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Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi has Lantern Festival

March 17, 2016   ·   0 Comments

The grandest and most important festival in the Taoist tradition is the Lantern Festival, celebrated this year in February to welcome in the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Monkey. Albeit that this is the premier event on the Taoist calendar, it is far from being the only festival, the only banquet to which friends and members of the community are invited to attend.

The International Centre, the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism on Airport Road, celebrated the Lantern Festival with great aplomb, the magnificent dragons made and sent from China, the drummers and varied musicians, the splendid colours of the banquet hall, the speeches of the politicians and blessings of the lanterns themselves and, especially, the fabulous multi-course vegetarian meal, prepared and served by the large host of volunteers, all combined to create an occasion of welcome to the 800 guests – busloads of people – from every walk of life, an occasion that they would remember for a long time.

According to information published by the Funk Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, the Lantern Festival originated in the Han dynasty, First Century AD, based on the Historical Records wherein Sima Qian describes a “ceremony in which the Han emperor gazed into the sky from sunset to sunrise” as part of a sacrifice to a god called the Ancient One. It goes on to say, “Since the ceremony took place throughout the night, many lanterns were lit to illuminate the sacrificial area. People began to gather to see the splendour of the spectacle and gradually the ceremonies became an event for the populace as well as the nobility.”

In Hong Kong, as the information explains, the Festival of the Lanterns is a major event at the Yuen Yuen Institute, a centre devoted to the study and practice of Taoism. In accordance with ancient tradition, there are thousands of lanterns hung on the grounds of the Yuen Yuen Institute.

Each lantern carries a “symbolic significance whether it be fortune and wealth or good health.”

These are all given to people in return for a donation to the institute, often amounting to millions (money), which, in turn, goes to care for the elderly, the young and the sick. One of the primary mantras of Taoism is to care for others.

Master Moy Lin-shin and Master Mui Ming-to, who founded the Fung Loy Kok Taoist Temple here, were also the founders of the Yuen Yuen Institute. They brought the traditions of the Festival of the Lanterns to Canada.

“The Lantern Festival is like Christmas to us in importance. The whole meal is prepared and served by volunteers from start to finish,” a member of the staff at the Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi Centre told us. She went on to add in comment about the Institute generally, “People come from every walk of life to study the Taoist Arts (TM)  and join us here.”

The first centre in Canada was opened on Bathurst Street, just south of St. Clair Ave., and it was there, on June 6, 1981, that the first real Festival was celebrated in Canada.

The international head office later moved to new premises on 134 D’Arcy Street, in Chinatown. It was there that Master Moy lived, very simply, completely dedicated to teaching the healing benefits of Taoist Arts (TM).

The International Centre on Airport Road was purchased in 1984 and the lantern festival tradition was carried on here the same year. Across the world now, there are Taoist Tai Chi Centres in 26 countries with some 40,000 participants.

“Word gets around,” was the comment. “We have a worldwide community that appeals to all.” Our host laughed as she said, “And we’re fun – we like to eat. We’re nice people.”

There is a structure to the whole, a blueprint following Master Moy’s vision of Taoism Arts (TM), how it improves the body, mind and spirit, how it can calm the symptoms, at least, of really serious ailments and generally give an improved quality of life.

The kitchen staff, basically all volunteers, works to produce three meals a day for the many people that come and go to the Centre all year. Under the direction of the Centre’s Chef, Blaise Baillargeon, they produce meals that feed dozens or hundreds of people: the Lantern Festival requires months of planning and weeks of work.

Mr Baillargeon was introduced to the International Taoist Tai Chi Centre when he came there to attend to the landscaping, cutting grass and “watering the trees.” There was a need for help in the kitchen, so, he simply went to the kitchen to assist in whatever way was required.

From that day, he stayed in the kitchen, working and learning until the Directors saw his talent and value and asked him to stay on in a full time capacity. Now, Mr Baillargeon has become so knowledgeable and skilled that he travels to other centres abroad to assist and instruct with large events.

While 90 percent of the people running the organization are volunteers, there is, of a necessity, a small number of paid staff to work the few full time positions.

Throughout the year, there are smaller festivals and occasions when many people gather together at the Centres to eat together and enjoy the company. These always welcome one and all.

“Part of Chinese temple tradition – is to feed the community,” we were told. “The simple truth is what we do works.”

To learn more about Taoist Tai Chigo to  www.taoist.org and click on “how to find a class.”


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