On May 12th at 7:00 a.m., let us come together to celebrate Buddha Day, Mother's Day, and Tzu Chi Day. The first ceremony of the day will be at the Jing Si Hall in Hualien, Taiwan, with volunteers joining online from Tzu Chi locations in 48 countries/regions around the world. Led by Tzu Chi’s founder Master Cheng Yen and the Jing Si Sangha, the ceremony will entail paying respects to the Buddhas, praying for global peace and harmony, and uniting in sincere thoughts to reach the heavens above.
In today's world, natural disasters persist, climate patterns fluctuate, and geopolitical situations remain unstable. It is only through purifying people’s hearts, gathering compassionate thoughts and cherishing all life, that we can alleviate disasters and ease suffering. The theme for Buddha Day this year is:
"Spread the Dharma to Benefit All Lives — Adopt a Plant-Based Diet to Protect Mother Earth"
This encourages us to always be grateful for the Buddha's grace, cultivate the power of aspiration within our hearts, and dedicate ourselves to alleviating suffering and protecting life with compassion through a plant-based diet.
On May 12th, the activities of Buddha’s Birthday Blessing will continue throughout the day in various Tzu Chi locations. In Taipei, at 5:40 p.m., there will be a grand Buddha Bathing ceremony at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Families are welcome to join the event, where the simple yet beautiful ceremony allows participants to express gratitude to the Buddha, their parents, and all sentient beings. Through the act of bathing the Buddha, people can purify their hearts and pray for peace and auspiciousness in the world.
The Meaning of Buddha Day
YouTube Live Stream on May 12
07:00 Hualien Jing Si Hall
17:40 Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei
For viewing in Chinese, English, and Spanish：https://www.tzuchiculture.org.tw/2024-buddha-bathing-ceremony/
