To celebrate the upcoming Buddha’s Birthday, the Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University held its annual Buddha Bathing Ceremony on April 28 at 8:00 a.m. in the courtyard on the first floor of the Yun Shui Building.
This event was organized and coordinated by third-year undergraduate students as part of their practical training for the course "Buddhist Practices: Administrative Affairs and Practical Application." Faculty members and students were invited to participate, creating a solemn yet heartwarming atmosphere.

Before the ceremony began, Venerable Runkang, a third-year student, explained the meaning of bathing the Buddha to the attendees.
The Venerable pointed out that the Buddha Bathing Festival is not only a commemoration of the Buddha’s birth but also a practice of inner purification.
According to the Sūtra on the Merits of Bathing the Buddha, sentient beings should bathe the Buddha with a pure mind to perfect the Dharma Body and Reward Body of the Tathāgata.
Bathing the Buddha symbolizes washing away the afflictions and impurities of the mind, vowing to walk the path of the Buddha, nurturing one’s inherent Buddha-nature, and dedicating the merit of the practice to all sentient beings, wishing them liberation from suffering and the swift attainment of enlightenment.

Following this, the ceremonial proceedings were led by monastic students from the first- and second-year classes, who guided the group in the recitation of the Heart Sutra and the Prayer for Buddha’s Birthday composed by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan.
After chanting the Bathing Buddha verse, all participants took turns bathing the Buddha statue and then received longevity peaches and apples, symbolizing the growth of blessings and wisdom, as well as peace and auspiciousness.

From planning to decoration, every aspect of the ceremony was completed through the collective efforts of the students.
Particularly the day before the ceremony, students worked together to create a space that was both solemn and festive.
With a focus on nature and environmental sustainability, they used a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables as the main materials, complemented by flowers and potted greenery, symbolizing the vitality and abundance of the natural world and expressing the wisdom of living in harmony with the Earth.

Students showcased their creativity and team spirit: some designed floral arrangements around the bathing basin, others carefully arranged offerings on the altar, and some were responsible for cleaning the venue.
Their thoughtful and creative efforts were evident throughout the space, making the entire ceremony a beautiful and joyful event filled with Dharma joy and gratitude.