To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, Fo Guang Shan Chicago held the “Zen Heart Mid-Autumn Celebration” on the evening of September 21. Despite the late-summer heat, over 90 guests—including families and friends from both Eastern and Western backgrounds—gathered at the temple to share in the joy of the full moon.
The festivities began with an energetic sing-along of “Fo Guang Members Everywhere,” led by the Chicago Young Adult Division (YAD) and member Bi-Lin. This was followed by ice-breaking games designed by hosts Adrian and Summer. Through collaborative group activities, participants quickly became acquainted, filling the hall with laughter and a sense of childhood wonder. The nostalgic strains of The Carpenters’ “Top of the World” further heightened the atmosphere, as guests of all ages sang and danced, returning to their “spiritual home” at Fo Guang Shan.
As the sun set, the aroma of a diverse pan-Asian feast filled the air. Chefs dressed in traditional attire introduced delicacies from their homelands: crispy Vietnamese spring rolls, refreshing Taiwanese popiah, tangy green papaya salad, and sweet red bean desserts. The menu featured Taiwan’s famous mochi and boba tofu pudding, alongside a premium white truffle and toasted grain fried rice prepared by the temple.
The Malaysian cuisine, presented by Adrian and Summer in Baju Kurung and Baju Melayu and Eric and Fiona in traditional Indian attire, featured the iconic Nasi Lemak with vegetarian Sambal, Nyonya curry, and the colorful dessert Bubur Chacha.
Venerable You Heng, Superintendent of Fo Guang Shan Chicago, led the FGS scouts in distributing handmade Mid-Autumn gift boxes to every guest. These boxes, filled with mooncakes and tea treats crafted by volunteers and member Bei-Bei Li, carried the temple’s heartfelt blessings. A highlight of the evening was the DIY snow-skin mooncake workshop, where Kimberly and the volunteer team guided adults and children through the process of kneading and pressing colorful dough into beautiful shapes.
As the lights dimmed, Venerable You Heng led the assembly in the Main Shrine for a lamp-offering ceremony. Listening to the recording of “A Prayer for Offering Lamps” by FGS founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun, participants reverently lit their “inner lamps” before the Buddha. Venerable You Heng welcomed everyone home, noting that the spiritual journey of the members is like the transition from a new moon to a full moon—a process of mutual accomplishment and refinement.
Ke-Ying Wang, President of the BLIA Chicago Chapter, praised the Bodhisattva spirit shown through the collective creativity of the volunteers. Vice President Hon-Chung Fung marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship of the handmade mooncakes, comparing their perfection to the “Zen Heart” of the practitioners. Guests like Heather Luxion expressed delight at the vibrant display of different cultures and languages, while Paul Kanter reflected on the moving sight of hundreds of candles flickering together, symbolizing the collective vows and prayers offered to the Buddha.
Although Head Priest Venerable Yung Han was in Taiwan at the time, she expressed her deep gratitude to Venerable You Heng, the battle-hardened volunteers, and all participants for making the 2024 Mid-Autumn celebration a truly “full” and successful event.