People from both East and West participate in the Bathing the Buddha ritual, their hearts filled with the joy of the Dharma.

Abbess Venerable Yung Han guides the children on how to find the Buddha within through the focus and concentration of scratch art.

BLIA members explain the "Life of the Buddha" to our guests.

Venerable Miao Wei shares the art of Tea Chan, teaching how to see one’s true nature and remain present in the moment through the act of tea drinking.

The Venerable leads a session of "Zen in Motion," where participants practice maintaining awareness and focus through movement.

Children and their parents participate in a fun interactive game titled "Buddha, Where Are You?"

The event concludes successfully; everyone gathers for a group photo.

Volunteers teach the art of folding paper lotuses, which symbolize purity and mindfulness.

Visitors joyfully participate in the Bathing the Buddha ritual and take commemorative photos with the statue of Prince Siddhartha.

 

To celebrate the Buddha’s Birthday, Fo Guang Shan Chicago organized a series of “Celebrate Buddha’s Birthday, Honor Mother’s Grace” events. On May 17, the temple held a “Mobile Buddha Bathing” activity and a “Life of the Buddha” special exhibition at the Chicago Chinatown Square, attracting over 300 participants from diverse backgrounds.

The event kicked off with a “Meditation in Motion” session led by Venerable Miao Wei, helping the public align their bodies and minds. Before the bathing ceremony began, Head Priest Venerable Yung Han led the assembly in reciting the Medicine Sutra and “A Prayer for the Buddha’s Birthday” by the FGS founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, praying for world peace and the well-being of all sentient beings.

The event featured a variety of cultural and artistic booths, including “Observing the Mind through Tea,” “Finding the Buddha through Scratch Art,” “Blooming Lotuses,” and “An Appointment with the Master: Copying FGS Vegetable Root Aphorisms.” An interactive family game titled “Buddha, Where Are You?” was also highly popular, combining education with fun.

Throughout the day, live broadcasts explained the significance of the Buddha Bathing ritual and the life story of the Buddha, prompting many pedestrians and tourists to inquire and join the queue for the ceremony. Many parents brought their children to experience the ritual, creating touching and warm scenes. Two students from out of state, visiting Chicago for the first time, happened upon the event and expressed that being able to participate in the Buddha Bathing and learn about the Buddha’s history was an exceptionally meaningful experience.

A Chicago cultural tour group participated in the entire event under their leader’s guidance, gaining deep insights into Buddhist culture and art through on-site tours. One young professional expressed deep emotion after experiencing the diverse facets of Buddhism and shared plans to visit the Chicago Buddhist Temple in the future for further study.

Despite the cool weather, the faces of the participants were filled with joy and contentment. Attendees were seen devoutly bathing the Buddha, focusing on the Tea Zen experience, creating scratch art, copying sutras, or folding paper lotuses. Others immersed themselves in the “Life of the Buddha” stories or played games with their children. Through text, games, rituals, and interaction, everyone had the opportunity to experience the beauty of practicing Buddhism.

Furthermore, several members of the Chicago YAD guided participants at the cultural booths and through the interactive games, helping them understand the Buddha’s journey of propagating the Dharma. Volunteers of all ages joined forces for this event, not only turning the wheel of Dharma in Chicago but also injecting new momentum into the transmission of the Buddhist faith.