Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture Celebrated the Birthday of Guanyin Bodhisattva

On March 18^th, 2025 – Guanyin Bodhisattva's birthday, according to the lunar calendar – Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture, the ancestral temple of Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) held the Guanyin Bodhisattva Dharma service at 10 a.m. Following the lead of monastic members, more than two hundred people and volunteers recited the Lotus Sutra's Universal Gate Chapter on Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (普門品) and the Great Compassion Mantra. They sincerely made prostrations, vowing to emulate the Bodhisattva's aspiration to deliver all sentient beings.

During her Dharma talk, Ven. Guo Ren (果仁法師) rejoiced to meet everyone at the Dharma center on the birthday of Guanyin Bodhisattva. She encouraged everyone to recite the Buddha's name more frequently to attain clarity and joy within our minds. As we familiarize ourselves with the Buddha, we will remember to use the Buddha's teachings to calm our mind when in adversity. The Venerable also encouraged everyone to apply DDM's annual theme for 2025 in their daily lives, that is, "the Power of Great Aspiration–with a smile, a blessing, let's all fulfill good aspirations, creating a pure land on earth." It means to realize the purity of our body, speech, and mind through practicing giving others a smile, and arising benevolent thoughts and blessings from our hearts. 

The Bodhisattva earned her name Guanshiyin (meaning one who observes the sound of the world) by perceiving the sounds of all suffering beings calling her name for help. As long as we keep the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva in our mind, we can gain equanimity and peace of mind at the moment, as though having the Bodhisattva by our side. As stated in the Universal Gate Chapter on Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, constantly reciting the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva helps one's mind stay away from afflictions and attain boundless virtuous benefits. Meanwhile, sincerely praying to Guanyin Bodhisattva can invoke blessings that fulfill one's wishes. 

Chou Yu-hui (周玉惠), a devotee who came to the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture with her sister, recited the scriptures at the Dharma service in order to dedicate the merit to their deceased mother, hoping she can reborn in the superior grade level of the Pure Land as well as further her cultivation with the Buddha and Bodhisattva as her companions. In contrast to her previous visits to DDM with her mother, her mother's absence made Chou feel deeply about the presence of impermanence and the invaluable opportunity to be born as a human being. Now she cherished the present even more, and seized every opportunity to deepen her cultivation. 



Original Chinese text and video / Fu Li-xian (傅莉嫻)
Photos / Lin Shiang-huei (林祥輝), Fu Li-xian (傅莉嫻)
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, YKL