This Year, 2011 aka Xin Mao Year (辛卯年), He Bi Shan Temple (新加坡何碧山宮) had conducted a very Rare and Special Ritual dedicating to Shang Yuan Festival (上元) and also, the Honouring of Heavenly Lord Tian Guan (天官大帝).
One of the Major Event for this Year was – Collecting of the Prosperity Rice from different Families and after then, this Prosperity Rice will be distributed to ALL Devotees and the Neighbour-hoods on the 2nd Day of Lunar 2 Month (農曆二月初二日) for a the Blessing of Prosperity and also, for Kids who are facing some Child-illnesses issues.
This Collecting of Prosperity Rice was actual a Practise that being evolved from the Collecting of Five-bushes Rice (五斗米) by Heavenly Master Zhang Dao Ling (張祖天師) in the Han Dynasty (漢朝年間).
During the Han Dynasty, while the Taoists engaged Heavenly Master for Blessing on the San Yuan Festivals (三元日) or Curing of Illnesses, the Taoists would need to contribute a total of Five Bushes of Rice to Heavenly Master Zhang – which later, the Rice will be distributed to the Poor or Needys.
Besides that, there were also sayings that, for those who consumed the Prosperity Rice collected on the San Yuan Festivals, Oneself’s Sins & Debts will be Eliminated (赦罪解厄) and Prosperity will be Bestowed upon the Person (並賜福).
With strong belief in Promoting Heavenly Master’s Teaching and Continuing of Taoist Culture, this Year, He Bi Shan Temple had decided to follow the Teaching of Heavenly Master – by collecting the Prosperity Rice and then Blessed it and distribute it out to the Public, hoping that Everyone staying in the Area will be Blessed.
PS: As you all can see the Result of the Collection, it was very successful and till the 15th Day of Lunar 1st Month, the Big Urn was Full and more Rice will be collected till before the Lunar 2nd Month. Approx Weightage: more than 80kg
Thanks to Taoist Sis Ann for sharing with us the Pictures.
For Higher Res Pictures, please proceed to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/1835770552/pic/list
How can collect the rice? Ppl, who come to the temple, bring little rice from home to donate (put in the urn)?
ReplyDeleteYes, after then, collect all and distribute out to the others. This is a form of Sharing Prosperity and also, to get the Blessing from Tian Guan.
ReplyDelete百家米是依據漢朝時﹐張祖天師所收取之五斗米延至而來。何碧山宮在辛卯年﹐第一次向眾人收取百家米﹐
ReplyDelete一者:得大眾之福而轉賜眾人之福﹐
二者:推崇有施者必能得福報﹐
三者:延續正一教風/將天師教誨代代相傳。
此百家米將會在農曆二月初二日分發給眾人。
a very good deed!
ReplyDeleteLunar 2nd Month 2nd Day is the day of Fu De Zheng Shen, right? Is it also good day for dotting and enhancing?
ReplyDeleteHave to see the timing, cos on that Day, it is also the Day of Tiger Deity opening Mouth, so may have clash.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, yup yup :P
ReplyDelete