​DDM Association of Dharma Supporters in Thailand Held the Bathing-the-Buddha Ceremony to Pray for Blessings

On the morning of May 5^th, the DDM Association of Dharma Supporters in Thailand held a Bathing-the-Buddha Ceremony. Venerable Chang Yuan (常遠法師), the Director-in-Chief of Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) Sangha, was invited to officiate the ceremony. The Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, Chang Chun-Fu (張俊福), was also invited to attend. Along with more than 60 Buddhist adherents, they made flower offerings and bathed the statue of Prince Siddhartha with scented water amidst the chanting of "Namo Ben Shi Shi Jia Mo Ni Fo" (homage to our teacher, Sakyamuni Buddha), thereby praying for the growth of wisdom and blessings as well as peace of mind and body for the public.

Ven. Chang Yuan elucidated that through the act of bathing the Buddha with scented water, we are internally purifying our minds. While expressing our veneration through the ritual of offering flowers and bathing the statue of the Buddha, we also remind ourselves to be free from both the external defilement and the ignorance and affliction derived from greed, aversion, and delusion within. By being aware of our own thoughts in every moment, we can reveal our inherent compassion and wisdom, which is the ultimate significance of bathing the Buddha.

Ven. Chang Yuan also expounded on the meaning of "With one teacher and one approach, we promote the spirit of DDM; with one mind and one wish, we build a pure land on earth." The "one teacher" here refers to our teacher, Sakyamuni Buddha, since what DDM promotes is the orthodox Buddhist teachings taught by the Buddha, and the "one approach" indicates Chinese Chan Buddhism. The "one mind and one wish" means all the monastics and the laity share the same mindset that generates bodhicitta to benefit both ourselves and others.


The Bathing-the-Buddha ceremony was attended by Tsai Tzung-cheng (蔡宗成), Consultant of Executive Yuan; Lin-he Pei-jiuan (林何佩娟), Council Member of Overseas Community Affairs Council; Chen Hann-Chuan (陳漢川), President of Thai-Taiwan Business Association (TTBA), and other oversea Taiwanese community members from the government or business sectors. Ven. Chang Yuan expressed his gratitude to them for their long-time support to DDM, and also especially thanked Representative Chang, who not only made a special trip to attend the opening ceremony for Chon Buri Center on May 3^rd but also participated in the Bathing-the-Buddha ceremony of May 5^th.




Ven. Chang Yuan exhorted everyone that when considering giving up due to setbacks in our daily lives or in our Buddhist practices, we should remember our original intent and generate a lasting determination to practice the Dharma. In the end, he led everyone to dedicate the merit of this ceremony for world peace. In addition, he wished both the monastics and the laity peace, health, and the growth of blessings and wisdom.


Original Chinese text / Dharma Drum Mountain Association of Dharma Supporters in Thailand
Photos / Guo Qi-fan (郭啟帆)
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, Freya (可馨)