Culture 

President rings in the New Year with a good wish for the world

Tsai Ing-wen at a Buddhist blessing ceremony
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

[Picture: Office of the President.]

President Tsai Ing-wen attended the New Year’s eve bell-ringing and blessing ceremony at the Dharma Drum Mountain Fahua Bell Tower yesterday evening, February 4, noting that Dharma Drum Mountain’s theme for this year is “good wishes for the human world.”

President Tsai prayed with the people for the country’s peace and prosperity, and said she would continue to strive for Taiwan’s progress and development.

The Dharma Drum bell ringing ceremony was held at the Fuhua Bell Tower where a large bell was struck 108 times between 8:00pm yesterday, Lunar New Year’s Eve, and 10:40am today, the first day of the lunar new year.

The Dharma Drum Mountain theme, “A Good Wish for the World,” was an exhortation of DDM founder, the late Master Sheng Yen. DDM invited the public to make a wish, do a good deed, and together bring good fortune to the world.

Also present at the New Year blessing event were former President Ma Yingjiu, former Vice President Wu Dunyi, Interior Minister Xu Guoyong, National Security Conference Advisory Committee Li Decai, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yongyi, and Cloud Gate Dance director Mr. Lin Huaimin.

From today, February 5, the first day of the Lunar New Year, President Tsai will spend the next four days visiting temples around the island and distributing red envelopes to the people as blessings for a prosperous year.

monks ringing bell at ceremony
The founder of DDM once said: “When you worship in the Fahua Tower and listen carefully to the Fahua Bell, this merit is equivalent to worshipping The Lotus Sutra, and a volume of “Great Compassion Mantra.” Picture: Dharma Drum Mountain.
Fuhau Bell of Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist organization.
The Fahua Bell was struck 108 times to ring in the Lunar New Year. Picture: Dharma Drum Mountain.
schedule of temple visits for president
President’s schedule of temple visits for the first four days of the Lunar New Year. Picture: Office of the President.

Sources: The Storm Media, Dharma Drum Mountain organization.

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