Visiting the light show makes one feel relaxed and joyful. Chatting and connecting with friends and family feels deeply heartwarming, and it is the best way to get in touch with the positive energy of nature.

A modern, high-tech, and eco-friendly light show demonstrating the 'Five Harmonies' concept.

Members engage in fellowship and encourage one another, looking forward to the localization of Buddhism.

The lakeside is covered in pristine white snow, surrounded by shifting lights. With numerous light towers standing in the lake and the reflection of ice and water, the view is breathtaking.

Members of the BLIA Chicago English Excellence Chapter take a group photo under the dazzling lights.

The snowy Chicago weather cannot stop everyone's enthusiasm for the light show. The lights and the waves of cheers complement each other, adding to the festive atmosphere of welcoming the new and bidding farewell to the old.

 

Led by Venerable Miao Wei and English Subchapter President Steve Haverkos, the BLIA Chicago English Subchapter visited the “Illumination: Tree Lights” show at the Morton Arboretum in the Chicago suburbs. A total of 31 members and 3 young children participated in this modern, eco-friendly holiday event.

The light show featured high-tech displays that synchronized with music, transforming the towering trees into a dreamlike landscape, while the freshly fallen snow on the ground added to the enchanting atmosphere. The most captivating display was located in the lake area, where vibrant lights and ice reflected off the water’s surface amidst a forest of light towers, leaving the audience in awe.

Chapter Director Li-Er Wang remarked that despite the biting cold, the icy weather of Chicago could not dampen the group’s enthusiasm. The brilliant lights, accompanied by cheers from the crowd, enhanced the festive spirit of welcoming the new year. Third Subchapter member Li-Ying Wang expressed her gratitude to Venerable Miao Wei for providing hand warmers, noting that they kept both her hands and her heart warm throughout the chilly night.

English Subchapter member Trudie Kanter mentioned that strolling along the paths while enjoying hot cocoa and roasted marshmallows provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends and family. She added that despite the cold, the warm conversations made it a perfect way to experience the positive energy of nature.

The light show brought joy to all, as strangers along the trail greeted one another, embodying the spirit of the “Five Harmonies”—individual harmony achieved through joy, family harmony achieved through deference, interpersonal harmony achieved through respect, social harmony achieved through cooperation, and world harmony achieved through peace. During the activity, members encouraged one another and demonstrated the Fo Guang spirit, expressing hopes for the steady growth of the English Subchapter and the localization of Buddhism. The event concluded successfully with a group photo under the dazzling lights.