New Taipei Bathing the Buddha Festival Begins, Thousands of Monks and Devotees Pray for National Peace

New Taipei City vibrated with spiritual energy as it hosted a magnificent Bathing the Buddha Festival ceremony, marking the celebration of Sakyamuni Buddha's Birthday. Thousands of monks and devoted followers gathered at the San Chung Sports Center, creating a solemn and uplifting atmosphere as they offered prayers for national peace, social harmony, and freedom from disaster.

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Buddhism is an important force for purifying the human mind.

Vice Mayor Chu Tih-chih, representing the city government, emphasized the profound role of Buddhism in purifying the human mind and fostering positive energy. He commended the New Taipei City Buddhist Association for its annual tradition of hosting this sacred event, which not only allows citizens to deepen their understanding of the Buddha's birth but also disseminates compassion and goodwill throughout society.

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All sentient beings possess a Buddha-nature as pure as that of a 'child,' but it is easily obscured by the dust of the secular world. Cultivating the mind is like cleaning a house; one must 'clean diligently every day.'

The association's commitment extends beyond spiritual guidance, as evidenced by their continuous dedication to charitable endeavors. For 16 consecutive years, they have donated over ten million New Taiwan Dollars to support vulnerable populations and the elderly. This year's donation of 1.15 million NTD further underscores their role as a vital force in stabilizing the community and embodying the Buddhist principle of alleviating suffering. The ceremony itself, with the symbolic bathing of the infant Buddha statue, served as a powerful reminder of the path to inner purity and the collective aspiration for a peaceful and prosperous nation.

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Through the Bathing the Buddha ritual, we cleanse our body, mind, and spirit, practicing the Buddhist principle of 'eliminating evil and promoting good.'