Seattle Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple Welcomes Lunar New Year's Eve and New Year with Prayers for Grandmaster Lu's Health and Well-Being
By Reverend Lian-Chiao, Seattle Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple
 
On February 16, 2026, Lunar New Year's Eve, Seattle Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple held its annual reunion dinner, Grand Offering before the Buddhas, New Year red envelope distribution, and the traditional First Incense Offering ceremony. The following morning, on the first day of the Lunar New Year at 10:00 a.m., the temple joined the True Buddha Foundation (TBF) and True Buddha School chapters around the world in a synchronized recitation of the Golden Mother Heart Mantra. A Golden Mother Deity Practice was held in the Main Shrine Hall to pray wholeheartedly for the continued health, peace, and longevity of Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, Grandmaster Lu, followed by another Grand Offering before the Buddhas to welcome the beginning of a blessed new year.
 
Every Lunar New Year's Eve, Seattle Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple hosts a warm and joyful reunion dinner, bringing together devotees and visitors from near and far to celebrate the New Year. Once again, every seat was filled. Abbot Master Lian-Yin specially recorded a short video of everyone enjoying the festive banquet, saying that it would be presented to Grandmaster and Shimu Master Lian-Hsiang. Smiling faces filled the screen as everyone enthusiastically offered heartfelt New Year blessings to Grandmaster and Shimu, expressing their deep gratitude, reverence, and affection.
 
Following the reunion dinner, everyone proceeded to the Main Shrine Hall to offer incense and pay homage to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Dharma Protectors, and Vajra Deities, giving thanks for their compassionate blessings throughout the past year while praying for peace, harmony, and auspiciousness in the year ahead. The shrine hall was beautifully decorated with festive ornaments, accompanied by joyful New Year music that created a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
 
At 10:30 p.m., the temple held its annual Lunar New Year's Eve Grand Offering before the Buddhas. Led by Abbot Master Lian-Yin together with the temple's elders, masters, and dharma reverends, devotees respectfully presented carefully prepared offerings while chanting pure Buddhist liturgy to make offerings to all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Dharma Protectors, Vajra Deities, and sentient beings in the unseen realms. Prayers were offered for the good fortune and well-being of all participants, as well as for beings in the spiritual realms to increase their light and ultimately attain rebirth in the Buddha Pure Lands. Following the offering ceremony, everyone offered incense with sincere prayers during the First Incense Offering of the New Year. The masters then distributed New Year red envelopes, bringing the joyous and auspicious Lunar New Year's Eve celebration to a perfect conclusion.
 
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the True Buddha Foundation organized five consecutive global online sessions, leading disciples around the world in reciting the Golden Mother Heart Mantra to pray for Grandmaster Lu's good health, longevity, and continued presence in the world to benefit sentient beings. Seattle Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple hosted the fifth session. From the moment the temple doors opened at 8:00 a.m., the temple staff busily prepared the offerings and arranged the shrine hall for the 10:00 a.m. Golden Mother Yao Chi Practice. Devotees steadily filled the Main Shrine Hall, while the temple's Dharma Gift Shop also welcomed a continuous stream of visitors purchasing candles to light in prayer for Grandmaster's health and well-being. Throughout the practice, everyone recited the Golden Mother Heart Mantra with utmost sincerity. The continuous, resonant mantra recitation, together with the heartfelt prayers offered by the congregation, deeply moved many participants, bringing tears to their eyes.
 
Following the Golden Mother Deity Practice, the temple held the 11:00 a.m. Grand Offering before the Buddhas for Lunar New Year's Day. Accompanied by the majestic sounds of bells and drums, the solemn ceremony symbolized the official beginning of a new year filled with hope and blessings. Upon the successful completion of the offering ceremony, festive New Year music filled the shrine hall as everyone joyfully embraced a fresh beginning in an atmosphere of celebration, harmony, and auspiciousness.