Hsi Lai Temple’s Fo Guan Baby Blessing Ceremony: A Cherished Moment of Dharma Heritage and Family Devotion

Reported by Kitty Huang, The Life News Agency, Los Angeles, USA

On June 21, Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple held its annual Buddha’s Light Baby Blessing Ceremony, offering prayers for the safe, joyful, and wise growth of young children through bilingual (Chinese–English) chanting and blessing rituals. A total of 210 parents brought 106 babies to participate. Families of diverse ethnic backgrounds gathered in the Main Shrine to plant seeds of compassion and wisdom in their children’s lives.

During the Dharma talk, Venerable Huidong, Abbot of Hsi Lai Temple, explained that through the ceremony of taking refuge in the Triple Gem—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha—seeds of compassion and wisdom are sown in the hearts of the babies. As they journey through life, the strength of the Dharma will naturally emerge, guiding them to face challenges with kindness and clarity. Venerable Huidong prayed that, under the compassionate protection of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, every Buddha’s Light Baby may grow up safe, healthy, and wise. He also offered blessings for all parents, wishing them peace, well-being, and harmony in their lives.

Led by Venerable Huidong and the monastic community, the assembly reverently chanted the Heart Sutra, performed the sweet-dew blessing, and conducted the refuge-taking ceremony for the babies. The congregation then recited A Prayer for Buddha’s Light Babies, composed by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founding master of Fo Guang Shan, praying that the children grow safely while cultivating both blessings and wisdom through the empowering vows of the Bodhisattvas. Upon the ceremony’s completion, the temple presented each baby with a Buddha’s Light Baby Refuge Certificate, marking the first Dharma treasure in their lives. Parents subsequently took commemorative photos with the monastics in the Main Shrine, capturing warm and meaningful moments.

Following the ceremony, the temple offered a range of age-appropriate experiential activities. In the Dharma Hall, a traditional “Zhua Zhou” (first‑birthday item‑grabbing)  ritual symbolized parents’ hopes and aspirations for their children’s futures. The auditorium featured booths with face painting, balloon art, and creative stickers. At the West Courtyard Plaza, a Buddha’s Light themed game zone showcased activities such as the “Three Acts of Goodness and Four Givings Bingo,” the Ring Toss Challenge, and the “Cloud and Water World,” allowing children to engage with Buddhist teachings through play and interaction. Photo areas were also set up in front of the Main Shrine and outside the auditorium, enabling families to record joyful memories and milestones of growth.

Preparation for the event began in early June. Chief Coordinator Zhao Linfeng (Olivia Chow) shared that the ceremony’s successful and smooth completion was the result of the collective efforts of the monastic community and numerous teams, including Dharma services, administration, general affairs, protocol, transportation, and senior advisors. She also expressed special appreciation to the Youth Group for thoughtfully designing activities such as the “Three Acts of Goodness and Four Givings Bingo” and the “Cloud and Water World,” skillfully integrating Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s teachings into the program. Through joyful participation, children learned positive values while parents witnessed the spirit of education through fun and interaction.

One particularly moving moment highlighted the deep roots of faith within families. The Wang family attended the ceremony with four generations present, creating a touching scene. Ninety-three-year-old Wang Xu Xiulan stood before the Buddha together with the second generation, Wang Xiaoxia and Wang Xiaofen; the third generation, Peng Wanting; and the fourth generation, siblings Zhu Li and Zhu Yi. United in prayer for the youngest members of their family, the gathering vividly illustrated the continuity of faith across generations and set a cherished example for all in attendance.

Jialing Zeng of BLIA San Gabriel One Subchapter shared her reflections, noting that as she listened to the Buddhist chants during the ceremony, she felt a profound sense of peace and inspiration. Her daughter listened attentively at her side, as if also receiving the blessings. She said, “At Hsi Lai Temple, children interact freely while parents can find peace of mind. This is a rare and precious joy. I am deeply grateful to participate in the Buddha’s Light Baby Blessing Ceremony—it marks a meaningful and invaluable beginning on my child’s journey of growth.”

Photo Captions (Photos 01–10 by Chang Chih Cheng)