A Prayer for New Year

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!

A new year has finally come to the world again.

In the temples, the toll of bells; at the neighbors’, the sound of fire works;

On the doors, the red New Year’s scrolls; on the wall, a new calendar:

Everything suggests that

All things change from old to new when a new year begins.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!

At the beginning of the New Year, I will look upon

Everything in the past as a yesterday that has passed away,

Everything in the future as a today that is newly born.

I would like to express my wishes.

At the beginning of this New Year, I wish for:

Harmony in the family and happiness at home; Contentment in life and good acts to help the worlds;

Stability in emotions and dignity in character; The elimination of bad habits and advances in moral cultivation;

Determination in actions and compassion in relationships; Contentment in career and health in body and mind;

Improvement in cultivation and increase in wisdom; Abundance in Buddhism and emancipation for all beings;

Steadfastness in society and happiness in people; Peace on earth and universal rejoicing.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!

In the New Year please grant:

That every world I say may be compassionate, kind, and encouraging;

That everything I do may be acceptable to most people and beneficial to the masses;

That every intension I have may be a blessing to others and a transfer of merits to them;

That every action I take may be beneficial to the nation and of assistance to the world;

That I may be willing to contribute my own body and mind to society;

That I may be willing to share everything I own with others.

I pray to you, Buddha,

Please bless and support me with your compassion;

Allow me to share in the suffering of others; allow me to promote the well-being of society.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!

Promoting Dharma is my domestic duty,

Benefiting all living beings is my professional responsibility.

I vow to support Buddhism institutions that cultivate potential;

I vow to disseminate Buddhist sutras and books that benefit the world and help people;

I vow to participate in the activities of temples and spare no effort to practice Dharma;

I vow to progress sincerely, with determination.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!

Please give me strength,

Allow me to progress on the way to enlightenment wholeheartedly, with out idleness and without regret.

Please give me strength,

Allow me to progress on the way to enlightenment wholeheartedly, without idleness and without regret.

Please give me faith;

Allow me to surmount the barriers of delusion on the way to Buddhahood, and to benefit both self and others.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!

A new spirit infuses the New Year; allow me to start everything anew!

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!

A new spirit infuses the New Year; allow me to start everything anew!

FoGuangShan Chung Mei Buddhist Temple