美国沃勒县佛教禅修中心——美国菩提中心举行洒净仪式

美国菩提中心

禅堂里的佛像

据《Waller County News Citizen News》报道，2009年5月2日上午10点，美国沃勒县佛教禅修中心——美国菩提中心举行了隆重的洒净仪式。

该中心由总部位于休斯敦的德州佛教会在三年前开始花费巨资创建。据了解，此次洒净仪式有1500多人参加，其中包括60多名僧尼以及社会各界人士。

董事会秘书长Tracy Chiang指出5月2日是个重大的日子，因为那天不仅是禅修中心的洒净日，也是德州佛教协会建立30周年纪念日和释迦牟尼佛的诞辰。同时她表示，此次洒净仪式不仅使人们济济一堂，也是中西方文化交流的体现。

据悉，美国沃勒县禅修中心安静的座落在沃勒县北郊，距Mellman路115英里，是该县最大的佛教禅修中心。（编译：子规）

Nestled quietly off the beaten path in the north end of Waller County is what is believed to be the largest Buddhist retreat center in the county.

The grand opening of the American Bodhi Center will take place 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at the 515-acre center off Mellman Road.

Construction on the multi-million dollar facility began three years ago by the Houston-based Texas Buddhist Association. The TBA anticipates about 1,500 visitors Saturday for the dedication, including state and local dignitaries and more than 60 monks and nuns from various schools of Buddhism.

“May 2 is a big day for us,” said Tracy Chiang, secretary to the center’s board of directors.

She said the center, and especially this weekend’s grand opening, is meant to bring people together – sort of an East meets West cultural understanding.