Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights welcomed over a thousand devotees on May 4, 2025, to celebrate the Buddha’s Birthday, also known as “BuddhaBathing Day”, observed on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. The event marked the start of an eight-day celebration (May 4–11), inviting the public to participate in the Buddha bathing ceremony, symbolic of purifying the body, speech, and mind, and letting go of attachments in pursuit of wisdom and happiness.

Despite light rain on the first day, the spirit of the gathering remained strong as attendees lined up in reverence to bathe the statue of the baby Buddha, offering prayers and blessings for peace and clarity in their lives. Abbot Venerable Hui Dong emphasized in his Dharma talk that bathing the Buddha is not merely a ceremonial act but a call to inner transformation. He encouraged participants to cultivate the Threefold Learning of morality, meditative concentration, and wisdom, purifying the mind of greed, anger, and ignorance, and letting their intrinsic brightness shine forth. He also encouraged practicing the "Three Acts of Goodness": Do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts, as tools for facing life with compassion and clarity.

During the ceremony, Venerable Hui Dong led the devotees in chanting the Heart Sutra and reading Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s “Prayer for the Buddha’s Birthday.” He then guided the devotees to the Buddha bathing booth in front of the Main Shrine, where each participant took turns pouring fragrant water over the statue of Prince Siddhartha, symbolizing spiritual renewal and planting the seeds of goodness.

This year’s celebration introduced a “Children’s Buddha Bathing Area” at the Courtyard, designed to blend spiritual learning with fun and family engagement. A large puzzle exhibit titled “The Life of the Buddha” was also displayed, visually depicting key stages of the Buddha’s journey—from birth and renunciation to enlightenment and Parinirvana—offering an engaging and educational experience for all ages. Guests were also invited to take home “sweet dew water” as a symbolic blessing, adding to the warm and festive atmosphere.

Among the guests was San Gabriel City Councilmember John Wu, who praised the temple’s role in promoting positive Buddhist values and fostering harmony across communities. He noted the inclusive spirit of the event, which brought together people from all backgrounds and age groups, and expressed pride in being part of such a unifying celebration.

Also in attendance were more than 48 Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from three Boy Scout councils and five different troops across the U.S., who joined the prayer service for the Buddha’s Birthday. Toan Khuong, Scoutmaster of Troop 239, expressed gratitude for the temple’s hospitality and commended Venerable Hui Ze for his ongoing support of youth education through Buddhism. He noted that the scouts learned valuable lessons about respect, cooperation, and intention in a sacred setting.

To ensure the success of the large-scale event, Event Director Olivia Zhao shared that volunteer recruitment began early, inspired by the Bodhisattva spirit of selfless service. Tasks were divided according to individuals’ strengths, fostering a strong team dynamic focused on collaboration and mutual support. She emphasized the importance of collective effort, stating that the event’s success was a testament to shared devotion and purpose.