More than 100 people including students and disciples from the Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center and people from all walks of life, got together to host the grand new year blessing assembly to celebrate the Year of Rabbit in Vienna at 5 o’ clock on the afternoon of the 30th day of the 12th lunar month.

Master Shi Yanliang, head of the Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center, firstly represented Shaolin Temple’ s abbot the great monk Shi Yongxin to send new year wishes to everyone for happy new year, auspiciousness and all the very best. Meanwhile several hundred teachers and students were sincerely thanked for their thoughts with Shaolin and mutual assistance to pull though tough times together.

Then master Yanliang presided over the assembly and offered incense to Bodhisattva for worship. People held candles in hands, shared dharma joys and Buddhist compassion. Pray for world peace, social harmony and stability and peaceful life.

The Shaolin dragon dance team was also on show, taking on a warm and peaceful festive air. Then wonderful Shaolin Kungfu was displayed including broadsword, spear, cudgel, etc. Sword and boxing skills and 18 kinds of Shaolin weapons fully displayed Shaolin Chan Wu spirit.

The students of the center also pasted the Spring Festival couplets and the Chinese character “Fu” to celebrate Chinese New Year and know about Chinese culture. Master Yanliang teaches not only Shaolin Kungfu but also spreads traditional Chinese culture locally, which is widely accepted around Austria and surrounding countries. Master Yanliang is often invited to Germany, France, Switzerland, the west of Austria to host Shaolin Chan Wu health speeches and on-the-spot experience activities.

Reportedly, the Shaolin dragon dance team went to Hungary, Slovakia and other countries to perform dragon dance, lion dance and Shaolin Kungfu, which has become an essential program during festival activities for local Chinese communities. They performed dragon and lion dances in the Welt Museum Wien to celebrate the Chinese New Year of Rabbit together with Austrian people on the first day of the first lunar month. (Edited by Zou Xiang and pictures from the Austrian Shaolin Cultural Center)