To commemorate Dharma Day, the anniversary of the Buddha’s Enlightenment, the Fo Guang Shan Chicago Buddhist Temple held a multi-day series of events in January. The program included Buddhist studies, the distribution of Laba porridge, a Dharma service, and a “Harmony and Peace” symposium. Through education, community care, and practice, these activities brought warmth and hope to the Chicago expatriate circle and local community during the winter season.
The series began on January 11 with the “Approaching the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas” course. The first session, themed “Celebrating the Buddha’s Enlightenment—Dharma Day,” was conducted by the Head Priest, Venerable Yung Han, with nearly 40 BLIA officers and devotees in attendance. The curriculum focused on the Buddha’s path to enlightenment, guiding students to understand the significance and spirit of Dharma Day, and received enthusiastic feedback.
Following this, the “Laba Porridge for Light” initiative took place on January 15 and 17, putting Buddhist teachings into social practice. Despite a severe cold wave, volunteers gathered at the temple in the early morning to cook over 1,000 bowls of Laba porridge. On January 15, over 400 servings were completed. Venerable Yung Han led a group to the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association to present the porridge, offer a Dharma talk to the seniors, and lead a chorus of the “Four Givings” song to convey blessings. On the same day, they visited Director-General Yen-Feng Lei of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago to exchange views on the promotion of Buddhist culture and the impact of AI on social change. Additionally, BLIA Chicago Chapter Superintendent Sandy Huang delivered 100 bowls of porridge to the Ivy Garden Learning Center, where it was warmly welcomed by the residents.
On January 17, nearly 50 volunteers completed over 600 servings of Laba porridge. Among these, 130 bowls were sent to five Vietnamese temples in Chicago, demonstrating interfaith respect and harmony. The group also visited the new Director of the Culture Center of TECO in Chicago, Chi Lei, and Deputy Director Yi-Chen Chen, to introduce the philosophy of Humanistic Buddhism.
The events culminated on January 18 as nearly 45 members gathered to celebrate the Buddha’s Enlightenment. The program centered on the “Five Harmonies” concept advocated by Venerable Master Hsing Yun: Individual Harmony, Interpersonal Harmony, Family Harmony, Social Harmony, and World Peace. Through videos, dramas, competitions, and interactive sharing, participants explored these principles. A stage play titled “Who is the Bad Person?” adapted from The Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, vividly illustrated the wisdom of resolving family conflicts. The English Subchapter also designed fun competitions and communication games to guide participants in practicing harmonious living. At the conclusion, Venerable Yung Han honored 26 members for their outstanding performance in the 2025 Global Buddha’s Light Writing Examination.
Samantha Boie, an English Subchapter officer who participated in the planning for the first time, remarked that the drama and video content were thought-provoking, showing the influence of one’s thoughts on the external world. She noted that the event combined spiritual depth with a joyful atmosphere. Bea Haverkos, a member of the FGS Chicago Young Adult Division, also pointed out that presenting Dharma Day in both Chinese and English allowed participants from diverse backgrounds to understand the core spirit of “Harmony and Peace.”