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Drumming in Richmond's Chinese New Year with Dharma

Buddhism centre on Highway to Heaven is inviting its neighbours to mark the Year of the Sheep by experiencing different forms of meditation
Alan Campbell

One of Richmond’s smaller Buddhist communities is opening its doors this Chinese New Year and inviting its neighbours to come join in the festivities with them.

The Dharma Drum Vancouver Center — on No. 5 Road’s “Highway to Heaven” and just south of Blundell Road — is, for the first time, hosting a Chinese New Year Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

In the Year of the Sheep (or ram, or goat, whichever you prefer) the Dharma Drum, which practises Chan Buddhism, is promising a day packed full of family fun, with a little twist, of course.

Alongside live entertainment, such as lion dancing and drumming, there will be hands-on activities, such as bracelet and lantern making, origami and calligraphy.

For adults, who may like to take a stress-reduction break, there will be demonstrations of Chan (zen) meditation and a traditional tea ceremony.

“Our specialty is meditation and we’d love our neighbours to come try it out,” said the centre’s director, Chang Wu.

“We have various forms of mediation: sitting; standing/moving and walking. A lot of people don’t realize there is more than one form of meditating.

“The calligraphy should also be a lot of fun and you can try writing your name in Chinese, if you like.”

Buddhsim
The schedule for Dharma Drum's Chinese New Year celebrations

Before the centre opened in 2006, the small group used to meet in people’s houses and in community centres.

Now that it has been going strong for nine years, the centre wants to share the festive time of year with its neighbours in Richmond.

“This is Christmas for us, and we really want to celebrate with everyone around us,” added Wu.

Just in case you were wondering why the event closes at 3:10 p.m. and not on the hour, Wu explained, “we wanted to build in a little time for prayers and to give blessings to the world, which has witnessed so much suffering in the last year.”

The center’s free event, at 8240 No. 5 Rd., will also have a “delicious vegetarian meal” around lunchtime.

Log onto ddmba.ca for more information or call (604) 277-1357.  See pages 13-17 for Chinese New Year predictions.