03/31/2024

Birthday Celebration with Tea and Zen, Offering Blessings

- Reported by Zhiding

On March 31st, Xiang Yun Temple held a community birthday celebration with tea and Zen. Venerable Yong Jia first explained the significance of tea and Zen, emphasizing how through this practice one can gain insights into Buddhist teachings and engage in common interests. The Chinese Chapter of the Austin Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) hosts a tea and Zen birthday celebration every three months for its members.

Following a steel tongue drum performance, approximately ten birthday ladies and gentlemen representing different age groups within the community shared their experiences and feelings since joining the BLIA. The monastics and laymen present enthusiastically sang birthday songs, wrote blessings on birthday cards, shared birthday cakes, and made heartfelt wishes for the members whose birthdays fell in January, February and March.

During the event, Venerable Yong Jia introduced members of the Chinese Chapter, while Venerable Jue Ji shared the significant progress made in various activities at Xiangyun Temple after the pandemic. They encouraged everyone to continue their efforts in promoting and expanding the BLIA, preparing for the North American Fellowship Convention to be hosted by Xiang Yun Temple in 2025. Finally, everyone concluded the delightful and heartwarming gathering and birthday celebration with singing of the song "Happy Paradise."