Becoming Buddhist on an Auspicious Day

The grand Buddha’s Birthday Celebration that took place on 17th April at FGS South Island. Apart from the Bathing the Buddha Dharma Function, the Celebration also included the opening of artist Xu Ruifen’s Magnetic Painting Exhibition, the Baby Blessing Ceremony as well as the Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem and Five Precepts Conferring Ceremony.

The Baby Blessing Ceremony held at the Temple’s courtyard was attended by 60 babies, and parent and child, 100 in total, came forward to be cleansed with holy water by Venerable Abbess Manshin and receive blessings. Two pregnant mothers seized the opportunity to have their unborn children blessed.

In the afternoon, the Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem and Five Precepts Conferring Ceremony was conducted in the Buddha Hall. Venerable Abbess Manshin, on behalf of the 29 BLIA YAD members and devotees, presided over the Taking Refuge Ceremony in the presence of an audience of 30 people. 11 of the new Buddhists also requested to take the Five Precepts.

Venerable Abbess Manshin gave a Dharma Talk on the merits and benefits of Taking Refuge, and encouraged everyone to cherish the conditions of becoming a Buddhist by diligently cultivating the Way, and allowing the Buddha’s Light to shine forth and nourish their lives. Some of the devotees were moved to tears, while others smiled with joy. Regardless of whether it was tears or laughter, everyone opened their hearts to receive the sacred transmission.

The Baby Blessing Ceremony and the Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem and Five Precepts Conferring Ceremony has made the Buddha’s Birthday Celebration all the more solemn and sacred, and has allowed BLIA members to gather strength from unity so that they may be empowered to continue to be diligent in propagating Buddhism.