By Tam Huynh Chinese Translated by Rengong Kou VBS 666
黃果心 文 寇仁恭 中譯
Blessings, Prosperity and Longevity Monastery (BPLM) in Long Beach, Southern California held the opening ceremony of BPLM’s Mountain Gate on August 29, 2025. There was also a three-day Dharma assembly to celebrate its completion. BPLM was formerly a bank building. To renovate the entrance, groundbreaking took place in April 2023, marking the start of construction of the new Mountain Gate, which was completed in August 2025. The majestic Mountain Gate, crafted in the architectural style of Chinese monasteries of old, beckons and welcomes all who enter to bask in the Buddha’s wisdom light, harmonizing with the light of our Buddha nature so that all are bathed in serene and refreshing coolness. As the verse chanted during the opening ceremony of BPLM’s Mountain Gate proclaims: “Entering this gate, cultivating wholesome fruits together; gathering in this place, attaining Bodhi together.”
南加州長堤市福祿壽聖寺於2025年8月29日舉行山門開光典禮，並以三天法會，慶祝山門落成。福祿壽聖寺前身是一座銀行大樓，為了整修入口，於2023年4月動土，開始建造全新山門，於2025年8月竣工。這座莊嚴的山門，以古代中國寺院的建築風格精心打造，歡迎善信們走入這座山門，沐浴於佛陀智慧之光，與自性佛光相和。正如山門開光典禮中唱誦的偈語：「入是門同修善果，到此地共證菩提」。
BPLM’s opening ceremony of the Mountain Gate was a very special starting point to a weekend filled with the most meaningful Dharma practice of cultivating filial compassion toward our loved ones and all living beings during the Ullambana season. Further events included the Eightfold Vegetarian Precepts, reciting the Earth Store Sutra and the Ullambana Sutra, bowing the Earth Store Repentance and reciting the powerful “True Words for Eliminating Fixed Karma,” the Candlelight Ceremony, the Dharma lecture, concluding with the Grand Meng Shan Ceremony to feed the hungry unseen beings.
福祿壽寺山門的開光典禮，成為一個極為殊勝的起點，開啟了深具意義的週末法會。在盂蘭盆節之前，眾弟子共同修持孝親慈悲，普及於親人及一切眾生：受持八關齋戒、誦《地藏菩薩本願經》與《盂蘭盆經》、禮拜〈地藏懺〉、持誦〈滅定業真言〉；並舉行燭光法會、聆聽佛法開示，最後以盛大的蒙山施食法會圓滿，普度餓鬼眾生。
Friday, August 29, 2025
2025年8月29日，週五
On the last Friday of August, bathed in glorious sunshine, a special ambiance filled the air at BPLM. For months, the Dharma Masters and sincere volunteers have prepared for this special occasion—the opening ceremony of the Mountain Gate. The newly constructed Mountain Gate, draped in vivid red ribbons, festive and bright, fluttered in the gentle breeze, inviting devotees to enter to take part in the evening’s Dharma Assembly. The Evening Ceremony started at 5 pm; by 6 pm, the Buddha Hall was filled to capacity. The opening ceremony started with the recitation of the Śūraṅgama Mantra, followed by paying homage to the Triple Jewel and the Venerable Master.
