Hsi Lai Temple Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival: Moonlight Shines with the Affinity of Buddha’s Light

Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple
October 16, 2025

Under a bright autumn moon, more than 500 participants gathered at Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple’s courtyard on October 4 for the “Under the Moon Celebration”, a festive evening that blended culture, faith, and community spirit. The temple grounds was lively with laughter, lanterns, and the scent of delicious vegetarian food as families and friends joined in a joyful night of reunion.

Local dignitaries attended the event, including Hacienda Heights Improvement Association (HHIA) President David Fang, Vice President Alitzah Wiener, Board Member Andrea Gordon, and Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (HLPUSD) Vice President Adriana Quinones, along with community members Stephanie Macias, Jennifer Macias, and Erika Medina. Faculty and students from the University of the West (UWest), teachers and students of Hsi Lai Buddhist School, and members of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) all came together to celebrate, filling the temple with warmth and festive cheer.

In his Dharma talk, Venerable Hui Dong, abbot of Hsi Lai Temple, explained that the Mid-Autumn Festival—symbolizing reunion and gratitude—is much like Thanksgiving in the United States, bringing families and communities closer together. He noted that the full moon represents the pure, radiant nature of the Buddha within everyone, reminding people to reflect on their thoughts, words, and actions with mindfulness and clarity. “Life waxes and wanes like the moon,” he said. “If we can find peace amid life’s changes and awaken the compassion and confidence that lie within, that calmness and love are the greatest treasures we can possess.” He concluded with a blessing: “May the moon’s brilliance illuminate our hearts and fill our lives with peace, wisdom, and compassion.”

The festival featured seven cultural booths along the courtyard and inside Assembly Hall, offering a variety of activities and vegetarian treats—from plant-based burgers and chow mein to refreshing beverages. Families enjoyed handmade rice ball crafting, lantern-making, riddle games, and interactive activities that filled the air with laughter. Guests also savored a tea meditation experience, learning about the elegance of Chinese tea culture; others relaxed in a sound bath meditation, while children marveled at a traditional sugar-blowing artist creating delicate animal shapes—a nostalgic highlight for many.

The stage performances were equally captivating. The Los Angeles Young Adult’s Division 1 (YAD1) performed “Soar Together”, the official dance of the upcoming 2025 International Buddha’s Light Young Adult Leadership Conference, showcasing youthful energy and unity. Logan Guilbert-Neal from the Hsi Lai Subchapter performed a heartfelt guitar rendition of “Rainbow Connection.” Dancer Wen Xi from YAD2 performed “Fan Dance Under the Moon,” followed by Tiffany Yu, who serenaded the audience with “The Moon Represents My Heart” and “Fly Me to the Moon.” Her warm, melodious voice earned enthusiastic applause.

As the night drew to a close, Abbot Venerable Hui Dong and Deputy Superintendent Venerable Zhi Xing led the congregation in an English recitation of the Heart Sutra. Participants then carried lanterns in a walking meditation, chanting prayers for peace under the moon. The event concluded with the Three Refuge and Dedication of Merits, as attendees joined their voices in wishing for world peace and universal happiness.

Blending faith, culture, and community, the celebration offered not only joy and connection but also a gentle reminder of the light of compassion and wisdom within each person—illuminated, like the moon, through the teachings of the Buddha.