Happy Lunar New Year! Year of the Dog

The Year of the Dog begins on February 16th, 2018 and ends February 4th, 2019. Babies born between those dates have the dog as their Chinese zodiac sign. Further,  2018 is designated as an Earth year, one of the five elements that are cycled through the 12 sign Chinese zodiac. This means that an Earth Dog year only comes around once every 60 years. So if you were born between February 18th, 1958 and February 7th, 1959, this will be first time you will have been alive during a year that shares your exact birth sign. Like their namesakes, people born in the year of the dog are easy-going, friendly, exuberant, and loyal.  Read more.

Dogs play an important role in Chinese mythology. Often a dog accompanies a hero, and some ethnic groups claim  a magical dog as an ancestor. The Tiangou or “Heavenly Dog” resembles a black dog that, unless frightened away, eats the sun or moon during an eclipse — which we had yesterday as well as one on the Chinese New Year in 2009.

Events are held around the world to commemorate the occasion. Locally, a large event was held two weeks ago, and starting today, there are events at AN LAC BUDDHIST MISSION, the Ventura Buddhist Study Center on Saticoy Ave. in Ventura.

PROGRAM 2018 LUNAR NEW YEAR Year Of The Dog

May all the members, devotees, well-wishers, & friends of An Lac Mission have a peaceful, prosperous, and happy life  in the ‘Year of the Dog’ with the blessings of all the Buddhas and Bodhisatvas. All are welcome to attend the following events. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

February 15th (Thursday)
06:00PM–Chanting in Pali by Bhante Sutadhara
06:45PM-Calling of the bell
07:00PM –Prostrations to thank the year of the ROOSTER  (2017)
08:00pm – lunar new year’s eve party
10:00pm –new year religious ceremony- Year of the dog (2018)
11:00Pm – good luck red envelops.

February 16TH (Friday)
10:00Am -ceremony to celebrate arrival of the maitreya buddha
11:00aM – medicine buddha sutra chanting, &  offerings to the spirits
12:00noon – New Year Lunch
7:00PM –medicine buddha sutra Chanting

February 17th  (Saturday)
11:00aM – medicine buddha sutra chanting , and  offerings to the  spirits (ancestors)
12:00noon – New Year Lunch
7:00PM –medicine buddha sutra Chanting

February 18th (Sunday)
11:00AM- MEDICINE BUDDHA SUTRA CHANTING & OFFERING FOOD FOR THE DEPARTED RELATIVES,
12:00PM- Lunch
07:00PM- MEDICINE BUDDHA SUTRA CHANATING

March 04 (Sunday)
9:30am arrival
10:00AM – first full moon
ceremony. – dhamma talk: most-venerable thich thong  hai
11:00AM- MEDICINE BUDDHA SUTRA CHANTING & OFFERING FOOD FOR THE DEPARTED
12:00PM- Lunch
07:00pm- fullmoon blessings chant to call off  negative planetory influences according to astrology.
(ANY MEMEBER NEED BLESSING CHANTING.
PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORMs AND SENd BACK TO AN LAC MISSION)

March 11th (Sunday)
PILGRIMAGE TO TEMPLES IN SOUTHTHERN CALIFORNIA
Contact Ai Lien (Hai Duc) or send an e-mail to: missionanlac@yahoo.com

So here’s another chance to reflect and set New Year’s resolutions!

How about how to be more like a dog? Loyal, friendly and kind? And remember to take lots of walks outside and to find time to play with your buddies in the park!

Here’s my best dog buddy on a few hikes at Arroy Verde Park which has been closed because it burned during the Thomas Fire. We’re so happy to learn that it reopens on Friday Feb. 16! Couldn’t have a better New Year’s gift than this!