order to preach them at the appropriate time. The immeasurable virtue and merit of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva is similar to the great sea which cannot be measured; therefore, the people should always worship and pay homage to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva.
On 3rd April 2018, the Most Ven. Ze Wu led the participants to commence the “Three step, one bow” blessing ritual. Ven. Wu Yun (the great guest prefect) who led the residential monastics, the members of Lotus pond Association of Nanputuo Temple, the volunteers of community services of Nanputuo Temple, devotees of protection Dharma, altogether about 2000 pilgrims commenced the pilgrimage from Western mountain gate to the Great Compassionate Hall.
In the evening around 6:00 p.m., several thousand devotees wore the Buddhist robes of lay people, stood neatly in three rows. The devotees were led by the masters, three step one bow, and one bow with one stanza, sincerely paid homage and walked toward the Great Compassionate Hall for bowing to celebrate the birthday of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. In the concentrated and solemn atmosphere, all participants would support unconditionally with their mental and physical strength to demonstrate the hands of the Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva and offer the compassionate heart to all sentient beings.
“What is the merit and virtue of paying a pilgrimage to monastery?”
Some Buddhists undertake a pilgrimage to the famous Buddhist monasteries or mountains to repent the unwholesome karmas or to repay the wish which was made earlier. The four disciples in all regions came to seek Dharma, with the same sincere mind to do the worshipping; simultaneously all of them can have a good and wholesome condition by - worshipping, bow low, pay homage, veneration, etc. When one associates with the statue of the Buddha, he or she can feel the comfortableness and broadness which can be subdued self-conceit. Through a sincere pilgrimage, one can be edified or stimulated his or her pure mind, and the Dharma water can clean the defilement and tiredness of body and mind and also can obtain the calmness and delight. While they were performing the pilgrimage, they tolerated the difficulty. All these difficulties could be examined by the perseverance and determinate mind of the participants; therefore, it assists them to improve confidence and mind of practice.
The ritual was held for two hours. Having successfully completed the pilgrimage; Ven. Wu Yun praised all the participants with sympathetic joy and admonished them to apply Dharma in their daily lives with self benefit and altruistic concepts. Venerable wished that each of them should imitate the spirit of Guan Yin (Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva), act as Guan Yin and become as a Guan Yin. Finally, Venerable led all the people to transfer the merit to all sentient beings and wish them to cease suffering and attain happiness.
All people had the Dharma joy and thanked the residential monks, showed gratitude to the Abbot, worshipped the Buddha three times, rounded the Great Compassionate Hall and returned.
