2026-01-18 – Fo Guang Shan Miami Holds Merit Dedication Dharma Service for Dharma Protectors and Year-End Volunteer Appreciation

On January 18, Fo Guang Shan Miami held the "Merit Dedication Dharma Service for Dharma Protectors and Year-End Volunteer Appreciation," bringing together over 80 Dharma protectors and volunteers to celebrate the occasion.

The Dharma service was presided over by the Abbess, Venerable Ru Yuan, who led the assembly in the chanting of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Repentance Ceremony. In a solemn and pure atmosphere, the participants took hold of this rare opportunity to sincerely prostrate before the Buddhas. The service was sublime and heartwarming, leaving everyone filled with Dharma joy.

Following the service, Venerable Ru Yuan gave a teaching on the profound significance of supporting the temple, protecting the Dharma, and benefiting all sentient beings. She specifically cited the classic Buddhist story of Sudatta (Anathapindika) and the Jetavana Monastery, explaining that giving is not merely a material contribution, but a wise practice of fulfilling causes, conditions, and merits. The Abbess pointed out that a Fo Guang Shan monastery is a pure place of practice where "ten thousand people give, ten thousand people connect, and ten thousand people cultivate," relying on the collective heart and support of the public to succeed.

Venerable Ru Yuan further encouraged the assembly to make vows and never regress, continuing to spread the Dharma across the five continents so that the light of Humanistic Buddhism may shine throughout the world.

To express gratitude to the Dharma protectors and volunteers for their years of selfless dedication, the temple prepared New Year gifts for everyone. A local feast of vegetarian delicacies was served to treat the volunteers, featuring exquisite desserts, vegetarian soups, and vegetarian barbecue. The gathering was filled with joyful exchanges and a harmonious spirit, as everyone spent a beautiful day defined by gratitude and happiness.