2026-06-14 Fort Lauderdale Chapter Celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival, Sharing Multicultural Traditions and Dharma Joy Through the Six Paramitas

With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, the Miami Association of the Buddha’s Light International Association’s Fort Lauderdale Chapter hosted a celebration at the temple on June 14. The event aimed to help traditional Chinese culture continue to take root overseas while strengthening fellowship among members.

Centered around a hands-on zongzi-making experience, the celebration gave overseas Chinese an opportunity to reconnect with the spirit and traditions of the holiday. More than 20 members enthusiastically participated, experiencing the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival through cultural exchange and shared activity.

The event was jointly planned and led by Chapter President Xing Dongmei, Vice President Tong Lin, and Supervisor Qiu Biyun. The atmosphere was warm and lively, filled with the festive spirit of the occasion. To ensure that members who had never made zongzi before could fully understand the process, the organizers carefully explained every step, including cooking the glutinous rice to the proper consistency, balancing the seasonings, and selecting, washing, and soaking the bamboo leaves in preparation.

The leaders then demonstrated the art of making zongzi step by step, personally guiding participants through the process. From folding the bamboo leaves into a cone, to adding the glutinous rice and fillings such as mushrooms, and finally tying the dumplings securely with cotton string to hold their shape, each step was carefully explained and demonstrated repeatedly. Participants listened attentively while practicing with their own hands, gradually becoming more proficient through mutual assistance and conversation.

The finished zongzi came in a variety of styles, including traditional savory versions and lighter, sweet varieties, as well as different shapes such as triangles and squares. The creations reflected both the participants’ creativity and what they had learned. Happily taking their handmade zongzi home, participants could enjoy them with their families as festive treats while also carrying with them the warmth and significance of preserving cultural traditions.

The event also incorporated a Buddhist study session. Vice President Tong Lin thoughtfully connected the zongzi-making experience with the Six Paramitas, encouraging participants to view an everyday activity as an opportunity for spiritual practice and reflection.

Willingly giving one’s time to participate and help others can be seen as generosity (dāna). Following the proper procedures and maintaining good hygiene reflects ethical conduct (śīla). Facing mistakes and repeated practice without becoming discouraged demonstrates patience (kṣānti). Remaining committed and steadily completing the task embodies diligence (vīrya). Focusing one’s mind on the activity in the present moment expresses meditative concentration (dhyāna). Finally, after mastering the techniques, creatively developing new shapes and flavors and transforming the experience into wisdom for everyday life reflects wisdom (prajñā).

Through this practical and relatable approach, Buddhist teachings were naturally woven into an ordinary cultural activity, demonstrating how the Dharma can be practiced in daily life.

Chapter President Xing Dongmei said that the Dragon Boat Festival celebration not only strengthened fellowship among members, but also allowed participants to discover Buddhist wisdom through cultural experience, creating an event that was both educational and enjoyable, and filled with Dharma joy. She expressed hope that the Fort Lauderdale Chapter will continue to develop programs that integrate multicultural activities with Buddhist study, allowing the Dharma to deepen through everyday life and spread throughout the community, so that cultural traditions and Dharma joy can flourish together.