GMC Buddhist Studies Department organized Buddha's Birthday Celebration

The Life News Agency
May 24, 2024

Buddha Bathing Ceremony organized by Guang Ming College Department of Buddhist Studies in which 100 students joined. Coach Mel Ayonayon of Department of Exercise and Sport Science was pleased to have a prayer during this final examination week and sport competition period. The students learn to face challenges with spiritual calmness.

Venerable Abbess Miao Jing was invited to give a Dharma message after reading the Prayer for Buddha’s Birthday written by Fo Guang Shan Founding Patriarch Venerable Master Hsing Yun. She told the origin of bathing the Baby Siddhartha to commemorate Prince Siddhartha’s birth in Lumbini Garden. She then emphasized on revealing our true self as given by the meaning of purifying body and mind through practicing Three Acts of Goodness and Four Giving. Following the Buddha’s Dharma, each can cleanse the negative thoughts, transcend physical limitation, and discover further who one can become.

GMC Buddhist Studies Chair Shena Pacano was happy for the freshmen because this would be their first time experiencing Buddhist festival.

The activity highlighted the importance of team work across all levels in her department showcasing the Venerable Master Hsing Yun's ideas of giving: joy, hope, confidence, and convenience. She hoped that in the future, the department would be able to extend to the neighboring community the teachings and goodness of our founder.

With the blessing of little Buddha, third year basketball player Kurt Lactaotao wished for world peace, be able to achieve excellence in academic performance, and to fulfil expectation in 2024 BLIA Cup Taiwan. He wanted to be a model of scholar-athlete for his juniors.

Third year basketball player Joshua Jamias was the first batch basketball scholar to discover Humanistic Buddhism in his college and professional life. When he bathed the Buddha, he vowed to practice Three Acts of Goodness and harvest good merits for success.