The Dragon's Head Blog
All Souls Festival
All Souls Festival Reflection
During the All Souls Festival I saw respect and caring for the souls who have passed over and the love and caring that was given through the acts of chanting and the many pledges. Seeing the altars carefully prepared was beautifully sacred and inspired me to set up my own altar in my home. This […]
All Souls Festival – Reflections
Many participants have reflected on their experiences during the recent All Souls Festival celebrations. Below are some of the comments received on Facebook. I feel the All Souls Festival is a time of special connection for us with our ancestors and ALL souls. And feeling it so strongly now, that the connection carries on throughout the […]
All Souls Festival Conclusion
Throughout the vast worldMay there be no anxiety and no hindrance.The cycles of death and life go on;What else could there be?If you go when you must go,How could you not be at ease?Turn your mind to the TaoAnd deliverance will quickly come! Chanting encouraging souls of the departed to let go of attachments and […]
Honoring and Aiding
There is a Chinese saying “When the dead are at peace, then the living shall prosper.” All Souls Festival gives the living an opportunity to express filial piety, harmony and dedication. In honouring and aiding the dead during All Souls Festival, we reduce suffering and bring blessings to the worlds of the living and the […]
Goon Yam Precious Announcements
Goon Yam, Deity of Compassion, cares for all. “She seeks out and responds to the cries of the worldMoving her spirit and revealing her compassionHer enlightened virtue towers over allAnd her power is deep beyond measureThe netherworld awakens to receive the gift of deliveranceAll beings come to health and receive the gift of life” From […]
Wisdom of the Sutras
All Souls Festival gives souls a chance to listen to the wisdom of the sutras chanted during the days of the festival and become free by resolving any attachments, entanglements, or conflicts they had during their lifetimes.
Troubled Souls
Chanting during All Souls Festival brings peace to troubled souls who have died tragically. Our special offerings for these souls help them find release from their suffering.
Harmony
We all have a relationship with our ancestors. All Souls Festival provides a way to care for and maintain harmony with them. This harmony then permeates our lives and our communities. The Columbarium, the cemetery and the Memorial Hall at the Fung Loy Kok International Centre are each dedicated to caring for the souls of […]
Preparing for All Souls Festival
As we prepare for All Souls Festival we compose ourselvesWe approach the tasks with respectful intentionCarefully, and with reverence we place items on the altarFlowers, fruit, Jai, tea, wineWe light incenseIt is muted, quiet. There is a palpable sense of connection.We chantAt closing it is joyful Can I approach my life with the same respectful […]
Beautiful Bags
All Souls Festival gives the living an opportunity to express filial piety, harmony and dedication by honouring ancestors, relatives and friends who have passed away. Beautiful paper bags decorated with symbols of longevity, balance and comfort in the afterlife hold paper offerings to be burnt.
Volunteers
At this time of year the temples bustle with activity. Volunteers at D’Arcy Street and the Fung Loy Kok International Centre prepare for the All Souls Festival. They wash fruit, prepare jai vegetarian food as offerings and fill bags with paper offerings.
Care Offerings
In traditional Taoist belief, souls of the dead continue to need care from those in the world of the living. Offerings to them include items for daily use such as food, shelter, clothing and money.
Paper Offerings
Buddhist and Taoist temples around the world observe All Souls Festival during the first half of the 7th lunar month when the gates of the realm of the dead are opened and the souls of the deceased can receive offerings. Paper offerings help the souls.
Paper Money
All Souls Festival is one of the most important times of year in the Taoist calendar. It provides an opportunity for the living to honor those who have passed away. Volunteers prepare paper offerings for the souls of the departed in the Realm of Yin.
All Souls Festival 15 – Synopsis
Throughout the vast world May there be no anxiety and no hindrance. The cycles of death and life go on; What else could there be? If you go when you must go, How could you not be at ease? Turn your mind to the Tao And deliverance will quickly come! Chant encouraging souls of the departed to let go of attachments and […]
All Souls Festival 14 – Cymbals
The last day of All Souls Festival brought together the caring intention of a thousand people chanting for the world and for those who have passed away. The ceremony leader reads a notice to the multitude of gathered souls, marked with a loud crash of cymbals!
All Soul’s Festival 13-Memorial Altar Offerings
In traditional Taoist belief, souls of the dead continue to need care from those in the world of living. Offerings to them include items for daily use such as food, shelter, clothing and money.
All Souls Festival 12 – Incense
There is a Chinese saying that “When the dead are at peace, then the living shall prosper.” By honoring and aiding the dead during the All Souls Festival, we hope to reduce suffering and to bring blessings in the worlds of the living and the dead. Incense offerings during the All Souls Festival comfort the […]
All Souls Festival 11 – Preparing
As we prepare for All Souls Festival we compose ourselves We approach the tasks with respectful intention Carefully, and with reverence we place items on the altar Flowers, fruit, Jai, tea, wine We light incense It is muted, quiet We chant At closing it is joyful. Can I approach my life with the same respectful […]
All Souls Festival 10 – Bringing Peace
All Souls Festival is a chance to bring peace to the countless souls through the ages who have died in circumstances of great suffering and have no one to care for them.
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