一九九六年十月六日星期天，是法界宗控衧膍s院的一個大日子。萬佛聖城法界佛教總會分支道場——「法界宗教研究所」，雖然已經運作了兩個年頭，可是裏面的佛像一直沒有正式開光。如今一場莊嚴肅穆的開光典禮，在眾多僧眾、佳賓和接近三百名觀禮的大眾面前舉行了。
上午九點的儀式，在香讚和誦咒聲中揭開序幕。開光典禮是以中、英文雙語同步進行。在大家誠心誦咒的當時，阿彌陀佛的佛像，緩緩地呈現在大眾的面前。緊接著是恒實法師和法界佛教大學校長——阿匹納博士的開幕致辭。
開光典禮之後，是午供和一席豐盛的素筵。許多佳賓和法界宗教研究所的友人，在此時段繼續表達他們的恭賀之意。下午舉行了一場放生儀式，大約有三十隻的雉鳥在奧克蘭東部一處人煙不及的山丘上，獲得了新生。雉鳥飛向自由的溫馨場面，結束了這個特殊的日子。
上人於一九九四年，成立法界宗教研究所時，期許能發展成為一個大型的世界宗教中心。此研究院成立的宗旨，是為了能和諧地和不同信仰的人士一起研究宗教。我們不反對任何宗教，也不拒絕任何宗教。相反地，我們要與各宗、各派一同研究宗教的真理。我們要擴大心量來宣揚萬佛聖城，無量無邊的精神。 |
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Sunday, October 6, 1996, was an important day at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery. Although the monastery and the Institute for World Religions that it houses have been functioning for the past two years, the monastery's Buddha images had not yet been dedicated. Now this solemn ceremony took place in the presence of numerous Sangha members and honored guests, as well as an assembly that numbered nearly 300 people.
The ceremonies began at 9 AM, starting with the Incense Praise and Invocation, and continuing with the Dedication Ceremony in Chinese and English. As the whole assembly vigorously chanted the mantra, the image of Amitabha Buddha was slowly exposed to view. The ceremony was followed by introductory talks by Dharma Master Heng Sure and the president of Dharma Realm Buddhist University, Dr. Snjezana Akpinar. When the Institute for World Religions was established in 1994, the Venerable Master's vision for it was broad and universal: "The purpose of the Institute is to study religions in harmony with other faiths. We do not oppose anyone's religion, nor do we reject anyone's religion. Rather, we investigate the truths of religion together with other creeds and schools. The capacity of our minds should expand to propagate the limitless and boundless spirit of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas."
The dedication ceremony was followed by the High Meal Offering and a sumptuous vegetarian banquet, during which many distinguished visitors and friends of the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery extended their congratulations to the monastery. In the afternoon, a Liberating Life Ceremony was held, and afterwards about thirty young pheasants were liberated among the beautiful, untouched hills of eastern Oakland. The heartwarming sight of the birds flying off to freedom concluded this very special day. |
