The CSS delegations from coutries other Taiwan, upon arrival at Taipei airport
After many days of preparation, Compassion Service Society groups from around the world gathered at Taipei Airport on the morning of October 10, 2024, to attend the Mandala event in Kaohsiung City, home to the Taiwan branch headquarters of Compassion Service Society. This is the second time the Taiwan branch hosts the Mandala, but it marks the first time the Altruistic Temporary Ordination program has been offered for Taiwanese participants.
This pilgrimage has two very important main purposes:
1. To support the Mandala in Taiwan.
2. To pay homage to the holy statue of Venerable Master Hsuan Hua.
At exactly 8 a.m., three buses carrying about 120 members and their families departed from Taipei Airport, heading to Taichung City. On the afternoon of October 10, we continued our southward journey directly toward the Compassion Monastery in Tainan City.
Visit to Compassion Monastery
At around 4 p.m., the buses stopped at the foot of the hill where Compassion Monastery is located. There, Thầy was already waiting and warmly greeted each member individually. We were deeply moved. Elderly members were transported up the hill by car, while Thầy and the rest of the group walked up to the monastery.
Once the full delegation had gathered, Thầy briefly explained the historical background and the initial challenges faced during the monastery's construction. He then guided us to visit the holy statue of Venerable Master Hsuan Hua. The statue stood majestically, facing a clear blue lake and surrounded by lush greenery. The landscape resembled a serene ink painting, giving a sense of peace and tranquility to all who witnessed it.
When Venerable Master Hsuan Hua first visited Taiwan in 1988, he had a vast following of devotees. Hundreds of thousands came to listen to his teachings at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Square in Taipei. After that, he often visited Taiwan, and his disciples established a monastery in Hualien. However, only Compassion Monastery in Taiwan has a holy statue of him.
Why did we erect his holy statue? Because the statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas represent their very presence. Thus, paying homage to the holy statue is akin to bowing to the Venerable Master himself. The Master once vowed, "Anyone who sincerely bows to me, all their wishes will be fulfilled."
Thầy reminded our delegation not to forget this vow, encouraging everyone to bow with genuine devotion. Particularly for the elderly who suffer from illness, face difficulties, or are burdened by karmic obstacles, the Teacher urged them to bow sincerely to the Venerable Master so that their ailments, obstacles, and hardships could be alleviated.
Sincere Homage to Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
After dinner, Thầy introduced the CSS – Taiwan leadership team. The group leader, Mrs. Lin Chie Pi, warmly welcomed us.
Compassion Monastery, surrounded by serene natural scenery, also features eight well-furnished retreat rooms for CSS members to engage in spiritual practice.
Retreat Rooms
Inviting the Holy Presence
On the morning of October 11, under Thầy’s guidance, the delegation participated in the ceremony of Inviting the Holy Presence, which involved inviting Venerable Master Hsuan Hua to join the Mandala. Because many elderly members were present, Thầy compassionately allowed them to walk three steps and bow once, instead of the traditional practice of Three Steps One Bow, making the ritual more manageable for them.
At around 8 a.m., the group arrived at the statue of the Venerable Master. The ceremony began with the Three Refuges, followed by the recitation of the Rebirth Mantra. Then, disciples took turns offering various chants and scriptures, including the Ocean Seal Samadhi, the Shurangama Mantra, the Sutra of Kindness, and the Incense Praise, among others.
To conclude, Thầy led the group to visit a 400-year-old ancient tree. Thầy had saved this tree by purchasing the surrounding land, totaling hundreds of acres, to prevent a group of people from cutting it down for sale. Before leaving the 400-year-old tree, we shared loving energy with it by chanting the Sweet Dew Mantra, wishing the tree continued strength and vitality.
CSS Group Poses for a Photo in Front of the 400-Year-Old Tree
Taiwan Mandala 2024
We left Cibei Monastery on the afternoon of October 11 to head to the city of Kaohsiung, where the Mandala ceremony was held. Kaohsiung is the third-largest city in Taiwan, with a population of about 2.7 million. It is known as the "Harbor Capital" because it hosts some of the world's busiest and largest seaports.
This year, the Taiwan Mandala was held at the LingYa Sports Center. The Mandala, also known as the Dharma Platform or Ordination Altar, is considered a sacred gathering place for Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. In past Mandalas organized by the Compassionate Service Society, some years we invited the Buddha, while other years we invited Bodhisattva Guan Yin as the presiding spiritual host. The Buddha or Bodhisattva sits at the center (the main circle), symbolizing the spiritual home of all Buddhas. The wonder of it is that we, as sentient beings, join them in collective spiritual practice.
Surrounding the smaller circle are five squares, representing the five realms of ordinary beings: Form, Feeling, Perception, Mental Formations, and Consciousness—temporary abodes where beings reside. Through the Mandala, we come to understand that these are only transient homes, encouraging us to move towards the Eternal Abode of the Buddha. For each soul, their Form aggregate is represented by a plaque. These plaque are guided through the five temporary houses, eventually placed at the feet of the Buddha. The radiance of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, like a pillar of light reaching upward, serves as the guiding path to liberation.
