北加州萬佛聖城於六月二十三日，為開山祖師上宣下化老和尚舉行「涅槃週年追思紀念法會」。宣公上人生前在美、加、亞洲創設的二十餘座道場，以及老和尚涅槃後，座下的弟子們繼續成立的新道場，共計三十處分支道場，紛紛派遣代表前往萬佛聖城，迎請老和尚的舍利。
二十三日，清晨四時的早課做完之後，於五時正，首先傳八關齋戒，以傳戒儀式展開宣公上人的涅槃週年紀念法會，可以說是意義深長。因為宣公上人住世時，特別重視提倡戒律。
上午七時十五分，來自世界各地的善信，一千餘人，在出家眾的領導之下從萬佛殿魚貫步行到無言堂，瞻仰上人的舍利。宣公上人的舍利計有一萬餘顆，供奉在「無言堂」，內一座高約二百公分的十三層，貼金寶塔內。這座舍利寶塔前，有三十座一呎高的小型舍利塔，外罩著透明玻璃，十分莊嚴。這些正是上人座下，各分支道場欲迎請回的舍利塔。每座小塔內裝入數粒宣公上人的舍利。
除了追思紀念法會外，萬佛聖城也自六月七日起舉行「華嚴法會」，念誦整部《大方廣佛華嚴經》並分成中、英、越南文，三堂誦經，以紀念上人涅槃週年。在中文誦經堂有一座，由台灣善信雕塑的上人塑像，栩栩如生，令人追思不已。 |
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On June 23, 1996, the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB) held a ceremony for the founder of CTTB, the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, commemorating the anniversary of his Nirvana. Thirty-some affiliated monasteries sent representatives over to CTTB to request a share of the Master's sharira (relics). Twenty-seven of these monasteries were established when the Master was alive, the rest after his Nirvana.
After the morning recitation which began at 4:00 am, the Eight Precepts were transmitted from 5:00 am to 6:15 am. To start the anniversary ceremony for the Master's Nirvana with the precepts transmission service has a profound meaning, for the Venerable Master highly valued and advocated precepts throughout his life.
Led by Buddhist monks and nuns, over a thousand people from various parts of the world walked in procession from the Buddha Hall to No Words Hall to view the Master's sharira. The Venerable Hua's sharira, estimated to number over ten thousand, are stored in a thirteen-tier gold-foliated pagoda which is approximately seven feet high. In front of the golden pagoda were thirty one-foot-high miniature pagodas covered by glass domes. It was a magnificent sight. Each one of the miniature pagodas containing several grains of the Master's sharira was destined to be taken to a different affiliated monastery.
In addition to the special ceremony on June 23, CTTB also held a three-week Avatamsaka Sutra recitation session from June 7 to June 27 in Chinese, English, and Vietnamese to commemorate the Master. Taiwanese disciples of the Master donated a vivid bronze statue of the Master which stimulates people's memory of the Venerable One and now is placed in the Patriarch Hall of CTTB. |
