On July 20, 2019, a large-scale free vegetarian food tasting event took place at Guan Yin Citta Buddhist Practice Center in Houston, Texas. It is run by Guan Yin Citta Houston to celebrate Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day and to spread Buddhist method of living to more sentient beings. The event attracts over 150 attendees and provides participatory activities incorporated Buddhist knowledge. A range of free energizing vegetarian food is served, binding all the guests together and giving each other nourishment. Many attendees said that they feel so lucky to have joined such a memorable weekend gathering and will definitely join in the next event.

Guan Yin Citta Houston is the only Buddhist practice center of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door located in the southern US. It opened in 2016, and ever since, it has been committing to spreading Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhist teachings in the metropolitan area and redoubling efforts to promote core values of Buddhism. Due to the booming of energy industry, particularly for oil and natural gas, as well as for biomedical research and aeronautics, the population of ethnic Chinese is constantly growing, making Houston a terrific place to spread traditional Chinese culture and Buddhism. Many ethnic Chinese people are eager to find the spiritual sustenance and the harbor of the soul. Through making vows, reciting Buddhist scriptures, making life liberation, many Buddhist friends in Houston have benefited from the Buddhist practice and alleviate from suffering and vexations.

The event is both entertaining and informative to the attendees, leaving them feel inspired, engaged and excited. It includes chanting Buddhist scriptures by Buddhist kids from Guan Yin Citta, playing interactive games, watching video clips from Master Jun Hong Lu’s Dharma Talks and Totem Inquiry. Volunteers from Guan Yin Citta meticulously prepared over 30 kinds of delicious vegetarian food and served to attendees for free. Many attendees were amazed at the diversity and great taste of the food which aroused their interests of adopting a vegetarian lifestyle. Some of the attendees said that they feel lucky to gain informative knowledge at the event and the volunteers are really sincere and friendly.

At the end of the event, the lucky draw session leads to the climax of the event. Many attendees harvested free gifts and shared their happiness with others. Many people expressed their appeal to start the Buddhist practice and look forward to the next gathering in the near future.