The Holy Miracles Temple in Pasadena, California, held a Buddhist Prayer Ceremony on February 17, 2026, to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The event was organized by the Holy Miracles Temple, the World Buddhism Association Headquarters, Hongfa Temple, and Sanger Mission.
February 17, 2026, marks the start of the Year of the Horse. In folk tradition, the Year of the Horse symbolizes soaring vitality, an unceasing spirit, and powerful momentum to break through obstacles and achieve success through strength and positivity. Following the cultural tradition, the Lunar New Year is a time to seek blessings for families, friends, communities, and nations for the year ahead.
Ruzun Ruohui, the Venerable Abbess of the Hua Zang Si Temple, was invited to preside over the Prayer Ceremony. Guided by the monastics, participants collectively chanted the The Heart Sutra and invoked the blessings of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to alleviate disasters, cease conflicts, bring peace, happiness, and well-being to all sentient beings. Each attendee presented a lotus lantern glowing with seven colors to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, symbolizing purity and illumination.
The first day of the Lunar New Year is also the Holy Birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva. The Maitreya Bodhisattva is usually depicted as a laughing figure with a big belly, because He once manifested as the Budai monk (the name “Budai” literally means “cloth sack”) in ancient China. Ruzun Ruohui shared that the portrait of Maitreya Bodhisattva inspires us to emulate His spirit — to be tolerant, magnanimous, compassionate, to care for all sentient beings, and to let go of attachments.
In the weeks since 2026 began, the world has faced natural hazards such as earthquakes, winter storms, and coastal flooding, while regional conflicts continue to drive displacement, food insecurity, and constraints on humanitarian access. The Holy Miracles Temple emphasized prayers and compassionate deeds as responses to uncertainty and suffering. The Temple called upon the public to follow the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III as a guiding principle in daily life: Do all good deeds and abstain from all evil deeds.
At the conclusion of the Dharma Assembly, Dharma Masters distributed blessing bags to the attendees, symbolizing the bringing of blessings back home. The public is also welcome to light blessing lamps in the Hall of the Dipankara Buddha at Holy Miracles Temple, to pray for a bright future, good health, or academic success.
Participants described the ceremonies as both solemn and heartwarming, bringing the community together and projecting a shared commitment to compassion in the face of hardship. The prayer ceremonies at Holy Miracles Temple provide opportunities to pray for wisdom and welfare and to gain inner peace and strength. The Holy Miracles Temple will continue to organize similar sutra chanting and prayer events, inviting a broader public participation to promote hope and stability through collective acts of goodwill.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational and cultural reporting purposes only. It does not promote, endorse, or encourage adherence to any specific religious beliefs, teachings, or practices. The views and statements described reflect those of the event organizers and participants.
