Auspicious Greetings
星雲大師
" 這個世界一半好，一半壞。雖然好的那一半看起來是輸了，但從長遠來看，它會贏。邪惡雖然佔據了最初的優勢，但最終還是會失敗."
A Letter to dharma protectors & friends 2026
Dear Dharma protectors and friends,Auspicious blessings!
“The renewal of all phenomena brings prosperous fortunes, the unity across all endeavors realizes grand vision.” As we enter the Year of the Horse, this year marks the 60th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan as well
as the 100th birth anniversary of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founding Master of Fo Guang Shan. On behalf of the global monastic community of Fo Guang Shan, I, Hsin Bau, extend the Venerable Master’s New Year blessing “Harmony and Co-Existence, Galloping Towards Success.” May all enjoy well-being as we share kind intentions for others; and may we walk into a beautiful future with co-existence and co-prosperity.
~ Most Venerable Hsin Bau
Upcoming events
2026 Meditation Sessions
Come join us for a special meditation practice which unifies both body and mind. The core of this practice is centered on traditional seated meditation through which we will practice mental clarity and concentration. This session will also include Chan exercises, stretching and movement exercises which help loosen and invigorate our bodies. These exercises will help prepare and focus our minds and bodies for seated meditation.
Classes are held on Fridays at 5:00pm. Each Session is two(2) months for $20. If you attend all FOUR sessions (ABCD) with perfect attendance, you will receive full refund! Dates: (A) 1/9 - 2/27 (B) 3/13 - 5/1 (C) 5/15 - 7/3 (D) 10/2 - 11/20
Dharma Day Celebration
Before he became enlightened, the Buddha had practiced asceticism for six
years without success. He then decided to give up this method. When he came to the Nairañjanā River, he was so weak from hunger that he fainted. A shepherdess happened to pass by and gave him some milk porridge. After drinking it, the Buddha regained his strength. He then went to the Bodhi Tree at Gayā and sat down on the vajra throne. He vowed not to get
up until he became enlightened. On the eighth day of the twelfth month, he saw the morning star and attained enlightenment. This day is called the Buddha’s Enlightenment Day. Every year on the eighth day of the twelfth month, the Buddha’s Enlightenment Day, monasteries usually cook porridge for the public. This porridge is called “Buddha’s porridge” because it is
based on the story of the shepherdess who gave milk porridge to the Buddha.
The Buddha ate the porridge and attained enlightenment. The porridge is made of five kinds of grains and fruits. It is called “la ba zhou” (porridge of the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month). In the past, people believed that eating la ba zhou could bring good fortune and wisdom. Therefore, on the
eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, people would go to the temple to eat a bowl of la ba zhou. This custom has been passed down to the present day. People cook la ba zhou on this day, and it has become a folk custom in Asia.
Fo Guang Shan St Louis Buddhist Center will provide the porridge to devotees and members on January 25, 2026. This has been postponed to February 1st, 2026 due to severe winter storm and snow weather. There are a few things
we need your cooperation to pick up the porridge:
* The time for serving the porridge on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month is from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. on January 25, 2026.
Address: FGSSTLBC - 3109 SmileyRoad, Bridgeton MO 63044| 314/619-3908| fgsstl@gmail.com
* BLIA members can register with their subchapter president for the
number of porridges needed. You are also welcomed to come to FGSSTLBC to venerate and make offerings to the buddhas.
* Everyone is welcomed to make meal offerings to the public.
Wishing everyone – “Harmony and Co-Existence, Galloping Towards Success.” – Fo Guang Shan St Louis Buddhist Center
2026 Dharma Protector
The establishment of the Dharma Protection Committee originated from the philosophy of "Humanistic Buddhism" espoused by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan. As the number of devotees increased with various Dharma assemblies and activities, the expenses of the temple also increased. Therefore, the need for the "St. Louis Fo Guang Shan Dharma Protection Committee" arose. The committee hopes to do its utmost to support the temple, thereby promoting the flourishing of Buddhism and benefiting the devotees. The merits gained will not only benefit their families but also sow seeds of wisdom for themselves.