Lyngya Sports Center in Kaohsiung
The program began at 9 AM on October 12 with the Purification Ceremony. After that, the venerable Hằng Trường introduced the significance of the Mandala to the monastic community and the general public. To enhance the collective energy for the Mandala, this year marked the first time that 50 individuals from Taiwan took short-term ordination. This represents a significant milestone for Compassionate Service Society's community.
On this pilgrimage, we were fortunate to witness two significant events, which may signify a shift in the Mandala model.
The First Event: Thầy composed melodies for chanting sacred mantras, including the Nectar Mantra, Treasure Vase Mantra, Four Lotus Mantra, and Thousand-Petal Jeweled Lotus Mantra. As the assembly and wandering souls chant, they experience a sense of liberation, enabling them to transcend the five temporary abodes and embark on the path to liberation.
The Second Event: The use of sophisticated lighting artistry allowed the assembly and wandering souls to visualize the seeds of radiance and the luminous pillar of the Buddhas. This visualization aids us in following the light and stepping into the Buddha’s spiritual home.
Commemorative picture taken after the conclusion of the Mandala
Interviews
On this occasion, the editorial team conducted a brief interview with Khai Nghiêm and a novice nun from the Altruistic Ordination Monastic Community (XGVT) in Taiwan.
Editorial Team: Khai Nghiêm, could you share if there are any differences between the XGVT monastic community in the United States and the XGVT monastic community in Taiwan?
Khai Nghiêm: Khai Nghiêm does not see any difference; both are groups of people who have sacrificed 10 days a year to be ordained for the sake of their loved ones. Everyone comes from a place of altruism, driven by the same motivation and purpose. The ordination programs of both monastic communities are identical. Most participants find the first few days challenging, as it is a significant shift in spiritual practice. The primary goal of the program is to help each individual transform and break through to a new level of consciousness—from self-centeredness to selflessness. This is an essential realization for those participating in XGVT.
Editorial Team: In a few days, the novice monks and nuns in Taiwan will renounce their precepts and return to lay life. Do you have any advice for them, Khai Nghiêm?
Khai Nghiêm: Yes. "If you have genuinely practiced over the past 10 days and lived in the spirit of altruism, your heart must have experienced deep and warm feelings. This is a sign that your Bodhicitta (Awakened Heart) is growing. If you can maintain this feeling throughout the year, you will surely return to the monastic community in the next ordination retreat to continue nurturing your Bodhicitta.”
The next person we interviewed was Ms. Hui Chun Yu. She traveled from Hualien City to participate in the Altruistic Ordination Monastic Community (XGVT).
Editorial Team: Could you share your feelings about joining the XGVT monastic community?
Ms. Hui Chun Yu: This is my first time being ordained. The first few days were very challenging for me, as I tend to enjoy living alone. I had to learn how to adapt, be happy, and live harmoniously with the monastic community. However, just a few days later, I grew to love the communal lifestyle deeply. I learned so much during this time. If CSS organizes Altruistic Temporary Ordination in the future, I am more than willing to participate wholeheartedly.
Editorial Team: Could you share what you have learned?
Ms. Hui Chun Yu: I learned a lot about the Dharma from Venerable Master Heng Truong, how to spread love to those around me, how to be a good person, and how to live joyfully and accept whatever comes my way. I have become a new person, transformed in both mind and body.
The editorial team would like to thank Khai Nghiêm and Ms. Hui Chun Yu for taking the time to share their thoughts.
We sincerely express our deep gratitude to our Venerable Master and the organizing team of the Taiwan Mandala and this meaningful pilgrimage, which has left a lasting impact on our hearts.
With the Master’s boundless wisdom, compassion, and skillful means, we have taken more confident steps on this path of practice, a journey full of challenges yet filled with wonder and inspiration. Our consciousness has been uplifted, our faith nurtured, and our Bodhicitta continues to expand and spread, with the network of karmic connections ever unfolding.
No words can truly express our heartfelt wishes, so we simply wish our Master and all our fellow practitioners health and peace in body and mind. Finally, a big thank you to the organizing team for making Taiwan Mandala 2024 a success and for giving us such a meaningful pilgrimage.
Organizing Committee for the 2024 Mandala Taiwan Dharma Assembly:
- Lin Chie Pi – President of CSS-TW & Head of the Organizing Committee.
- Moi Tzu – Responsible for the dharma hall's set up and the Mandala altar.
- Stella – Managed the distribution of Dharma materials and sacred Buddhist items.
- Khai-Nghiêm – Oversaw the Altruistic Ordination Monastic Community (XGVT).
- Rachel & Eric – Organized the visit to Fo Guang Shan.
The Mandala Taiwan pilgrimage concluded on October 21.
Pilgrimage Organizing Team:
- Ben Chen – Worked directly with local travel services in Taiwan to arrange the itinerary, transportation, accommodations, and meals.
- Diana Tạ – Coordinated with Ben Chen to assist members with registration, grouping, and arranging accommodations throughout the pilgrimage.
- Phụng Bành – Managed finances.
- Minh-Ân – Represented the global CSS delegation at the Dharma Assembly.
The pilgrimage group, consisting of 120 members, was divided into three buses, each led by group leaders:
- Bus A – Chính-Tín and Ngọc-Chiêu
- Bus B – Nhi Dương and Thu-Hà
Bus C – Minh-Ân and Bích-Thủy
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