Avatamsaka Monastery Inauguration Ceremony: Inauguration 華嚴聖寺開光大典 開光

After four years of work by the community, Avatamsaka Monastery's Great Jewel Hall is completed and celebrates its opening on September 9, 2017. The Inauguration of images is also called opening the light (開光) for the Buddha Images. The first part was to pay respect to Three Jewels. The second part was to open the light for individual images and invite the buddha or bodhisattva to enter the Hall. The last part was to transfer merit. During the second part, Rev. Heng Sure led the recitation of the Auspicious verse and a mantra for three times. Subsequently, the monks held the mirror toward the image and said “Kai (開)” to open the light on the image officially. (There is a Chinese Character “吽” written on the mirror.) Lastly, Rev. Heng Sure recited a verse to praise the buddha or bodhisattva the image represents. This is the part for the opening ceremony More video and photo about the event and the Avatamsaka Monastery can be found at http://www.avatamsaka.ca/30th-anniver... Following are the timestamps to each segment 00:00 Ceremony starts 開光儀式開始 25:18 Inauguration of images 開光 53:19 Transfer merit 功德迴向