Completion of the stone Buddha statue (35 feet tall, 80 tons) 
  

Dear Friends in Dharma:

We are pleased to inform you that after much effort over the last 3 years, the Avalokitesvara statue construction and installation project has been successfully completed. The statue, crafted from granite stone, is considered to be the largest of its kind in the state of Texas. This is a great source of happiness for all of us.
 
We would like to thank you very much for your kind helps and supports given to this project. The spring 2020 is coming and the weather becomes warmer, we would like to take this chance to invite you to visit the great Buddha of peace and compassion; and together with us, we pray for peace and well beings for ourselves and for the world. Your visit will be of great honor for all our members; and will go a long way to help establish the first Buddhist zen monastery in Mckinney, Texas. 

May you be well and happy.
Sincerely,
Zen Master Venerable Khai Thien - Thich Tam Thien, Ph.D.
 
* Dharma Friends from outside of Texas who are planning to visit us, please contact us at 214-856-4636 so we can plan for your arrival and hotels.

 

INVITATION 
Dharma Assembly to Hand-Copy the Lotus Sutra & Buddha Birthday (UN Vesak Day) Ceremony on May 16 2021.

       Dear Friends in Dharma: 
       This year, the Buddha Birthday Ceremony (Buddhist Calendar Year 2565) will occur in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, especially in the United States. The immense turmoil and suffering caused by this virus has exposed human fragility and helplessness in the face of this invisible and mysterious danger. Even though we know that life as the cycle of birth and death is impermanent, still we cannot help but feel a great sense of loss and grief when so many around us have become ill and fallen to this virus. With this backdrop of great suffering and grief, those who are in good health, able to maintain the practice, and create positive energy and karma towards the path of enlightenment are very fortunate. The task of manually copying the words of the Lotus sutra in a mindful manner will help to enlighten our spirit and our lives. Hand-copying the sutra is one method to clear away the darkness and the mental suffering, so that regardless of where we are and in any circumstances, the Buddha still appears in our mind. That is the true path of enlightenment in our daily lives so that we’re able to achieve inner peace and tranquility in the middle of a violent storm.
       To honor the Buddha's Birthday and to pray for those who are in need, the Thuong Hanh Buddhist Monastery (TX) and White Sands Buddhist Center (FL) will hold a Dharma Assembly to Manually Copy The Lotus Sutras (livestream) so that Friends in Dharma everywhere could participate in this task and pray together.  This will occur on the following dates/times:

May 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m (CST) – Dharma Talk by Zen Master Ven. Khai Thien Thich Tam Thien (Day 1)
May 15, 2021 at 6:30 p.m (CST)  – Dharma Assembly to hand-copy the Lotus Sutra (Day 2)
May 16, 2021 at 10:30 am (CST)  – Buddha Birthday Ceremony (Day 3)

       We would like to invite you to participate in the events above at our website www.thuonghanh.org or on the Thuong Hanh Buddhist Monastery’s facebook page in order to pray and send our energy of compassion to all who are suffering.
        To participate in the ceremony to hand-copy the Lotus Sutra, you may choose a portion or the entirety of selected chapters from the Lotus Sutra (chapter 10, chapter 16, or chapter 25),sit quietly in front of a statue of the Buddha, and mindfully hand-copy the words from selected chapters. After you have completed hand-copying the words from the Lotus Sutra, at the bottom, please add your name and any prayers or wishes that you would like to make, and please send your handwritten document to the Monasteries so that it can be burned on the Monastery’s premises on Ulambana Day (August 21) 2021.
       We pray for you and your family’s health, safety and happiness, and that this crisis will soon pass. 

       With Metta
​       Abbot Ven. Khai Thien - Thich Tam Thien, Ph.D.

 

Celebration Lunar New Year  
Year of OX - 2021

Celebration Program:
 
*  Thứ Năm, ngày 11 tháng 2, 2021 / Thursday, Feb 11, 2021:
    11:00 pm - Lunar New year’s Eve 
    11:00 giờ tối - Lễ Sám Hối cuối năm và đón giao thừa Xuân   Tân Sửu

*  Thứ Sáu, ngày 12 tháng 2, 2021 (mùng Một Tết âm lịch):
    Friday, Feb 12, 2021:
    04:30 pm: New Year Ceremony with Dharma talk (livestream)    
    04:30 giờ chiều - Đại Lễ Tân Niên & Pháp Thoại đầu năm

*  Thứ Bảy, ngày 13 tháng 2, 2020 (mùng Hai Tết âm lịch):
    Saturday, Feb 13, 2021: 
    10:30 Ceremony of Opening the Lotus Sutra
    15:30 pm: Candlelight ceremony - pray for well-being (livestream)    
    10:30 giờ sáng - Khai Kinh Pháp Hoa 
     05:30 giờ chiều -Lễ Hoa Đăng - Dâng đèn cầu nguyện 

 *  Chủ Nhật, ngày 14 tháng 2, 2021 (mùng Ba Tết âm lịch):
        Sunday, Feb 14, 2021: 
        10:30 Opening Dharma Assembly of Medication Buddha         with Dharma talk (livestream)                 
         10:30 giờ sáng - Khai Đàn Dược Sư - Pháp Thoại                          
lotus_sutra.pdf
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THBM Registration Form
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The Ven. Khai Thien's calligraphy with his personal stamp.