Celebrating Lunar New Year
The White Sands Buddhist Center in Mims, Florida, just north of Titusville, is a peaceful spot full of wonder.
Visitors are quite surprised by what they discover down the winding entry road. The monastery features the three largest granite statues of Buddha in the State of Florida. Monumental in scale, they are also exquisite pieces of art with spiritual significance. Part of a sculpture garden that surrounds a pond, with formal plantings and lion pillars, there are benches for meditating on life’s joys.
Visitors are welcome dawn to dusk.
White Sands Buddhist Center will celebrate the Lunar New Year February 5, 2019
The lion dance, on Lunar New Year 2018, at White Sands
On this special day, you will have the chance to participate in this joyous celebration.
Guests and participants celebrating the new year at White Sands in 2018
If you have not experienced the colorful ceremony, solemn procession, effusive Lion Dance, or the Bestowing of Blessings, this is a culturally and spiritually rich event worth the drive.
Perfect for all ages, and no cost to attend and participate.
The Lunar New Year (Year of the Pig) Celebration Program:
Tuesday, February 05, 2019 – Public Ceremony
4:00 p.m. New Year’s Lion Dance performance.
4:30 p.m. Prayers for Well being and Happiness
5:00 p.m. Providing blessings
6:00 p.m. Vegetarian dinner
“White Sands would like to invite you, your family and friends in Dharma to attend our New Year’s program in the Year of the Pig at White Sands Buddhist Center so that we can together pray for peace and happiness for ourselves and the world.” All welcome. You may also have the option to join in the vegetarian dinner that follows, which will be prepared to serve up to 500 people. There is no cost for dinner, though donations are welcome.
LEARN MORE HERE: www.tvct.org
HISTORY of WHITE SANDS
Buddha in Nirvana, in the reclining position, is one of the three largest white granite statues of Buddha in Florida–all three reside at White Sands Buddhist Center
The White Sands Buddhist Monastery is led by Zen Master Khai Thien, PhD. In the fall of 2011, friends of White Sands began the planning for the first statue, the Mother Avalokitesvara–the Bodhisattva of Peace and Compassion. At 32 ft high and approximately 60 tons, the statue–created in Vietnam and shipped to White Sands–was soon followed by a statue of the Sakyamuni Budha, or Meditating Buddha, which is 35 feet high, and made from five large blocks of granite. Weighing about 200 tons, this achievement is breathtaking. Most recently, the Buddha in Nirvana statue was added, depicting the Buddha in a reclining state at the time of his death. 35 ft in length and approximately 40 tons, this is the largest statue in the State of Florida made from a single piece of granite.
The sculpture garden at White Sands Buddhist Center, just north of Titusville.
GIFT SHOP AND TOURS.
There is a gift shop on premises and tours of the grounds can be arranged. The gift shop is staffed by volunteers Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9-4. Tours of the Temple are at 10 and 11 A.M., and 1, 2, and 3 P.M., or by appointment: 407-832-5227.
HAPPINESS.
The first line on the White Sands website is this: Happiness is a goal that we all share in life. And a bit later on you will read: Happiness is always available to us.
To build a life of happiness, it is suggested that we embrace the following four Noble Virtues: (1) loving-kindness, (2) compassion, (3) sympathetic joy, and (4) equanimity. Visiting the monastery, you will have a chance ‘to practice mindfulness and experience the peace and happiness from being present in this place in the here and now.’
Adventures are everywhere. And many quite exceptional ones start here in Titusville, Florida.
Need help deciding where to go next? Visit the Welcome Center or download one of our Adventure Maps.
