On May 30 and 31, locals learned about Buddha Gate Monastery at the San Ramon Art and Wind Festival. Abbess Jian Sheng, Master Jian Li, and practitioners shared information with fair attendees about the meditation classes, programs, and Bodhi Seeds Summer Camp offered at the monastery.

On May 22, Buddha Gate Monastery celebrated Buddha’s birthday with the traditional Buddha Bathing Ceremony. Members of the Buddha Gate community, family, friends, and guests participated in this annual cleansing ceremony. By bathing a statue of the baby Buddha, we had an opportunity to inwardly cleanse away our anger, greed and ignorance, and focus on our pure (Buddha) nature.

On April 24, locals learned about Buddha Gate Monastery at the Berkeley Earth Day fair. Abbess Jian Sheng, Master Jian Li, and practitioners shared information with fair attendees about the meditation classes, programs, and Bodhi Seeds Summer Camp offered at the monastery.

On April 17, the Bodhi Seeds students celebrated their last class with a day of activities in the field. Children and parents competed in tug-of-war, basketball shoot, ping-pong, long jump, limbo, rice bag relays and much more. The weather was perfect and participants had a great time!

On February 14, a record number of participants came to Buddha Gate Monastery to partake in the special Chinese New Year Blessing Ceremony. The meditation hall and back room were packed; latecomers spilled into the parking area to listen to the special Dharma Talk from the Abbess, Master Jian Sheng. The ceremony concluded with everyone taking turns striking the giant bell, symbolizing the awakening from our delusions and liberation for all sentient beings. Then all participants were invited to stay for a vegetarian meal.

On February 13,Chinese New Year’s eve,family and friends gathered at the Monastery lecture hall for a reunion lunch. During and after the hot pot lunch, members came up to the stage and shared heart-warming tales and reflections of their experience at the Monastery and how their life has been transformed by Buddhism.

On January 24, Dharma friends and family gathered to chant the Sutra on Impermanence and dedicate the merits to the hundreds of thousands killed in the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Donations continue to be accepted at the monastery for the thousands of suffering victims.

On January 1, 2010 the Monastery was festive and lively as hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the New Year. The Blessing Ceremony included Grand Offerings to the Buddha and Sangha, chanting the Diamond Sutra, and a special Dharma Talk from the Abbess, Master Jian Sheng. The ceremony concluded with everyone taking turns striking the giant bell, symbolizing the awakening from our delusions and liberation for all sentient beings.

From December 27 through January 3 the annual Liang Huang Jeweled Repentance Ceremony allowed participants the opportunity to repent, reflect and forgive. These daily ceremonies allowed everyone to cleanse their past improper karma and welcome 2010 with a pure mind.