2025-05-18 Fo Guang Shan Miami Promotes Vegetarian 'Plan A' for Buddha’s Birthday: Buddha Bathing Fair Combines Environmental and Life Protection Concepts

To celebrate the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha, Fo Guang Shan Miami held a Buddha’s Birthday celebration on the morning of May 18, attracting nearly 400 devotees and community members. The event combined a Buddha bathing ceremony with a vegetarian fair, implementing Fo Guang Shan’s “Vegetarian Plan A” to promote a lifestyle rooted in compassion for life and care for the planet through Dharma and cuisine, while advocating for environmental protection, health, and compassion.

The Dharma service was led by Abbot Venerable Ruyuan, who guided the congregation in chanting the Three Jewels Verse and the Heart Sutra in English, as well as reciting the “Prayer for Buddha’s Birthday” written by Fo Guang Shan founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun. In his Dharma talk, the Venerable explained that the Buddha came into the world to awaken wisdom and show the path to liberation. Bathing the Buddha symbolizes not only external reverence but also internal purification. He encouraged everyone to walk the Buddha’s path, speak the Buddha’s words, and cultivate the Buddha’s practice—integrating the Dharma into daily life to purify the mind and develop compassion and wisdom.

To commemorate the Buddha’s birth, the Miami chapter offered incense, jewels, flowers, and fruit in a solemn offering to begin the event. Musical offerings featured local renowned vocalist Zhao Junchan singing Fo Guang Shan’s English Dharma songs Harmony and Light the Lamp, followed by a duet performance of The Buddha Is in Your Heart by Wang Qiaojing and Li Qian. Their pure and moving voices inspired joy and good thoughts in the audience.

Another highlight of the event was the concurrent vegetarian fair held in the temple parking lot. Organized by various subchapters and youth groups, the fair featured a variety of refined vegetarian foods, creative drinks, and eco-friendly products. The fair extended the joyful atmosphere of Buddha’s Birthday and put into practice the “Vegetarian Plan A,” encouraging everyone to start with one vegetarian meal a day to protect life and cherish the Earth through everyday actions.

The event received enthusiastic support from local government officials and community organizations. Notable guests included Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine, Tamarac Mayor Michelle Gomez, City Councilman Morey Wright, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami Chih-Yu Chou, Overseas Community Affairs Secretary Huang Shicong, Florida International University (FIU) Asian Studies Director Dr. Julie Zeng, President Kwan Wing Fat and Chairman Ng Kwok Lin of the American An Leung Chamber of Commerce, and Pan Zengyan, President of the Chinese Association of South Florida.

Mayor Michelle Gomez presented a certificate of commendation, praising Fo Guang Shan for its long-term dedication to religious harmony, cultural education, and the promotion of vegetarianism, and for its significant contribution to diversity and community well-being. Director Chou of TECO also presented an official certificate of recognition on behalf of the government, acknowledging Fo Guang Shan’s global efforts to promote Humanistic Buddhism and its positive social impact. He encouraged Fo Guang practitioners to continue using the positive power of religion to benefit society.

President Deng Yanhua of the Miami chapter expressed her gratitude to all participants for their enthusiastic involvement and support. She especially praised the collaborative spirit of the Fo Guang volunteers, whose collective efforts made the event a meaningful and successful experience. She hopes that through the Buddha bathing ceremony and vegetarian promotion, attendees can purify their hearts, awaken kindness, and embody the compassion and wisdom of the Buddha in their daily lives. She emphasized the ongoing commitment to Fo Guang Shan’s four guiding principles: promoting Buddhism through culture, fostering talent through education, benefiting society through charity, and purifying minds through practice—to further cultivate Humanistic Buddhism and benefit all beings.