This year, the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha falls on May 5th, the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. In joyful commemoration, Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou hosted the traditional Bathing the Buddha Ceremony early in the morning, dedicating merits to bring about smooth winds and rain, ensure national prosperity, promote the well-being of the people, illuminate the ever-brightening light of the Buddha, and sustain the eternal turning of the Dharma Wheel.
At 4:45 a.m., the Lingyin Sangha, dressed in ceremonial robes and carrying ritual implements, lined up in orderly formations. Upon hearing the bell, they prostrated three times in reverence to the Buddha, reciting aloud in unison the sacred name "Namo Shakyamuni Buddha". Afterwards, they proceeded to the Guest Hall where they respectfully welcomed the sacred image of Prince Siddhartha, which was then placed within a golden basin filled with fragrant water and decorated with nine dragons.
Inside the Mahavira Hall, the melodious chanting of scriptures and the Buddha’s name filled the air, as the community of disciples united in gratitude for the compassionate journey of our venerable Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha, who descended into the Saha world. Disregarding worldly riches, he sought ascetic practice in Snow Mountain, became a novice at nineteen, attained enlightenment at thirty, and subdued demons to become a Buddha. He expounded scriptures totaling over 5,000 volumes, lived for over eighty years, opened the gates of the Three Vehicles, and guided countless beings along the path to enlightenment...
All participants earnestly recited the sacred name "Namo Shakyamuni Buddha". The temple supervisor, Master Zhiguang, used a small spoon to pour three spoonfuls of fragrant water over the sacred statue of Prince Siddhartha. Then, the assembly took turns, each bathing the Buddha and praying for national prosperity, the enduring presence of the true Dharma, and for all beings in the Dharma Realm to be liberated from suffering and defilements and rapidly attain the pure Dharma body.