正逢八月的最後一個週五，當天陽光普照，福祿壽聖寺瀰漫著一股特殊的氣氛。為了這個特別的日子——山門開光典禮，數月以來，法師們和虔誠的義工們一直精心準備。這座嶄新的山門，披掛著大紅綵帶，顯得喜慶而亮麗，綵帶在微風中輕輕飄揚，迎請信眾進入，參加當晚的法會。晚課於下午五點開始；至六點，佛殿已座無虛席。開光典禮首先恭誦《楞嚴咒》，隨後向三寶和上人頂禮致敬。
The Assembly then proceeded outside, all the while sincerely reciting the sacred phrase “Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūm̐.” With the Assembly gathering in front of the Mountain Gate, the opening verse, “Lucky by day and lucky by night; /Always lucky by day and night; /All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas enter this Gate, /That is why this place is most auspicious” was chanted in three languages, Chinese, Vietnamese, English, followed by five lines from the Śūraṅgama Mantra, the ribbon cutting ceremony was underway. In unison, the Assembly chanted “Open” as the red fabric came down to reveal the Chinese characters of Blessings, Prosperity and Longevity Monastery, in golden bas-relief. The characters glimmered brightly against the backdrop of the setting sun as delicate flowers were scattered and colorful balloons were released. The Assembly then mindfully walked around the Monastery grounds, circumambulated the Vairocana Buddha image seated serenely under the Bodhi tree, as the melodious chanting of “Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūm̐” reverberated resonantly throughout the open space, bringing to a perfect completion the opening ceremony of the newly minted Mountain Gate.
法會大眾接著繞念到戶外，一路至誠懇切地持誦六字大明咒「唵嘛呢叭咪吽」。當大眾聚集在山門前方時，開門偈以中、越、英三語誦出：「晝吉祥、夜吉祥，晝夜六時恆吉祥；諸佛菩薩入此門，是故此處最吉祥。」隨後是〈楞嚴咒〉的五句，剪綵儀式正式開始。全體大眾齊聲高呼「開！」，紅布幔隨即落下，現出以金色浮雕刻寫的中文寺名「福祿壽聖寺」。在夕陽映照下，這些字體熠熠生輝，伴隨著撒下的細緻花瓣，五彩繽紛的氣球冉冉升空。接著，大眾攝心經行，並在莊嚴安坐菩提樹下的毗盧遮那佛像周圍繞念。「唵嘛呢叭咪吽」梵唄聲在廣闊的空間迴盪，這座嶄新山門的開光典禮至此圓滿。
Following the opening ceremony, the Purifying Boundaries Ceremony took place, preparing the Bodhimaṇḍa for the two-day Dharma Assembly which followed. Friday evening’s last Dharma Assembly was the chanting of Earth Store Bodhisattva’s Mantra for Eliminating Fixed Karma. The Assembly’s collective chanting of the True Words, “Oṃ bwo la mwo ling svā hā” filled the Buddha Hall with a powerful energy, invigorating and uplifting, cleansing away cumulative karma from countless kalpas past.
在開光典禮之後，隨即舉行了「灑淨」儀式，週五晚上的最後一場法會，是誦持地藏菩薩〈消定業真言〉。大眾齊誦「唵鉢囉摩鄰娑嚩訶」，佛殿中充滿強大能量，振奮人心，洗滌無量劫以來累積的業障。
Saturday, August 30
8月30日，週六
The transmission of the Eightfold Vegetarian Precepts took place in the morning. The adorned Precept Transmission Ceremony was conducted in three languages, Chinese, Vietnamese and English. Having the chance for laypeople to live the pure life of a monastic for at least one day and one night and dedicating the merit to living beings is most precious indeed. Following the Precept Transmission Ceremony, the Earth Store Sutra was recited, offering everyone the opportunity to practice filial conduct as the deep, vast vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva permeated our hearts. In the evening, the Dharma talk was filled with wisdom and practical advice for daily cultivation.
這天早上舉行了八關齋戒的傳戒儀式。莊嚴的傳戒法會以中文、越南文及英文三種語言進行。八關齋戒讓在家佛弟子至少一晝夜過著出家人的清淨生活，並將功德迴向眾生，實在殊勝難得。傳戒之後，誦持《地藏菩薩本願經》，使人人皆得修習孝道，地藏菩薩深廣的弘願滲入人心。晚間的佛法開示，充滿智慧，並提供日常修行的實用指導。
Following the Dharma talk, BPLM’s signature Candle Light Ceremony filled the Buddha Hall with warm radiance and uplifting energy. With lighted candles in hand, the Great Assembly mindfully circumambulated the Buddha Hall chanting the Mantra, “Oṃ bwo la mwo ling svā hā” with heartfelt sincerity, ending the day on a glowing note.
