Shedding Shell for Freedom to Welcome the New Year – Venerable Hsin Tao of LJM Blesses Everyone with Harmony and Prosperity
(中央社訊息服務20241231 09:30:44)The year 2025 is the Year of the Serpent. Venerable Hsin Tao, Founder and current Abbot of the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society (LJM), inscribed the calligraphy "Break free and be at ease, let everything flourish together" to encourage people to let go of attachments in the new year, pursue harmony and shared well-being, and convey blessings of renewal and progress. Starting today, the couplets are available for free at LJM's Wu Sheng Monastery, Sheng Shan Temple, Jiguang Temple, various lecture halls and branch centers, as well as the Yilan Share & Care Supermarket(喜互惠超市). Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Traditionally in Buddhism, the Five-Ring Pagoda represents the five great elements of the universe—earth, water, fire, wind, and space—that give rise to all things. The LJM New Year Spring Festival couplets are intricately designed with six Five-Ring Pagodas, one of which is golden and prominently placed at the bottom.The main calligraphy is set against a large, lightly brushed Five-Ring Pagoda, surrounded by four smaller, lightly brushed ones. This design symbolizes the resolution of disasters related to earth, water, fire, wind, and space, transforming them into peace and harmony.
“The world is in turmoil because our egos are too heavy,” warned the Venerable. In facing the twists and turns of the Year of the Serpent, he encouraged everyone to maintain a kind heart, let go of old habits and attachments, and strive to contribute to mutual well-being in everything they do. “By working together with shared purpose, we can find the right path, enabling harmony and coexistence on every level—from individuals to society, the nation, and even the entire cosmos. This collective effort naturally leads to shedding burdens, achieving freedom, fostering blessings, and bringing joy and prosperity to all,” he said.
Since snakes shed their skin, they represent rebirth, resilience, and the ability to adapt and transform. This implies letting go of old burdens, embracing the future with agility, and breaking through challenges to achieve a fresh start. As stated in the Diamond Sutra, "One should give rise to a mind that abides nowhere." With the auspicious energy of the Year of the Serpent, may all the crises be turned into opportunities, and within the impermanence of life, one can see the hopeful light of reaching the other shore, the Venerable unveiled his hope.
