During the weekend of August 31 to September 1, Mituo Village once again hosted Volunteer Day activities. Volunteers from all directions gathered here, including a dedicated brother who drove 12 hours from North Carolina just to participate. Everyone was eager to support the temple, practice the Dharma, cultivate the bodhicitta, and beautify the Pure Land.
.jpg)
Some of the older buildings in Mituo Village, built against the mountains, suffer from severe underground moisture. This time, the volunteers worked tirelessly to clean the damp, dirty walls, removing years of grime and mold from the partitions, and applied thick waterproof paint to the stone walls. To achieve the best results, some volunteers even set aside brushes and used their fingers for filling and painting. After a full day of effort, even professional decorators praised the cleaned walls.
.jpg)
Throughout the two days of volunteer activities, a large amount of old materials was organized, many of which were leftovers from when the church was taken over a decade ago. Despite limited manpower, many older volunteers willingly took on the task of moving heavy items, which was truly touching.
.jpg)
Meanwhile, construction of the Guanyin Square is steadily progressing. Young volunteers continued to paint solemn lotus designs, and the foundation for the Seven Treasures Lotus Pool has been completed, with construction of the pool set to begin soon.
.jpg)
The two-day weekend quickly passed, and everyone shared joy and appreciation. Finally, they gathered in front of the chanting hall for a solemn dedication, wishing to use this merit to beautify the Pure Land, repay the fourfold kindness, and assist those suffering in the three realms, while also beautifying this extraordinary temple and the Pure Land within our hearts.
.jpg)
What was most touching about this Volunteer Day was the hard work of several female volunteers. Facing dirty and heavy tasks that might have been expected to be handled by male volunteers, they did not hesitate but bravely took on the challenge, truly embodying the spirit of selflessness for the temple. The Pure Land teachings emphasize the cultivation of bodhicitta and unwavering mindfulness, and these volunteers exemplified the true essence of practice through their actions, worthy of admiration and emulation by all fellow practitioners.
.jpg)
We hope more volunteers will join in the future to collectively build Mitou Village, uphold the right Dharma, rely on a group of good friends, and cultivate together. Working hand in hand, we can contribute to the development of the temple. May the Buddha's wisdom illuminate beings here, guiding more people to find their inner refuge, away from confusion and inversion, discovering the true meaning of life and achieving lasting inner peace.
.jpg)