2021.02.21惜福迎新，開春法會暨春節團拜聚餐Cherish The Merits and Welcome the New Year---Dharma Assembly at the Beginning of Spring and Chinese New Year Dinner Gathering on February 21, 2021 @ 中華清淨學佛協會

2021年開春法會，在老師帶領下，眾人一起在觀世音菩薩為主尊的壇城道場中，恭誦「般若波羅蜜多心經」及持誦「千手千眼無礙大悲心陀羅尼」、觀世音菩薩聖號。誦經前，老師先簡短的開示心經的精華重點，所謂的空並不是什麼都沒有的斷滅空，而是讓我們知道因為萬事萬物都在因緣變化之中，所以不要因為暫時得不到或失去，而感到痛苦煩惱，也不要因為得到，就視為理所當然而不知珍惜。大眾就在這樣的認知下，展開了殊勝的誦經過程。

In the 2021 Dharma Assembly at the Beginning of Spring, under the leading of the Teacher, Susan Duan, everyone chanted “The Heart Sutra”, “The Great Compassion Mantra” and the holy name of the Guanyin Bodhisattva in the Mandala where the Guanyin Bodhisattva is the main deity. Before chanting, the Teacher gave a brief guidance of the essence of “the Heart Sutra”, the so-called emptiness doesn't mean annihilation and nothing, but to let us know that everything is in the process of changing, so don’t feel miserable and worried when we don’t get or lose something temporarily; on the other hand, don’t take things for granted when we get it. With this recognition, the attendants began a solemn process of the Sutra chanting.

誦經圓滿後，老師應機以這一陣子美國德州在冰天雪地又停水停電的窘困情況，引導並鼓勵我們從事相以及佛法角度去思惟並分享。

大家看到了世事無常，應對身邊的資源生起珍惜的心。人生到最後能抓取什麼呢？有形的一切都帶不走，唯有業隨身。對所擁有的一切要常懷感恩心，不要傲慢的以為今日我們的擁有，都是靠自己一個人造就的。

After the Sutra chanting was completed, the Teacher guided and encouraged us to think and share from the perspective of things and Dharma based on the difficult situation of water and power outages in the ice and snow in Texas.

Everyone saw the uncertainty of the world and should cherish the available resources. What can we grasp at the end of life? Everything which is tangible can't be taken away, only the karma follows. Always be grateful for everything we have, don't arrogantly think that what we have today are all made by ourselves.

在疫情稍得控制之下，我們十分感恩並珍惜今天可以齊聚一堂，進行法會並且聆聽老師的教導，謹將這一切法益供養三寶，並且回向給世界各地的有情眾生。

Under the slight control of the epidemic, we are very grateful and cherish that we can gather together to have the Dharma Assembly and listen to the Teacher's teaching. We respectfully offered all the merits to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and dedicate the merits to the sentient beings around the world.

法會後，協會將經歷了兩次法會誦經祈福的福慧米，致贈給與會大眾與去年的參贊大德

After the Dharma Assembly, the Association presented the attendants and donors of the previous year the Rice of Merit and Wisdom which has gone through the Sutra chanting and praying of two Dharma Assemblies.

開春法會後，我們一起在餐廳進行了難得可以共聚一堂的春節團拜聚餐。期間，眾人相互拜年、祝福彼此。會中，在分享新年新希望，以及趣味猜謎等遊戲中，大家都感受到在三寶佛法的家中，猶如家人互相支持的溫暖，並且帶著這份力量，回到各自的生活，展開新的一年的生命實修之旅。

After the Dharma Assembly at the Beginning of Spring, we had a precious Spring Festival reunion dinner together in the restaurant. During the period, everyone greeted and blessed one another. During the new year wishes sharing and fun riddle games, everyone felt the warmth of supporting one another like family in the home of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. With this strength, everyone returned to their lives and started the life practice journey of the new year.