2026-05-10 Mother’s Day at the Buddhist Temple: Three Generations Practice and Learn Together in Miami to Honor Parental Kindness

On May 10, coinciding with Mother’s Day, Fo Guang Shan Miami held a Mother’s Day Chanting Service. The congregation reverently recited the Sutra on the Profound Kindness of Parents and the Difficulty of Repaying It, honoring the deep grace of parents through the teachings of the Dharma. The service was not only an expression of gratitude to mothers, but also a profound lesson in filial piety, life education, and the passing down of the Dharma across generations.

In her Dharma talk, Venerable Zhi Qun pointed out that Buddhism emphasizes "recognizing kindness, feeling gratitude, and repaying kindness," and that filial piety toward parents is the fundamental basis of human conduct. The Sutra on the Profound Kindness of Parents and the Difficulty of Repaying It details the ten kindnesses of parents—from the "kindness of protection while carrying the child in the womb," the "kindness of enduring suffering during childbirth," and the "kindness of swallowing bitterness to spit out sweetness for the child," to the "kindness of deep worry when the child travels far"—each reflecting a lifelong dedication to safeguarding their children. In particular, a mother’s ten months of pregnancy are a miraculous achievement that exhausts her body and mind; every breath a child takes embodies her quiet sacrifice.

The Venerable further noted that people in modern society are often consumed by work and daily life, frequently neglecting the parents closest to them. True practice is not merely bowing to the Buddha or chanting sutras, but returning home to practice compassion and filial piety within the family. Illustrating this with the classic story of "putting on clothes inside-out and shoes on the wrong feet," the Venerable encouraged the crowd: when a person rushes out the door to search for the Buddha, they fail to realize that the true Buddha is the very parents at home who watch over them day and night, sacrificing in silence. To respect, forgive, and accompany one's parents is the true cultivation of merit and wisdom.

Following the service, to the soft melody of "Mother is the Best in the World," children led by Venerable Zhi Qun presented carnations to the mothers present. Each flower and every voice wishing a "Happy Mother’s Day" filled the shrine hall with warmth and emotion. Attendees gave their mothers warm hugs, thanking them for their years of selfless devotion in a deeply moving atmosphere.

Among them, the daughter of senior devotee Mei-Hsien Yu specially flew from New York to Miami with her two young grandchildren to reunite with her mother for a meaningful Mother’s Day. Three generations gathered together in the shrine hall, becoming the most touching scene of the day. Yu shared that bringing her grandchildren to bow to the Buddha, present flowers to the monastics, and accompany the children in handing out flowers to mothers in the shrine hall touched her deeply. She reflected that transmitting the Dharma is not merely teaching through words, but letting children learn respect, gratitude, and compassion from an early age through a simple palm-join, a gentle greeting, or the gift of a single flower.

She expressed with emotion that a child’s willingness to walk into a temple and draw near to the Triple Gem marks the sprouting of wholesome roots. She hopes that in the future, they will practice the "Three Goodness" spirit—"do good deeds, speak good words, think good thoughts"—and carry these good intentions forward.

Venerable Master Hsing Yun once said: "Where there is a mother, there is warmth; where there is a compassionate family, there is a Pure Land on Earth." Venerable Zhi Qun encouraged everyone that filial piety should not stop at holidays, but be practiced in daily life. One can dedicate merit to parents through copying sutras, chanting, making offerings to the Triple Gem, and practicing charitable giving. Even more importantly, one should visit home often, offer extra words of care, and spend more time together, giving parents peace of mind and reliance in their golden years.

At the conclusion of the event, everyone gathered in front of the shrine hall for a joyful group photograph, leaving behind precious and warm memories amidst laughter and blessings. Afterwards, attendees moved to the dining hall to share a vegetarian lunch and cake, exchanging well wishes in a joyous and harmonious atmosphere. This Mother’s Day service not only allowed participants to appreciate the immense grace of motherhood, but also revealed the enduring human strength of passing down Buddhism and filial piety through the warm interactions of three generations under one roof.