Donation categories:
1. General Sponsor: US$10+ per month
2. Prajna Sponsor: US$50 per month
3. Wisdom Sponsor: US$100 per month
The Great Compassion Repentance Service
In our daily lives, when our clothes become dirty, we wash them with water. When our minds are polluted by greed, anger, and delusion, we become worried and troubled. In Buddhism, devotees practice repentance to cleanse their minds and rid themselves of worries. The benefits of practicing repentance include eradicating hindrances, purify our body, speech and mind, see our true natures and realize all wisdom.
There are different repentance ceremonies, with the Great Compassion Repentance Service being one of the most popular. The Great Compassion Repentance Service is based on the Great Compassion Mantra. The full name of the Great Compassion Mantra means, “Thousand-arms and thousand-eyes Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s all-embracing great compassion Dharani”.
By participating in the ceremony, devotees benefit from the strength of the compassionate vows of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to find peace within themselves. They learn to treat others with respect and humility, bringing harmony to their families and society.
Light Offering
Fo Guang Shan's Light Offering is a Buddhist practice where devotees make a lamp offering to symbolize the dispelling of ignorance with wisdom. These offerings are made through regular Dharma services, especially on new and full moon days, and are dedicated to the well-being of the offerer, loved ones, and all beings. The practice aims to inspire compassion and is a core part of the annual New Year Festival of Light and Peace. The practice of Light Offering
- Symbolism: The light represents wisdom and enlightenment, while darkness symbolizes ignorance. Lighting a lamp is an act of illuminating the mind to dispel inner darkness.
- Types of offerings: Offerings can be made for various purposes, such as personal wishes (Light of Wishes), dispelling fear and bringing health (Light of Hope), or enhancing peace of mind (Light of Peace).
- Dedication of merit: The merits gained from the light offering are dedicated to the well-being of the offerer, their family, and all beings, with the aspiration of attaining liberation from suffering.
- Merits: Offering a lamp is traditionally said to bring ten merits, including gaining wisdom, dispelling darkness, and receiving great merit.
Sunday Chanting Services
Chinese Mandarin is the language used for current Sunday Chanting Services.
Chinese Services: 10:00~12:00 noon
Founding of Fo Guang Shan
What's New
BLIA Kansas celebrates Buddha's Birthday
BLIA Kansas celebrates Buddha's Birthday on May 17th, 2025
Go Veggie With Vege Plan A
FGS and BLIA is now initiating a "drive" for those who practice vegetarianism. Even just once in your life time! Click on the Vege Plan A and Endorse yourself to be part of us to stop starvation, global warming, environmental damage and animal abuse.
《蔬食A计划》 不仅仅是基于宗教、信仰或健康养生的理由， 而是一项攸关人类存亡的工程， 这里的"A"，有三个意涵，
一、最佳策略:蔬食是减缓地球暖化、解决粮食危机的最佳策略。
二、Action:蔬食必须是具体行动不是口号。
三、选择蔬食，就是支持五个具体的保护行动：1、反饥饿2、反全球暖化 3、反生态浩劫4、反环境破坏5、反虐待动物
Meals For A Million 食物包裝消除饑餓
Members of BLIA, St Louis and students from Wash U did a good turn on August 26. As a support team to pack the food to feed the hungry, we successfully boosted up 900,000 meal packs for families in St Louis community. Thanks to the members who joined and the organizer of this event for us to create a better world.
為了與社區連結並終結饑餓，國際佛光會聖路易協會參與社區的食物包裝慈善活動。在會長房明與理事關靈靈的召集下，三十餘名會員與華聖頓大學學生於八月二十六日至Family Arena體育館，參加聖路易「第二屆百萬份餐」活動。佛光人與兩千名義工，共同包裝能給五百四十萬人、近九十萬份通心粉餐點。
On May 1st, 2025, Culver-Stockton College students came to visit Fo Guang Shan St. Louis Buddhist Temple