Bathing the Buddha to Purify Our Mind – Building a Pure Land on Earth

On June 3rd, Dharma Drum Seattle Center organized a Bathing the Buddha Dharma Assembly & Refuge-Taking Ceremony, whereby over a hundred devotees gathered at the Center to bathe the Buddha to purify the mind. For this event, Venerable Guo Dong, DDM former Abbot President, visited the Seattle Center to offer loving care and blessings to the devotees, 32 of whom took refuge in the Three Jewels and thus became Buddhist followers.

A little after 8 a.m. on the day of the event, most of the Center volunteers and  refuge-takers had arrived. After explaining the procedure and points for attention to the refuge-takers, the volunteers went on to demonstrate putting on and taking off the black ceremonial robe. Before the Dharma Assembly even started, the Grand Hall was already packed, and the multi-purpose room was converted into an impromptu second Buddha hall, where the main event was broadcasted live on large viewing screens. As the Dharma assembly commenced, devotees with flowers gradually stepped forward to respectfully make their offerings to the Buddha amidst the solemn chanting of the Incense Praise. Then, as the congregation recited the Verse of Praise to the Buddha in unison, the assembly director Ven. Chang Wu led the devotees to bath the Buddha one by one.

During his Dharma talk, Ven. Guo Dong indicated that to bathe the Buddha is to purify the mind. In our daily lives, it's easy to extend loving care to others, whereas  showing understanding and tolerance towards each other may not be as simple. We should learn to regard everyone as bodhisattvas and Buddhas-to-be. If we can maintain the purity of our own minds, then our present moment would become a Pure Land.

The Dharma assembly was subsequently followed by the refuge-taking ceremony. Among the participants were three families who took refuge together. While the youngest of the family members were twins of 10, the oldest was 76 years old. Amidst the chanting of Guanyin Bodhisattva's holy name, everyone gave their most sincere blessings to the refuge takers, wishing them a peaceful and smooth journey on their path of Buddhist practice.

Since this was the first Bathing the Buddha Dharma Assembly & Refuge-Taking Ceremony at the brand-new DDM Seattle Center, attending guests-of-honor also included the chairperson of the Honorary Members of the Board of Directors, Huang Chu-Qi from Taiwan, the founding core volunteers of the Seattle Center, current Vice Chief President of the General Association of Dharma Upholders, Mr. Wang Chong-Zhong and his wife, Ms. Chen Rui-Juan.
After the Bathing the Buddha Dharma Assembly & Refuge-Taking Ceremony successfully concluded, everyone sat down for a meal of vegetarian delicacies. After being given a package of longevity peach bun, aromatic water, joyous heart, and Ven. Guo Dong's blessings, the participants returned to their homes. Seattle Center hoped that everyone could return frequently to the Center and make full use of this Pure Land in the mundane world, thereby helping both themselves and their families attain genuine peace and joy.


Text: Dharma Drum Seattle Center
Photos: Dharma Drum Seattle Center
Translation: Cheng-yu Chang (張振郁)
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL