(Translated from the Chinese Ezine Issue No. 109)

Weeks before the Ninth Lunar Month, a lot of preparation for the Vegetarian Food Festival was in place. Meetings were held, orders for special vegetarian cakes/biscuits and extra supply of vegetables were placed, volunteers were called in, and at Lebuhraya Batu Lanchang, a long row of covered walkway was erected for the stalls that would be set up there. There was even piped in water for washing the plates and dishes.

For the first time, our Sunday Dharma School (SDS) organized a Blessing Service for 53 students sitting for the PMR, SPM and STPM examinations this year. Among those who turned up for the blessing at the Hall of Great Compassion (Da Bei Dian) on Sunday, 23 September 2007 included students from Sekolah Menengah Sungai Ara.

The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiujie) in China was closely related to the harvesting season of ancient agricultural society. The celebration of a bountiful harvest on the full moon day, i.e. the 15th day, of the eight Chinese lunar month was indulged in happy dancing and drinking by the peasants after a year of hard labour.

During the weekly sharing of the Dharma on 13 September 2007 and as a prelude to the Buddhist Mass Wedding to be held in Than Hsiang Temple on the following Sunday, Venerable Zhen Xin shared her thoughts: “You may have wondered why Than Hsiang Temple, a Buddhist organization that promotes Buddhism, a religion that places very high regard for sangha members who uphold celibacy, is organizing an annual mass wedding to be held in a Buddhist fashion.