Emulating the Buddha’s Vows to Spread the Dharma and Benefit All Beings – Celebrating the Buddha’s Birthday at DDM Massachusetts Buddhist Association

On May 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dharma Drum Mountain Massachusetts Buddhist Association held a "Bathing the Buddha & Purifying the Mind" ceremony in celebration of Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday. Nearly 80 participants joined in the festivities, which also included an early celebration of Mother's Day. During the ceremony, participants devoutly took turns bathing the statue of Prince Siddhartha using fragrant water while chanting "Namo Ben Shi Shijiamonifo (homage to our original teacher Shakyamuni Buddha),” to symbolically wash away physical and mental afflictions. Through performing prostrations and making vows, participants aspired to learn from the Buddha's compassion as well as continue practicing until achieving enlightenment.

Venerable Chang Hwa, Director of Chan Meditation Center, guided attendees in bathing the Buddha with three ladles of fragrant water while making the vow to "eliminate all evils, cultivate all virtues, and liberate all sentient beings." She encouraged everyone to transform their habitual tendencies through practicing Buddhadharma, to elevate themselves spiritually, and to further transcend the three realms until realizing their true nature and attaining Buddhahood. She explained that "one's outward appearance reflects one's state of the mind." Therefore, to change one's outward appearance, one must start by purifying the mind and eliminating all evils. By observing precepts, one can eliminate past habitual tendencies. As a result, one's appearance will naturally change. Therefore, one should vow to cut off all evils.

As for cultivating all virtues, many people might think it's easy. However, Venerable Chang Hwa gave the example of donating disposable coveralls and surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the peak of the crisis, delivering such items to frontline healthcare workers was fraught with challenges due to rapidly changing circumstances. Venerable Chang Hwa urged everyone to build wholesome connections with others in daily life, so that one can truly have the right causes and conditions to practice virtuous deeds and help sentient beings.


After the vegetarian lunch, monastic members distributed longevity buns and fragrant water to the attendees. They also gave out carnations as a gesture to wish all mothers a happy Mother's Day. In the afternoon, a "Tea & Chat" session was held, where people of all ages were invited to enjoy tea with the monastics and share insights on daily life and spiritual practice. First-time visitors to the center expressed great joy over the warm and joyful atmosphere of the Bathing the Buddha Ceremony and hoped to return again for future group practices.




Original Chinese text: DDM Massachusetts Buddhist Association
Photos: Jessica Qi
Translation: Patricia Yang 
Editing: Keith Brown