On the evening of May 14, 2023, the Tzu Chi Foundation held a grand Bathing Buddha ceremony at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. It combined three celebrations -- Buddha Day, Mother's Day, and Tzu Chi Day. Nearly 400 venerable masters led over 10,000 participants in the ceremony, bathing the Buddha with sincere and solemn hearts.

The Memorial Hall was adorned with an exhibition on the Eight Great Pilgrimage Sites of the Buddha; it showed his birth, enlightenment, and teachings. Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi, expressed gratitude to the Dharma masters for explaining to the public the significance of the Buddha's footprints and his blessings.

She also thanked the Tzu Chi volunteers and individuals from all walks of life who act as compassionate living bodhisattvas, bring positive change, and create a more compassionate and harmonious society. Such a solemn and sacred space at the Hall was the result of days of busy preparation.

During the celebration of Buddha Day, in gratitude for the Buddha's teachings spreading over the Earth, auspicious clouds descended from the sky, as if gathering the presence of Buddhas from ten different directions. Master Cheng Yen hoped for this harmonious scene to continue forever on Earth, with sincere blessings and gratitude from all people converging every day. She also invited Dharma masters in different Buddhist centers to propagate the teachings and allow the Dharma to be present throughout the world, and ensure its eternal and peaceful existence.

Let us put our palms together and sincerely pray for the harmony of the world.