Blessings from the Buddha: Hsi Lai Temple Shares Laba Porridge in Celebration of Dharma Treasure Day
By Pan Ching-Hsia, The Life News Agency, Los Angeles
During the Buddha’s ascetic practice, he accepted an offering of milk-rice from a shepherdess, which restored his strength and enabled him to continue his spiritual cultivation until he ultimately attained enlightenment. For this reason, Laba porridge has become a symbol of the Buddha’s enlightenment and represents his boundless compassion and dedication to benefiting all beings. The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month commemorates the Buddha’s Enlightenment Day, also known as Dharma Treasure Day. On January 26, Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple distributed nearly 18,000 cups of Laba porridge, inviting the public to share in the joy of the Dharma.
Following the offering service, Hsi Lai Temple Abbot Venerable Huidong explained that Buddhism celebrates three major festivals: Buddha Treasure Day, Dharma Treasure Day, and Sangha Treasure Day. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths, guiding sentient beings toward liberation from suffering. Eating Laba porridge on Dharma Treasure Day is not only an expression of gratitude for the Buddha’s compassion but also a reminder to cherish the precious Dharma. Venerable Huidong encouraged everyone to reflect inwardly, avoid being controlled by attachments or emotions, and cultivate compassion, wisdom, and purity. He also expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the many volunteers whose dedicated efforts made the event possible.
Kitchen volunteers began preparing ingredients as early as 2:00 a.m. At 4:30 a.m., Head Superintendent Venerable Rusong, Deputy Superintendent Venerable Zhixing, Social Education Department Head Venerable Jue Huang, Meal Service Coordinator Venerable Rugong, and other monastics and volunteers began cooking the Laba porridge. More than one hundred volunteers worked together, each taking on different responsibilities—chopping vegetables, directing traffic flow, serving porridge, and packaging meals. People of all ages and ethnic backgrounds gathered to celebrate the Buddha’s enlightenment. As visitors received steaming bowls of Laba porridge from monastics and volunteers, accompanied by Hsi Lai Temple’s signature house-made pickled radish, heartfelt expressions of “Thank you!” echoed throughout the venue.
ETTV America News Assignment Editor Yin Hung-Wen and reporter Jen Hsin-Yi visited Hsi Lai Temple to cover the event. Entering the Dining Hall, they were greeted by a continuous stream of visitors before proceeding into the kitchen to witness the preparation process firsthand. Multiple large kettles simmered simultaneously, filling the air with fragrant aromas and rising steam. Both reporters remarked that the scene was not only impressive in scale but also filled with an unmistakable sense of Dharma joy. Venerable Huidong explained the origin and significance of Dharma Treasure Day, as well as the ingredients used in the Laba porridge. The reporters also invited him to share Fo Guang Shan founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s New Year blessing for viewers: “Harmony and Coexistence; Galloping Towards Success.”
Members of the BLIA Los Angeles Chapter Elder Advisor Committee assisted with serving, portioning, and packaging the porridge. To ensure members received their Laba porridge efficiently, the chapter arranged for representatives from each subchapter to collect the porridge in registration order before distributing it to their members. Venerable Huidong personally visited the serving area, greeting volunteers and helping ladle and package the porridge. The elder advisors joked, “Anyone fortunate enough to receive this bowl of porridge is truly blessed.”
Hospitality Department Head Venerable Miaohuang and Venerable Manguang led volunteers in serving and packaging the porridge according to advance registrations from various departments and organizations. The University of the West, for example, reserved more than one hundred servings and sent representatives to collect them from the Dining Hall that morning. At Fo Guang Hsi Lai School’s after-school program, teachers and students enjoyed the freshly prepared porridge together in their classrooms. Teachers took the opportunity to explain the origins of Dharma Treasure Day to the children and, through the Cloud and Water Zen animated series, introduced them to the story of the Buddha’s enlightenment.
In addition to distributing porridge at the temple, BLIA Elder Advisor Alex Wu personally delivered Laba porridge to San Gabriel City Hall, while BLIA Director Qian Hsueh-Jian delivered it to Walnut City Hall. At the Hsi Lai Education Center, Venerable Zhiqian also brought Laba porridge to nearby banks, pharmacies, and medical clinics, sharing it with staff members. Through the collective efforts of both monastics and lay volunteers, the joy of the Buddha’s enlightenment was extended to the wider community.
Photo Captions (Photos 01–10 by Chang Chih-Cheng)
