Albert Lin, The Merit Times staff writer
May 31, 2023

On May 27th, The Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA)'s Johannesburg Chapter held Buddha's Birthday Bathing the Buddha Celebration. This year, the venue was divided into four main sections: the Bathing the Buddha area, the "The Life of the Buddha" exhibition area, the cultural and educational area, and the Three Acts of Goodness children's area.

Venerable Juedi led BLIA's Johannesburg Chapter president, Cheng Xiangming, supervisors Feng Deman, vice presidents Chen Saiqin and Chen Minghong, and members in arranging the venue, adorning the bathing platform with fresh flowers. 

The Bathing the Buddha Festival is an important Buddhist holiday celebrated on April 8th of the lunar calendar each year. Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan, once said, "The Buddha does not need us to bathe him, but rather, we need to cleanse our body and mind through the ritual of bathing the Buddha, to receive blessings and spiritual upliftment, and through this act of reverence, to resonate with the Buddha's mind."

A child sincerely bathed the Buddha and joined his palms together. photo／The Life News Agency

After Venerable Juedi led the congregation in respectfully reciting Venerable Master Hsing Yun's "A Prayer for the Buddha's Birthday Celebration," the Bathing the Buddha Festival officially began. People of different races and cultures devoutly used Dharma water to cleanse the statue of the Prince Siddhartha, expressing their reverence for the Buddha and sincerely praying for blessings.

In the Three Acts of Goodness children's area, the children sincerely bathed the Buddha and joined their palms together in earnest prayer. Many children also drew their envisioned Buddha using crayons. Local South African visitors explored the "The Life of the Buddha" exhibition area, and many people read "365 Days for Travelers: Wisdom from Chinese Literary and Buddhist Classics" in the cultural and educational area.

Children drew their envisioned Buddha. photo／The Life News Agency

This event was a grand celebration where people of different religions and races joyfully converged. Nearly 300 individuals with different skin colors and beliefs collectively bathed in the grace of the Buddha, spreading the seeds of "Humanistic Buddhism" in every corner of this land.