Tao Part 9

Translated by Ci Zhang

On March 29, 1998, the Ancestral Memorial Ceremony in spring was held at Ling Guang Hall of Ming Xin Holy House. Many Dao brothers and sisters came from all districts together with the honorable guests representing over 20 countries of the world. Totally over 3,000 people assembled at Ming Xin Holy House reminiscing the Lineage Patriarchs, Buddhas, Saints and Bodhisattvas. We were grateful for the historical facts of our Holy Teachers' dedication and sacrifice of their lives for the salvation of 3-world sentient beings. We should always reminisce about the virtue of our ancestors, and never forget our prime root! Should we cultivate and consecrate in Dao, our ancestors were also benefited. This could be said:

Celebration be global, Happiness be universal, All hearts come to one, All families come to one The difference to last year was the enlargement of the resting areas and the new development of a large parking lot in the garden for the Ancestral Memorial Ceremony. It was big enough for all parking cars. Unlike the resting areas set on the pavements last year, those areas were decorated beautifully under the green trunks of betel palms this year. At the backyard of the Holy House, they also displayed the farming implements. Thus, everybody could deeply realize that: Growing grain is not as easy as you think. It was also in harmony with the performance of THE CONSCIENCE DRAMA OF MORAL TURTH and aroused heart-impress with inland cultivators and overseas honorable guests.

At 6:00 a.m., the prologue of the Ancestral Memorial Ceremony was started by the announcement of the time schedule. Continually, all Dao brothers and sisters enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared elaborately by the senior Dao cultivators.

At 8:00 a.m. everybody started to perform the morning liturgy, paid the morning respect to LAO MU, offered fruits in LAO MU's Altar and Three Buddhas Hall. Simultaneously offering ceremony was also held on every floor of Ling Guang Hall. All Dao masses were standing orderly and bowing solemnly in the resting areas. Afterward, Great Grand Master Wang mercifully led all inland and overseas cultivators to have a group picture taken in front of the Main Hall at Ming Xin Holy House. It marked a historical record in the White Yang Period.

The Ancestral Memorial Ceremony was formally held on the Ancestral Altar of a colorful decorated platform. On your mark¡¨ Grand Masters and Masters stood on the platform on behalf of regional units of Dao fields. In addition, our honorable guests were as follows: Mr. Zeng Qiu Liang and Mr. Qian Jun Hao, County Congressmen of Gaoxiong and Pingdong. Mr. Lan Jian Long, Principal of Mandarin High School. Ms. Xu Mei Xiong, Principal of Shizi High School. Mr. Jian Ying Zhi, Studies Chief of Hesheng High School, and Mr. Ling Ji Yu, Deputy Head of Guard Office.

At 9:50 a.m., the Ancestral Memorial Ceremony was commenced solemnly by the lighting of firecrackers. An offering team of 17 members solemnly performed in a piece of flowing gentle music played by the Chinese Orchestra. Thus it was a mergence of propriety and music. Under a solemn and respectful atmosphere of gratitude and reminiscence, Great Grand Master Wang kindly gave a speech in expounding the syllabus and principle of Ancestral Memorial Ceremony.

It meant that we have to succeed the aspirations of the 64 generations of Lineage Patriarchs, Holy Grand Teacher, Holy Teachers, and senior Grand Masters. For the sake of the salvation of three-world sentient beings back to Heaven, we must propagate THE TRUE DAO-THE ULTIMATE TRUTH .. THE HEAVENLY CONSCIENCE. Let all sentient beings restore their conscience, regain their peaceful and blissful lives!
Great Grand Master Wang presided over the Ceremony and was accompanied to present incenses, flowers and to pay respectful liturgy by Grand Master Chou, Grand Master Su, Grand Master Fu, Grand Master Kang, Grand Master Wang, all the other Grand Masters and Leading Masters came from various countries.

Subsequently a great chorus of over 3,000 members, without any national or racial discrimination, was guided by PMBMI chorus and the Buddha-disciples to sing five Ancestral Memorial Dao Songs together. In the singing, everyone held the music book, while the Buddha-disciples could fluently recite all lyrics of the songs. Thus the Buddha-disciples won the praise and applause from all audience! After singing the first song Dao Song of Gratitude¨, Great Grand Master Wang gave an announcement to invite the choruses from all Dao fields to sing together in front of the Ancestors platform solemnly and magnificently.

At the end, our merciful Great Grand Master Wang indicated, My Dear Dao brothers and sisters, we have to realize the syllabus and principle of Ancestral Memorial Ceremony today. We have already sung five Dao songs perfectly. I believe that everyone can sing very well with a song book in your hands. But please pay attention! As we sing these Dao songs, we are not just for fun, entertainment, or amusement. We must heart-impress the significance of each single word in these five songs and put it into real action! Today we come to join the Ancestral Memorial Ceremony to worship all Buddhas and all ancestors. We should follow and practice honestly and truly in our living.

You can bring this song book home, but I want you to read it at least three times a day or up to ten time would be better. Gradually you are able to practice it! We come to worship all Buddhas and all ancestors, we should follow and practice the Buddhas conduct. Please pay heed!

At 11:35 a.m., the district leaders guided all Dao cultivators to present incenses, flowers as well as fruits successively and then worshiped. At the close of the ceremony, Great Grand Master Wang kindly encouraged every Dao brother and sister that: We must exert our best efforts to practice industriously, to suit our action to the fact of the syllabus and principle of Ancestral Memorial Ceremony!

Finally, Great Grand Master Wang led the crowd to thank for all Buddhas, the 64 generations of Lineage Patriarchs, Holy Grand Teacher Jin Gong, Living Buddha Ji Gong, Holy Mother Yue Huei, Chief Grand Masters, and all senior Dao cultivators. We were also grateful to Their ancestors as well. The Ancestral Memorial Ceremony was completed at 12:33 p.m.

Photos:
All regional choruses are assembled to sing together in front of Ancestors platform.
The honorable guests are invited to attend the Ceremony as follows: Mr. Ling Ji Yu, Deputy Head of Guard Office (Far left)Mr. Lan Jian Long, Principal of Mandarin H.S.(3rd from left)Mr. Qian Jun Hao, County Congressman (4th from left)Mr. Zeng Qiu Liang, County Congressman (5th from left)Mr. Jian Ying Zhi, Studies Chief of Hesheng H.S.(5th from right)Ms. Xu Mei Xiang, Principal of Shizi H.S.(4th from right)