The First Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service Succeeds in New York

At 2:00 PM Eastern Time on March 22, 2014, the First East Coast Blessing and Calamity-Relief Water and Land Dharma Assembly officially commenced, hosted by the American Buddhist Confederation (ABC) and co-organized by Longhua Temple in Shanghai, China.

During the opening ceremony, the Honorary President of the American Buddhist Confederation, Elder Xichen, introduced the auspicious origins of this Dharma assembly. While Buddhism has been present in the United States for decades, a Water and Land Dharma Assembly of this scale, involving so many monastics and lay practitioners, had never been held in the East Coast region. Following Elder Xichen’s remarks, Venerable Ruifa, President of the American Buddhist Confederation, delivered a heartfelt speech. Venerable Zhaocheng from Shanghai’s Longhua Ancient Temple was also invited to address the audience.

Attendees included New York State Senator Martin J. Golden and other dignitaries. At the conclusion of the opening ceremony, Senator Golden presented letters of appreciation to Venerables Ruifa and Zhaocheng, expressing particular gratitude to Longhua Temple for its strong support of religious and cultural initiatives in the East Coast region.

After the ceremony, senior monastics from China and the U.S. performed the purification rites for the Dharma assembly. Over 30 monastics from Longhua Temple joined more than 100 local monastics in New York in conducting the ritual according to Buddhist traditions. Their orderly procession, solemn decorum, precise rituals, serene chants, and skilled recitations were highly praised by the attendees.

The inaugural “Blessing and Calamity-Relief Water and Land Dharma Assembly” was held from Sunday, March 23, to Saturday, March 29, spanning seven days. President Venerable Ruifa of the American Buddhist Confederation stated that the event aimed to uphold authentic Buddhist teachings, practice Humanistic Buddhism, and care for the community by benefiting both the living and the deceased. It was the first such assembly in the East Coast region in 38 years.

Venerable Ruifa called on disciples of the Three Jewels to continue supporting the Dharma and protecting the monastery. He also invited virtuous individuals from all directions to participate, sow seeds of merit, rejoice in good deeds, and share in the benefits of the Dharma. The assembly offered various services, including blessing and memorial plaques, grand vegetarian meals, and opportunities for offering flowers, fruits, and other donations.

The assembly was officiated by over 30 senior monastics from the East Coast Buddhist community and China. Honorary Presidents of the American Buddhist Confederation—Elders Haolin, Miaofeng, and Xichen—joined Venerable Zhaocheng, the Abbot of Longhua Temple, to conduct the rituals. These included sutra recitation, mantra chanting, repentance ceremonies, and food offerings. With the blessings of the Three Jewels and the power of sacred mantras, the assembly aimed to aid sentient beings and bring benefit to all directions.