Dotting Ceremony at Telok Blangah Height Guan Yin Temple (萬壽山觀音堂開光安座法事)

Last Sunday (07 Jun 2009), 15th Day of Lunar 5 Month (己丑年五月十五日), Long Shan Men (龍山門) conducted a Dotting Ceremony at Telok Blangah Height Guan Yin Temple (located infront of Blk 54 萬壽山觀音堂) (Pics 01). Upon the permission given by the Deities & Temple Keepers, Long Shan Men & Disciples sponsored 3 New Statues to the Temple. This 3 New Statues are:

1) Pu Hua Tian Zun aka Heavenly Lord Pu Hua of Thunderial Heaven (雷聲普化天尊)
2) Lord Tai Sui (值年太歲星君)
3) Duke Bao Sheng aka Bao Sheng Da Di (保生大帝)

As for the reason of why Long Shan Men decided to sponsor the 3 Statues, maybe you all can proceed to Vabien's Taoist Web in the next few days for the write-up (http://juin987.multiply.com).

On the Day, Long Shan Men arrived at the Temple at about 8.30Am to do the preparation and setting up, with enough Man-power, the setting up was done within 15 minutes and the Dotting Ceremony started on time at about 9.00Am.

First, with the Opening of the Heaven (Calling Upon the Spiritual Reporter 開天), I sent an "Spiritual Signal" to the Heaven by using the Five Thunder Command Block (五雷號令).

Follow-by, doing Cleansing for the New Statues using Flower & Enhanced Water (淨像) (Pics 02-06).

Once the Cleansing was done, it was the time to Enhance the Talismans that needed for the Dotting. This Time round, the Incense-paper (being folded into Spiritual Arrow) were being replaced with the Talismans (敕符) (Pics 07-08).

Immediately after the Enhancing of the Talismans, the Dotting Ceremony Official Started by going round the Temple to pay respect aka Offering Incenses (上香) (Pics 09-10) to the Deities & San Qing Dao Zu aka The Three Pure Ones (三清道祖).

Once the Offering Incenses was done, Cleansing of the Environment (淨壇) took place before the Invitation of the Deities (請聖) (Pics 11-12).

With the Arrival of the Deities, the Spiritual Petition had to be recited (宣疏) in-order to do the Reporting to the Heaven & other Deities on what was the Event going on and also, to Invite the Deities' Energies to be emitted in-order for the Dotting to take place.

After the recitation of the Petition, 3 rounds of Wine were being Offered (三敬) as a form of Gratitude for the Deities to arrive.

Before the Dotting took place, Enhancing of the Spiritual Objects (敕物) were needed. Such Objects were:

1) The Red Cannibar Ink (硃砂)
2) The Brush (毛筆)
3) The Mirror (明鏡) (Pics 13)

Done with the Enhancing of the Spiritual Objects, the Dotting of the Statues took place (點靈(開光)). (2 Extra Statues to be dotted for Long Shan Men's Disciple's Home, they are Tai Yi Tian Zun 太乙天尊 & Jiang Xian Guan 江仙官) (Pics 14-31).

Once the Dotting was done, the Enhanced Talismans were to be Burnt infront of the Statues to Consolidate the Positive Energies into the Statues (香迎) (Pics 16/21/25). And once that was done, the Statues were needed to go Round the Temple to pay respect to the Other Deities in the Temple, in Taoism, this is known as Guo Dian (過殿) (Pics 22/26/29).

When ALL the Statues were being Dotted, another Round of Recitation of Spiritual Petition was being done (宣疏) (Pics 35). This is to Report that the Dotting Ceremony had Completed with the Assistance of the Blessing given by the Deities.

Once the reporting was done, Chanting of Taoist Scripture took place (誦經). With the completion of the Chanting, Raising of the Seats (安神) for the Deities in the Temple was needed. (For the moment, the 3 Newly Dotted Statues were being placed at the Rear Hall of the Temple for Devoteed to pay respect).

Soon after the Raising of Seats was done, thanking of the Earth Deity took place (辭土(謝土)) and Paper-offerings were being burnt (化寶).

At last, the Whole Ceremony ended and as usual, the whole Ceremony lasted for 2 Hours.

Immediately after the Dotting Ceremony, we were being invited to enjoy the Wonderful Vegetarian Cuisine prepared by the Aunties of the Temple. All of the Dishes were delicious and just before we left the Temple, a pack of about 8 Rice-dumplings were given to us. According to the Aunty, these Dumplings were being prepared by them (Pics 36).

For High-res Pictures, please proceed to the following link:

--> Dotting Ceremony 07 Jun 2009

Additional Notes:

For Normal Dottings, usually there are only 10-12 Steps but for Long Shan Men, due to the Old Teachings, we have a Total of 17 Steps. In the following are the 17 Steps (in Chinese).

開天
淨像
敕符
上香
淨壇
請聖
宣疏(恭請開光神明)
三敬
敕物
點靈(開光)
香迎
登座(家中)/過殿(廟中)
宣疏(上奏開光圓滿)
誦經
安神
辭土(謝土)
化寶