Author : Keung Pui Ting
For more than thirty years, the International Buddhist Temple has joyfully hosted its annual Senior’s Day Vegetarian Banquet, honouring the elderly with respect and gratitude. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this beloved gathering had been on pause for six years. This year, thanks to the compassionate support of benefactors and the harmonious convergence of favourable conditions, the tradition was happily revived. On August 3, beneath Vancouver’s radiant summer skies and gentle, refreshing breeze, the temple welcomed over seven hundred seniors to share a complimentary vegetarian lunch, listen to the Dharma, form wholesome connections, and share in the bliss of the Buddha’s teachings.
Preparations had begun a week in advance, as the temple’s venerables, staff, and volunteers worked diligently to organize every aspect of the day. This year set a new record with over one hundred volunteers lending their service. Ever conscientious, Venerable Guan Cheng convened a meeting to discuss key arrangements, ensuring the event would unfold smoothly and bring joy to all attendees.
On the day of the banquet, many participants arrived as early as 9 a.m., hearts brimming with anticipation. As most were native Cantonese speakers, they received the Venerable’s Dharma talk in Cantonese with a special sense of warmth and intimacy. At 9:15 a.m., a solemn grand offering ceremony was held before the Buddha in the Main Hall, and following its conclusion, the Senior’s Day Vegetarian Banquet officially commenced.
Venerable Guan Cheng began by leading the assembly in the traditional threefold salutation to the Buddha. He then explained the significance of offering chants, inviting everyone to join their palms sincerely in devotion to the Bodhisattvas before the meal. As all attendees were seniors aged 65 and above, the Venerable reminded them of the importance of maintaining good health: a strong body is the foundation for longevity, and when health is paired with wisdom, the later years can be lived with happiness and ease.
To cultivate both health and wisdom, he encouraged the assembly to recite “Namo Amitābha” frequently. He explained:
“‘Namo’ is the highest expression of reverence, and ‘Amitābha’ represents Infinite Life and Infinite Light—health and wisdom. When we join our palms and recite the Buddha’s name aloud, we invite the blessings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who safeguard our well-being. So when you recite, let your voices ring out clearly and wholeheartedly.”
With that, the Venerable led everyone in unified recitations of “Namo Amitābha.” The sound filled the venue, enveloping the assembly in a sacred and deeply moving resonance.
After the elders enjoyed the vegetarian lunch lovingly prepared by the volunteers, Venerable Guan Cheng continued his compassionate Dharma talk. He expressed his hope that, following this joyful and heartfelt gathering, everyone would take home two auspicious treasures from the International Buddhist Temple.
These treasures are the Heart Mantra of the Peacock King and the Six-Syllable Great Mantra. First, the Venerable taught everyone to form the hand mudra of the Peacock King, then instructed them to place their hands over their chests and, with pure body, speech, and mind, recite the mantra “Oṃ mayūra krānte svāhā,” invoking blessings of health and longevity. The Venerable explained:
“The Heart Mantra of the Peacock King is a ‘detoxifying’ mantra. It helps avert earthquakes and dispel calamities and adversity. So we recite this mantra not only for our own benefit, but also for our families and for all beings in Vancouver and around the world.”
The Venerable further reminded everyone to recite with energy and spirit, for only with spirited recitation can its power be fully awakened. He also suggested dedicating fifteen minutes each day at home to recite it; with steady practice, its blessings will surely be felt.
After guiding the assembly in reciting the Heart Mantra of the Peacock King, the Venerable invited everyone to bring their palms together at the chest and chant aloud the Six-Syllable Great Mantra: “Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ.”
With gentle compassion, he explained: “This is a highly effective mantra. Whenever you encounter difficulties or distress, you can recite it to invoke the blessings of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva and ease your troubles. You can recite it at home, especially if there are impure or inauspicious objects present. By reciting this mantra, you can receive the protection of auspicious spirits, who dispel harmful obstacles, safeguard your household, and help reduce illness.”
