The first impression of Honoring Elders Day at AvatamsakaVihara this year was that it was different from past years, both in organization and the program. As always, elders were greeted with a beautifully-designed floral boutonniere as they arrived at the temple to register for the day's events. The elders were then escorted to the Buddha Hall to begin the bowing to The Lotus Flower Repentance, wishing all elders longevity, fortune, blessings and wisdom. More chairs were available in the Buddha Hall for the elders to sit and participate in the chanting. The dining hall was organized with two long tables on either side of the hall for the elders. Non-elderly lay people sat on stools in the middle of the dining hall. The setup was designed so that all would have a good view of the performers while maintaining enough seating for all. The masters of ceremonies introduced each performer in three languages: Mandarin, English and Vietnamese so that the majority of the languages spoken by the elders are represented. Also unlike past years, the entertainment program opened with the temple's own adult chorus and a delightful children's performance. The adult chorus, including the choral director and guitar accompanist were all disciples of AvatamsakaVihara. The youngest children at AvatamsakaVihara's Sunday school sang and danced. Both of these performances were particularly well-received because members of the audience recognize them as family and friends. This was followed by performers from the Chinese and Vietnamese communities, including dance troupes, opera singers, martial arts, and a comedian. As the artists performed, the elderly were served a multi-course vegetarian meal prepared in their honor. The day ended with a lecture on the Introduction to Buddhism and transference of merit and virtue.