Thousand monks received offering

Ven. Changming, abbot of Xingjiao Temple, honorary chairman of Shaanxi Provincial Buddhist Association, burnt incense

The Sea-vast Assembly

Walking in a single line

Tibetan Buddhism Masters from Guangren Temple, Xi'an

Circumambulation

By Zhihui, FJNET, May 2006

Shaanxi, China -- May 20^th, 2006, Meal-For-Thousand-Monks Dharma-assembly Ceremony at Black Bamboo Forest, Nanwutai at Mt. Zhongnan in Shaanxi Province was held. Approximately thousand monks participated. Ven. Changming, abbot of Xingjiao Temple, honorary chairman of Shaanxi Provincial Buddhist Association, presided the great ceremony, regardless of his advanced age. His sacrifice deeply moved fourfold assembly and the vegetarian host.

Mt. Zhongnan is a Buddhist sanctum. It keeps a tradition of cultivating the Way from ancient times to the present day, an ideal place to monks who want to cultivate themselves. Till now, there are still monks lived in a rather simple thatched shed in order to attain Way. This Dharma-assembly aims at encourage this precious tradition, repaying Buddhas and Bodhisattvas' kindness as well as each Founder-Master generation after generation, wishing for we can have a peaceful world, prosperous Motherland, harmonious society and kind-hearted people.

Meal-For-Thousand-Monks Dharma-assembly is a Dharma-assembly which offering one thousand monks simultaneously. Bhikshu is a man who left home and sought enlightenment, he didn't earn earthly livelihood, so Bhikshu has another name "Beggar Knight". In addition, all beings offering Bhikshu can obtain blessings, so Bhikshu can be called Blessing Field Monk too. (Written and photographed by Zhihui, Shaanxi Provincial Buddhist Association)   [Translator: Wang Xinyu]