Buddhist temple invites public to Chinese New Year celebration
No doubt you’ve glimpsed the shining golden Buddha statue on Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360) and wondered what goes on in the temple behind the trees. This weekend’s Chinese New Year celebration offers an opportunity to discover the Fo Guang Shan Xiang Yun Temple, 6720 N. Capital of Texas Highway.
The temple will usher in the Year of the Rat with ceremonies beginning on Friday evening. People are urged to attend the finale celebration, which will feature cultural performances and vegetarian food on Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In an interview with the Picayune, Tinny Widjaja, a dharma teacher at the temple, talked about new year festivities, Buddhism and the temple’s various programs, including tai chi, Chinese tea ceremony, dharma services and vegetarian lunches served in the temple’s Tea Room.
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is China's most important festival. It is celebrated by Chinese all over the world, including the U.S. and Austin. Though celebrated in winter, the Chinese New Year is popularly known as the Spring Festival because it starts from the beginning of spring (the first of the 24 terms in coordination with the changes of nature) and marks the end of winter. The Spring Festival marks a new year on the lunar calendar and represents the desire for a new life. The date is determined by the lunar calendar; thus, each time it falls on different dates of the Gregorian calendar, between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. The main Chinese New Year activities include putting up decorations, eating reunion dinner with family on New Year's Eve, firecrackers and fireworks, and giving red envelopes and other gifts.
Built in 2000, Fo Guang Shan Xiang Yun Temple is located on the scenic Capital of Texas Highway. Xiang (fragrance) Yun (cloud) Temple is surrounded by rolling hills that are covered by nice smelling cedars and often submerged in cloud-like fog. The name also takes the meaning of the clouds above the Buddhas and boddhisattvas (person on the way to Buddhahood) when their presences were honored.
As a branch of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, Xiang Yun Temple practices Mahayana and humanistic Buddhism. It is the teaching of the Buddha that affirms Buddha was born in this human world, cultivated himself and was enlightened in this human world and taught human beings the way to experience nirvana (freedom from suffering) in this human world and not apart from it.
“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” A dharma teacher does not teach; they facilitate learning and the self-realization journey. Humanistic Buddhism teaches that everyone can be a Buddha, or enlightened. A dharma teacher facilitates that journey to find the Buddha in oneself and shows the ways to cultivate and practice that Buddha nature in everyday life.
Besides a wise teacher, Buddha is also a doctor who prescribed medicine for the mind. His legacy is a practical guidance which can be practiced and applied in everyday life and not just to be believed. Self-reliance is one of them. It teaches one to be strong, take responsibility for one’s action and be brave to face its consequences. The path of practice can be seen as a self-directed therapeutic strategy for ending suffering caused by the mind.
Besides self-cultivation, a Buddhist also has a duty to share the wisdom and bring benefits to others. “When you become fully human, you will become a Buddha (who we are already). That is the living meaning of truth.” Humanistic Buddhism encourages one to integrate the Buddha’s teachings of tolerance, loving-kindness, compassion, joyfulness and equanimity into our lives for our benefit and for the benefit of all beings.
Buddhism is time tested, being more than 2,500 years old, and enjoys worldwide acceptance and is regarded with respect by intellectuals throughout the world. It is about realization and experience, not merely an institution. It is a peaceful option for those who consider themselves spiritual.
Although the shiny Laughing Buddha at the temple’s gate is not “the Buddha,” it represents the warmth and the light of knowledge Xiang Yun Temple would like to share with Austin community. During business hours, everyone is welcomed to walk in and tour the beautiful temple. Our friendly volunteer docent will be in the Main Shrine to welcome visitors, share our programs and lead a tour. Enjoy a delicious vegetarian lunch in the Tea Room or join one of the regular programs such as “Morning Tea and Peace” that introduces meditation through Chinese tea ceremony. If you are interested to learn more about Buddhism, pick up a free short guide or buy a book (as donation) —and maybe find the answer who the Laughing Buddha actually is.
Edited from an interview with Eileen E. Flynn.
