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All Souls Festival – Reflections

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Many participants have reflected on their experiences during the recent All Souls Festival celebrations. Below are some of the comments received on Facebook.

I feel the All Souls Festival is a time of special connection for us with our ancestors and ALL souls. And feeling it so strongly now, that the connection carries on throughout the year. I feel humbled by this feeling. Thank you.

~Shelley

Thank you for the peace and harmony through the message of this post. Helping us through sorrow after the loss of a really kind friend. Helping to find joy and the value of the daily moments. 

~Zsofia

Thank you for the enlightening talks about the importance and significance of the All Souls Festival.

~Oimei

Much caring, dedication and working together making for a very successful All Souls Festival! I participated on Zoom but certainly felt like I was part of it. I experienced the peace from the chanting and felt I had helped with the intention of the Festival. Thank you to all!!

~Barbara

All Souls Festival Conclusion

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Throughout the vast world
May there be no anxiety and no hindrance.
The cycles of death and life go on;
What else could there be?
If you go when you must go,
How could you not be at ease?
Turn your mind to the Tao
And deliverance will quickly come!

Chanting encouraging souls of the departed to let go of attachments and be delivered from suffering

Honoring and Aiding

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There is a Chinese saying “When the dead are at peace, then the living shall prosper.” All Souls Festival gives the living an opportunity to express filial piety, harmony and dedication.  In honouring and aiding the dead during All Souls Festival, we reduce suffering and bring blessings to the worlds of the living and the dead. 

Incense offerings during the All Souls Festival comfort the souls.

Goon Yam Precious Announcements

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Goon Yam, Deity of Compassion, cares for all.

“She seeks out and responds to the cries of the world
Moving her spirit and revealing her compassion
Her enlightened virtue towers over all
And her power is deep beyond measure
The netherworld awakens to receive the gift of deliverance
All beings come to health and receive the gift of life”

From the Precious Announcement of the Bodhisattva Goon Yam

Harmony

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We all have a relationship with our ancestors. All Souls Festival provides a way to care for and maintain harmony with them. This harmony then permeates our lives and our communities.  The Columbarium, the cemetery and the Memorial Hall at the Fung Loy Kok International Centre are each dedicated to caring for the souls of those who have passed away.

Preparing for All Souls Festival

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As we prepare for All Souls Festival we compose ourselves
We approach the tasks with respectful intention
Carefully, and with reverence we place items on the altar
Flowers, fruit, Jai, tea, wine
We light incense
It is muted, quiet. There is a palpable sense of connection.
We chant
At closing it is joyful

Can I approach my life with the same respectful intention and preparation?

~Kay

Beautiful Bags

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All Souls Festival gives the living an opportunity to express filial piety, harmony and dedication by honouring ancestors, relatives and friends who have passed away. 

Beautiful paper bags decorated with symbols of longevity, balance and comfort in the afterlife hold paper offerings to be burnt.

Volunteers

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At this time of year the temples bustle with activity. Volunteers at D’Arcy Street and the Fung Loy Kok International Centre prepare for the All Souls Festival. They wash fruit, prepare jai vegetarian food as offerings and fill bags with paper offerings.