The Three Acts of Goodness (3AG) children present a wonderful musical instrument performance.

Each member of the winning team in the "Monopoly" game receives a book by Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

A game of Charades to guess Buddhist terms blends education with entertainment.

Abbess Venerable Yung Han (fourth from right), along with BLIA directors and chapter presidents, delivers Laba congee, the Master’s calligraphy couplets, and books to the Culture Center of TECO, receiving a warm welcome from Director Chi-Ying Tsai (third from left).

Abbess Venerable Yung Han donates books by Venerable Master Hsing Yun to the Culture Center to enrich their library collection.

BLIA members work together collectively to pack and distribute the Laba congee.

Wang Bin, President of the BLIA Chicago Chapter’s Third Branch, shares her reflections from studying the Vimalakirti Sutra.

The Laba congee, rich in both flavor and Dharma, brings blessings in the cold of winter; the event concludes successfully.

Professor Tu-Hao Chen, President of the First Branch, and his wife cook Laba congee for the first time to share with the community.

Laughter fills the air during the games, as everyone learns the Dharma in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.

The TV screen displays Buddhist trivia questions from the digital "Monopoly" game.

Recognizing and rewarding outstanding BLIA youth for their participation in the Buddha's Light Exam.

Offering Laba congee to Venerable Minh Hanh of the Quang Minh Vietnamese Temple in Chicago.

Offering Laba congee to Venerable Zhi Miao of the Zheng Jue Temple in Chicago.

 

To commemorate the Enlightenment Day of Sakyamuni Buddha, the Fo Guang Shan Chicago Buddhist Temple organized a series of activities celebrating Dharma Day. On December 29, the temple held a book sharing session on The Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, followed by a fun, bilingual Buddhist knowledge quiz. Over 40 BLIA members and friends participated in a lively atmosphere, practicing the philosophy of living Humanistic Buddhism. The quiz was designed as a “Monopoly” style computer game featuring Buddhist questions integrated with the Master’s Dharma talks and Sounds of the Human World songs. Additionally, the Chicago Young Adult Division (YAD) organized games such as charades and “Guess the Buddhist Term,” blending education with entertainment.

In the early morning of January 4, volunteers braved the freezing weather to prepare over 400 bowls of hot, delicious “Laba Congee” (Enlightenment Porridge) filled with the flavor of the Dharma, spreading light and warmth to the community. On the same day, Head Priest Venerable Yung Han, joined by BLIA Chicago President Ke-Ying Wang, Third Subchapter President Bin Wang, and several chapter directors, personally delivered the porridge to the Culture Center of TECO in Chicago. Director Chi-Ying Tsai received the delegation warmly. Venerable Yung Han presented several books to enrich the center’s library, including Hsing Yun’s Ch’an Sayings by the FGS founder and the current Head Abbot Most Venerable Hsin Bao’s new works, Morning Enlightenment at Cloud Abode and 365 Breakfast Quotes, promoting the Master’s vision of “living a life of book fragrance.”

Both events integrated Buddhist principles with modern social needs, delivering teachings to the public in creative ways. Chapter President Ke-Ying Wang noted that these activities served as both a curriculum for Dharma learning and an opportunity for community exchange. Participants expressed a deeper understanding of Humanistic Buddhism and felt a sense of Dharma joy and warmth. Many noted that these events not only strengthened community cohesion but also brought the light and blessings of the Dharma during the cold winter months.