On June 15, 2015, Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou held a large-scale animal release event at Yuanpu Wharf. The event, hosted by the 92-year-old Senior Venerable Jiyun, has conveyed the Buddhist spirit of compassion and equality for all living beings. Nearly 100 Buddhist masters and lay disciples gathered at the wharf, and tens of thousands of fish and other species were released.
The Buddhist tradition of liberating animals is based on the idea of compassion and causal effects, and equality of all sentient beings. Through animal releasing, awareness of cherishing and protecting life can be experienced so as to fundamentally put an end to indiscriminate hunting and killing of animals. It is of great significance to promote ecological balance with proper consideration, simple kindheartedness, and social harmony.
