Albert Lin, The Merit Times staff writer
May 15, 2023

The Merit Times and the Merit Times Popularize Association held the "Buddha's Birthday Bathing the Buddha Celebration" at the International Vegetable Festival to celebrate National Buddha's Birthday and Mother's Day. Five venerables presided over the ceremony with more than a thousand Buddhist elders and the public praying for world peace.

Most Venerable Xin Ding(middle) and other venerables presided over the ceremony. photo／The Life News Agency

The ceremony was live-streamed, enabling people in five continents to receive the Buddha's blessings and passing on Humanistic values of Truth, Virtue, and Beauty.

Venerable Yi Kong, Dean of Fo Guang Shan Culture Council, delivered a speech, saying that May 13th is very special, and everyone should be grateful, not only to thank mothers for bringing us to this world but also to thank Buddha for giving us compassion and wisdom. She also said that Venerable Master Hsing Yun believes that Buddhists should appreciate the meaning of bathing the Buddha during Buddha's Birthday. Therefore, Venerable Master Hsing Yun proposed decades ago that Buddha's Birthday be designated as a national holiday and worked hard to make it happen, and all of us should be grateful for the blessings of Buddha and Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and let the "Buddha's Birthday Bathing the Buddha Celebration" at the International Vegetable Festival cleanse people's hearts and infuse them with the power of stability.

Venerable Yi Kong said all of us should thank Buddha for giving us compassion and wisdom. photo／The Life News Agency

This year's ceremony was larger in scale than previous ones, and was presided over by five venerables, including Most Venerable Xin Ding, Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Thaihua Temple, Venerable Hui Zhao, the Deputy Abbot of Fo Guang Shan, Venerable Da Hui, chairman of Chinese Young Buddhist Association, Venerable Ru De, Deputy Abbot of Bliss and Wisdom Sangha, and Venerable Hui De, the Abbot of the Fo Guang Shan Yunlin Lecture Hall. Buddhists and believers clasped their hands together and prayed, and recited the "A Prayer for the Buddha's Birthday" by Venerable Master Hsing Yun founder of Fo Guang Shan, to show their respect for Buddha and to commemorate the beloved Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

The ceremony's scale is unprecedented, with not only Nagas and Devas but also three thousand-year-old camphor wood Buddha statues for people to worship. The honored guests included Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih, Chen Qi-Rong, Secretary-General of the Agriculture and Food Agency, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Venerable Xi Rong, Director of Buddhist Association of the Republic of China, famous singer Chi Yu, Venerable Man Qian, Abbott of Fo Guang Shan Taipei Vihara, Li Rui-Teng, the chairperson of the Hsing Yun Award for Global Chinese Literature, Steven Ou Yang, the president of America-Taiwan Culture Artifact and Innovation Technology Research and Development Exchange Association, He Zhuo-Fei, principal of Fo Guang University, and Lin Cong Ming, principal of Nanhua University of Fo Guang Shan. Chen Zhi-Feng, the chairman of the C.C.P. Contact Probes, led his employees to serve as Buddha's warrior attendant, and Venerable Miao Xi, President of The Merit Times, expressed gratitude to all parties on behalf of the organizers.

Most Venerable Xin Ding said that the International Vegetable Festival not only promotes the trend of vegetarianism but also inspires environmental awareness. Vegetarianism has become a global trend, and he admires the The Merit Times for its long-standing promotion of the Vegetable Festival, which is the practice of "Three Acts of Goodness-do good deeds, think good thoughts, and speak good words". He also reminded everyone to keep their bodies, speech, and minds pure at all times and blessed the public with peace, happiness, and joy.

Most Venerable Xin Ding said that the International Vegetable Festival not only promotes the trend of vegetarianism but also inspires environmental awareness. photo／The Life News Agency

During his speech, Hou Yu-ih expressed his gratitude to Fo Guang Shan and The Merit Times for promoting the vegetarian culture festival, spreading the ideas of vegetarianism, environmental protection, and love for the earth. He said that there were many unique booths on-site and a retrospective exhibition of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, allowing the public to remember the Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Mayor Hou also deeply feels the compassion of Venerable Master Hsing Yun and has benefited greatly from him. He will continue to respond to the reduction of energy and carbon, and pray for peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and social stability.

Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan said that when he was the mayor of Taoyuan City, he had a good relationship with Fo Guang Shan. Whenever he encountered difficulties, he would remember Venerable Master Hsing Yun's wise words, "where there is Dharma, there is a way." The International Vegetable Festival has made vegetarianism a new value and movement in society, and he is very grateful for it. This event brings joy and harmony, and he also hopes that Venerable Master Hsing Yun's compassion and aspirations can continue to flourish and that Buddhism can take root all over the world.