This year, the winter solstice falls on December 22. According to the tradition of Chinese Buddhism, Lingyin Temple held a prayer ceremony to worship and honor past venerable Buddhist patriarchs and masters. At 10:00 a.m., Buddhist masters of Lingyin Temple, divided into different groups, hosted the prayer ceremony respectively at the Pagodas of Past Patriarchs, Master Li’s Pagoda, Hanlian Hall, Yueheng Hall and other Buddhist halls of the temple. At the ceremony, the Buddhist masters also prayed for world peace, national prosperity, well-being for the general public, and the spread of the true Dharma all over the world. Since Lingyin Temple was founded by Master Huili from India, the temple has produced numerous renowned and venerable masters in history, such as Master Yongming Yanshou, Master Zanning Tonghui, Master Dahui Zonggao, Master Songyuan Chongyue, Master Daoji, etc. The prayer ceremony held by Buddhist disciples and believers on winter solstice aims to commemorate and

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On December 18, 2018, the Sangha of Lingyin Temple gathered together at the Huayan Hall to study President Xi Jinping&rsquo;s speech on the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">By watching the speech on TV, the resident masters had a thorough knowledge of the development and progress of the Party and the country in the past 40 years, and a profound understanding of the happiness and satisfaction of the people brought by the reform and opening up policy.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It is a good tradition of Chinese Buddhism to love the country and the religion. It is the sincere hope of every Buddhist disciple or believer that our country will be stronger and more and more prosperous. As a common citizen, every Buddhist disciple or believer shoulders the responsibility and obligation to promote the excellent Chinese culture, to spread positive energy, and to make contributions to the socialist political, economic and cultural development of the country.</span></p><p><table width="500" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><img src="/files/image/info/2018/12/22/1452541760.jpg" alt="" style="text-align: center;" width="500" height="333" /></td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table width="500" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><img src="/files/image/info/2018/12/22/1453155196.jpg" alt="" style="text-align: center;" width="500" height="374" /></td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></p>

On December 13, 2018, the signing ceremony of Shangde（尚德） Scholarship for university students in Zhejiang Province was held by Hangzhou Yunlin Charitable Foundation(YLCF) at Lingyin Temple. Distinguished guests in attendance were the Director of the Religious Department of Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Mr. Hu Shengjun, the monastic supervisor of Lingyin Temple Master Zhiguang, the Deputy Executive Director of Hangzhou Yunlin Charitable Foundation Master Shengxian, as well as the representatives from eight universities in Zhejiang, including Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou Dianzi University, etc.At the signing ceremony, the Deputy Executive Director of Hangzhou Yunlin Charitable Foundation Master Shengxian said,＂Hangzhou Yunlin Charitable Foundation set up Shangde Scholarship for university students in Zhejiang Province in 2006. In the past two years, a number of students or student bodies have won scholarships for their excel

On November 8, 2018, a delegation of the Jogye Order of Korean Seon Buddhism led by the Abbot of Haeinsa Temple Venerable Master Yuanjue visited Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou. Venerable Master Guangquan extended a warm welcome to the delegation on behalf of The Buddhist Association of Hangzhou and Lingyin Temple.At the welcome meeting, Venerable Master Guangquan reviewed the positive role of Hangzhou in the cultural exchanges between Chinese Buddhism and Korean Buddhism, and introduced the venerable Buddhist masters in the history of Lingyin Temple as well as the efforts of the Sangha of the temple in the promotion of Buddhism. After that, Venerable Master Yuanjue introduced the influence of the Chinese Chan Buddhism on Korea, as well as the recent development and future prospect of the Jogye Order of Korean Seon Buddhism.Both sides confirmed their desire to strengthen friendly cultural exchanges and cooperation at the end of the meeting.The welcome meetingThe Abbot of Lingyin Temple Vene

On October 28, 2018, a tree planting activity of the Fifth World Buddhist Forum ＂Common Aspiration Trees＂ and an inauguration ceremony for a memorial was held at Nanhu Park in Putian, southeast China&rsquo;s Fujian Province. The Vice Secretary-General of the Buddhist Association of China and the Abbot of Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou Venerable Master Guangquan attended the ceremony and planted trees together with other Buddhist members.The activity aimed to promote cooperation and exchanges among Buddhist members in the world, emphasize the positive roles of the Buddhist members in environmental protection, and advocate equality and social harmony for mankind so that more people would pay great attention to the protection of the natural eco-environment. &nbsp;The Director of the United Front Department of Fujian Province Ms. Lei Chunmei delivering a speechThe Vice Chairman of the Buddhist Association of China Living Buddha Tudeng Kezhu delivering a speechThe Direction of the Fujian Provin

To celebrate the Renunciation Day of Guanyin (Avalokitesvara) Bodhisattva, which fell on October 27, 2018 (the nineteenth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar) this year, Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou held a solemn ＂Refuge-taking Ceremony＂ at the Zhizhi Hall. The Abbot of Lingyin Temple Venerable Master Guangquan hosted the ceremony of Triratna (the Triple Gem) for the pious and blissful Buddhist believers from all over the country. After the ceremony, they officially became Buddhist disciples.The ＂Refuge-taking Ceremony＂ started at 10:30 a.m. Venerable Master Guangquan was invited to host the ceremony by the representatives of the Buddhist believers led by Buddhist masters. He compassionately gave a detailed instruction to the Buddhist believers who were about to take refuge, informing them of the knowledge about refuge and the significance of taking refuge in the Tripe Gem, i.e. Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. He also encouraged them to earnestly practice Buddhism by attendi

On October 20 and 21, 2018, the 3rd Seminar on the Language and Scripts Used in Buddhist Sutras &amp; the International Momoyo Okura Symposium co-organized by Hangzhou Buddhist Academy and the Okura Culture Society of Japan was held at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou. University scholars and learners of Sanskrit from India, Nepal, Germany, Japan and China gathered together to discuss the language of Sanskrit used in Buddhist Sutras.The Abbot of Lingyin Temple Venerable Master Guangquan attended and addressed the opening ceremony. He first extended warm welcome to the participants in the seminar and then had a review of the translation history of Buddhist texts in Sanskrit, which promoted the development of Buddhism in China. Venerable Master Guangquan also gave a general overview of the teaching and research of Sanskrit in modern times and the achievement of Hangzhou Buddhist Academy on Sanskrit teaching and studies.Sanskrit is considered as ＂lost knowledge＂ in China. Hangzhou Buddhist Acad

At 7:30 a.m. on October 21, the 2018 Water and Land Dharma Assembly was held at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou. The monastic supervisor Master Yiguang presided over the ceremony at the Hall of Medicine Buddha and the fourfold assembly of disciples followed him and performed Buddha worship with reverence. They prayed piously for favorable weather and good harvest, national prosperity, social harmony, and blessings and merits to all human beings. Lingyin Temple always upholds the principles of ＂benevolence, inclusiveness and gratefulness＂ and holds the water and land Dharma assembly every year at the request of the Buddhist believers. Presided over by a venerable Buddhist master, the event usually includes such rituals as chanting sutras, worshiping the Buddha and heavenly gods, feasting all spirits and freeing captive animals in order to remove bad fortune, save all souls from suffering, and bring blessings and benefits to all sentient beings. Master Yiguang presiding over the ceremonyPurif