To commemorate the Enlightenment Day of Shakyamuni Buddha, Than Hsiang Temple held a noon offering ceremony on January 26, 2026 (the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month). On this occasion, the temple also distributed Laba Congee to everyone.

In the early morning of that day, the Lunch Box Packing Team, staff members, and volunteers were already busy at the Ground Floor Multi‑purpose Hall. The Lunch Box Packing Team worked together wholeheartedly, mindfully packing each portion of Laba Congee; some staff and volunteers collaborated to sort and count the portions, while the kitchen staff were occupied with cooking the congee. The drivers’ team was responsible for delivering the congee to various destinations, including SJK (C) Ming Xin, SJK (C) Kwang Hwa, Broadcom, SJK (C) Chung Shan, SJK (C) Shih Chung, Phor Tay Private High School, Lam Wah Ee Hospital, and others.

At 10:45 a.m., the noon offering ceremony was held in the Main Shrine Hall on the sixth floor, led by Abbot Venerable Zhen Sheng together with other sangha members.

Following the ceremony, the assembly watched a Dharma teaching video on Laba Day by Most Venerable Wei Wu. Abbot Venerable Zhen Sheng and several sangha members remained in the Main Shrine Hall to accompany everyone in listening to the Dharma teaching, while some other sangha members went to San Sheng Dian on the ground floor to chant the dedication of merits.

In the Dharma teaching video, Most Venerable Wei Wu briefly explained that according to Mahayana tradition, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month is an important day to commemorate the Buddha’s Enlightenment.

Venerable Wei Wu pointed out that the tradition of eating Laba Congee originated to commemorate the moment when the Buddha, after giving up extreme ascetic practices and being physically weak and near death, accepted a bowl of milk and rice porridge offered by Sujata and regained his strength. Finally, on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, under the Bodhi tree, he attained supreme enlightenment and realized Pratītyasamutpāda, the principle of Dependent Origination.

Venerable Wei Wu concluded that the Buddha taught: planting good causes leads to higher rebirths, while practicing the causes of liberation enables one to transcend cyclical existence (samsara). He also mentioned that when the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, he declared that “all sentient beings have Buddha‑nature.”

After the assembly finished listening to and watching the Dharma teaching by Most Venerable Wei Wu, the noon offering ceremony concluded successfully.

Subsequently, the sangha members, staff, and volunteers went to the Ground Floor Multi‑purpose Hall to enjoy Laba Congee and nasi lemak together.

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More photos:https://www.thanhsiang.org/ch/node/6838
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