After explaining the profound merits of the Six-Syllable Great Mantra, the Venerable led the gathering in a sincere and heartfelt recitation. The six-syllable chant of “Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ” resounded throughout the assembly, swelling the hearts of everyone present with immeasurable blessings and a deep sense of sacred reverence.
After the recitations, Venerable Guan Cheng, full of compassion and great aspiration, encouraged everyone not only to experience the blessings of these mantras in this life but also to cultivate conditions for rebirth in the Pure Land. He continued:
“The law of cause and effect is precise and unfailing. Even if we are fortunate in this life, it does not guarantee the same for the next. How can we ensure that, when the time comes to leave this world, we do so peacefully, without suffering, attachment, or confusion, and are reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss? The key is to recite ‘Namo Amitābha.’”
The Venerable then led the assembly in a five-minute recitation of “Namo Amitābha,” compassionately guiding them with a heartfelt prayer:
“Let go of all past worries and unpleasant experiences and allow them to flow away. In the present, cease unwholesome actions and cultivate virtue, purify your body and mind, live with integrity, and maintain mindfulness of the Buddha. Together, let us diligently cultivate conditions for the future so that, when the time comes, we may be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss without pain or suffering, liberated from the cycle of Saṃsāra.”
After receiving the Venerable’s Dharma teachings with heartfelt gratitude, the assembly turned their attention to the upcoming performances and prize draws with clear and joyful hearts. The first performer was the generous donor Mr Newman Arndt, who shared how profoundly he had been moved by the Venerable’s English Heart Sutra lectures on YouTube before enchanting the audience with a selection of cherished nostalgic songs.
Next to take the stage was artist Henry Prince Mak, who had travelled all the way from Beijing to support the International Buddhist Temple in Vancouver. Alongside performing timeless favourites, he shared a deeply personal experience from two years ago, when he was hospitalised and near death. In a hazy and dreamlike state, he remembered perceiving the form of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva “saving his life.” With a smile, he added that he often watches Venerable Guan Cheng’s YouTube Channel, and now, having finally met the Venerable in person, he found him even more attractive than on screen. The audience erupted in laughter and applause, filling the venue with delight.
Time flew by, carried along by the excitement of prize draws, stirring Cantonese opera performances, and nostalgic songs. Finally, it was time for the cake-cutting ceremony. The International Buddhist Temple had prepared a spectacularly large cake and invited elders aged 90 and above to the stage to cut it together. Among them were centenarians aged 100 and 102, who, supported by volunteers and loved ones, joined in the celebration. As the audience sang the birthday song in both Chinese and English, the Venerable gathered with everyone for a group photo, capturing a heartwarming moment of shared happiness.
As the event drew to a close, the Venerable delighted everyone with a performance of The Light of Friendship, and even delivered a rap in Cantonese, capturing the culture and society of 1960s Hong Kong. The performance sparked vivid memories among the elders, who clapped and sang along, filling the atmosphere with warmth and cheer. Many of the attending elders exclaimed in unison: “The Venerable sings beautifully,” “The rap performance was the most memorable part,” and “No one brings energy to a gathering like the Venerable!”
This year’s Senior’s Day Vegetarian Banquet left everyone brimming with joy and contentment. Generous donors contributed a wonderful array of prizes, including airline tickets, travel vouchers, and cash gifts, giving participants as well as the temple’s staff and volunteers a chance to be among the lucky winners. Those who received prizes were naturally delighted, and even those who did not were not disappointed, as every attendee received a gift bag as a token of auspicious connection.
More importantly, through Venerable Guan Cheng’s Dharma teachings, the rich variety of performances, and the delicious vegetarian lunch, everyone was able to deepen their connection with the temple, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and the virtuous teachers. In this precious gathering, each person carried home happiness, blessings, and the joyful wisdom of the Dharma.
We offer heartfelt gratitude to Venerable Guan Cheng for his compassion; to the temple’s venerables, staff, and volunteers for their dedicated service; to the generous donors for their benevolent offerings; and to all participants and performers. Most of all, we give thanks for the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, which made this Senior’s Day Vegetarian Banquet a complete and harmonious success. We look forward with joy to next year’s reunion!