在法師開示之後，福祿壽聖寺深具特色的「燭光供燈儀式」映照得一片溫暖，充滿了振奮人心的能量。大眾手持點燃的蠟燭，以至誠懇切之心，在佛殿繞念，同時持誦咒語「唵缽囉末鄰娑婆訶」，為這一天劃下了圓滿而光明的句點。
Sunday, August 31
8月31日，週日
The day’s Dharma Assembly began with recitation of the Ullambana Sūtra. The chanting of the True Words for Repaying Parents’ Kindness offered yet another precious chance to emulate the filial conduct of the honorable Mahā Maudgalyāyana, dedicating the merit to our kin from this life and countless lives past to repay their deep kindness. In the afternoon, the Great Assembly bowed to the Earth Store Bodhisattva Repentance. The profoundly moving Repentance served to cleanse away negative karma from countless kalpas past, presenting an opportunity for deep reflection and the promise of renewal and growth.
當天的法會以恭誦《佛說盂蘭盆經》展開，持誦〈報父母恩咒〉，再次提供了效法大目犍連尊者孝行、報答親恩的珍貴機會。大眾將功德迴向給今生和無量劫來的至親眷屬，以報答他們的深重恩德。
The Grand Meng Shan Ceremony took place Sunday evening, providing the closing to the three-day Dharma Assembly. The solemn and elaborate Ceremony was a chance to cultivate boundless compassion toward the unseen living beings of the underworld, providing them with both physical sustenance of food, drink and spiritual sustenance through Dharma guidance. The Assembly gathered in the Buddha Hall, attentive and reverent, as the Dharma Masters carried out the age-old ceremonial ritual to liberate the hungry ghosts and spirits. The collective presence of the Great Assembly contributed to the powerful energy pervading the atmosphere. May the boundless merit and virtue generated bring liberation to the suffering ghosts and spirits, so that they forever leave the lower realms and be reborn in Amitābha Buddha’s Land of Ultimate Bliss.
下午，大眾恭敬禮拜〈地藏懺〉。這感人至深的懺悔法門，旨在洗滌無量劫以來所造的惡業，為大眾提供了深刻反省與發願，迎向新生和增長道業的機緣。
大蒙山施食於星期日晚間舉行，圓滿了三天的法會。這場莊嚴而隆重的法會，是培養無量慈悲心的契機，將飲食的物質供養與佛法的精神資糧，施予冥界眾生。大眾齊聚佛殿，專心恭敬，隨著法師們依古老佛制的儀軌，超度餓鬼與亡魂。大眾的共同參與，使整個道場充滿強大的能量。願由此所生的無量功德，能令受苦的鬼神等眾得以解脫，永離三途，往生阿彌陀佛極樂世界。
The three-day Dharma Assembly held at BPLM was most auspicious and deeply meaningful. The opening ceremony of the Mountain Gate served as the starting point for devotees to enter the Dharma door of cultivating wisdom and compassion, dedicating the merit and virtue to our loved ones and all living beings throughout the Dharma Realm during this sacred Ullambana Season. Each of the Dharma Assemblies was most powerful and memorable in and of themselves, leaving lasting memories and filling everyone with utmost Dharma joy. May the wholesome Dharma seeds we planted quickly bear fruit so that all may attain Bodhi together.
在福祿壽聖寺舉行的三天法會，殊勝吉祥，意義深遠。山門開光典禮，象徵著信眾步入法門，開始修習智慧與慈悲，並於盂蘭盆的神聖季節中，將功德迴向給親人以及法界一切眾生。每一場法會都十分莊嚴殊勝，令人難忘，法喜充滿。願我們所播下的善妙佛法種子，早日結果，同證菩提。♦