Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Chicago celebrated Buddha’s Birthday with a series of vibrant activities, attracting over 200 participants, including local university and high school students. The event featured a grand “Dress-up Offering,” the “Bathing the Buddha” Dharma service, a “Baby Blessing Ceremony,” and a “Triple Gem Refuge Ceremony,” bringing together people of all ages and ethnicities to share in the joy of the Buddha’s birth.
Joyful Bathing of the Buddha The celebration began with a magnificent offering procession. Children from the Chinese class scattered flower petals, followed by local English-speaking female devotees in Korean traditional dress offering incense. FGS youth in Tibetan attire presented food offerings, and more than 20 male devotees (Vajra protectors) made a powerful entrance. The procession also included participants in Japanese Kimonos, Thai dress, and Qing dynasty costumes, symbolizing the global harmony of the Buddhist community.
The temple was filled with a serene atmosphere as crowds, one-third of whom were local Americans, queued to bathe the infant Buddha statue. Local university students observed and recorded the proceedings as part of their cultural studies. First-time participant Fang Qian, who traveled from Michigan, shared her emotion: “As I knelt before the Buddha to pour the water, I prayed that it would cleanse my mind, allowing me to follow the footsteps of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for lifetimes to come.”
Blessings for Fo Guang Babies In the spirit of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s mission to “give others joy,” the temple held a “Baby Blessing Ceremony.” Nearly 30 children, ranging from a one-month-old infant to 12-year-olds, became godchildren of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Monastics placed five-colored Vajra cords around their necks, symbolizing protection, health, and the continuation of the Dharma.
Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem During the refuge ceremony, over a dozen individuals from various backgrounds officially became Buddhist disciples. Conducted bilingually in Mandarin and English by Head Priest Venerable Jue Lin and translated by Superintendent Venerable You Heng, the participants repented and made their vows together. For Western devotees like Jon and Melissa Sallee, who had been attending for eight years, this was a milestone akin to a graduation ceremony. Dressed in black robes (Haiqing), they received flowers from friends to celebrate this new stage of their spiritual life.
Community Connection and Celebration The BLIA Chicago Chapter also organized a vegetarian charity sale featuring specialty dishes like “vegetarian fish” and “smoked bean curd.” The community gathered to celebrate the birthdays of members whose birthdays fall in the same month as the Buddha’s. Members received the book “A Happy Life” by Master Hsing Yun, while English meditation instructor Sam Carpenter was delighted to receive an English version of the “Sutra on the Eight Realizations of Great Beings.”
The celebrations continue with the “Siddhartha Festival” starting May 26. This month-long outdoor event will feature floral displays, lanterns, the Veggie A-Plan exhibit, and “Seeds of Hope” education displays. Indoor activities will include tea Zen, Zen dance, and film screenings. The grand opening on the 26th will be attended by dignitaries from TECO and local mayors, featuring cultural performances and a complimentary dinner.