BLIA Members Shine on Earth Day Through VEGRUN, Walking the Path of Compassion and Environmental Stewardship

Report By Xin Yu, The Life News Agency, Los Angeles, USA

To celebrate Earth Day, 25 subchapters of the BLIA Los Angeles Chapter and the BLIA Young Adult Division I participated in VEGRUN events held across 12 locations throughout the Greater Los Angeles area from April 12 to 19. The initiative also received enthusiastic support from University of the West, Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai School, Hsi Lai Scouts, and the Three Acts of Goodness School.

More than 650 participants, ranging in age from one to ninety-two years old, joined the events and collectively logged 658 miles. Activities included walking, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing exercises, outdoor meditation, Tai Chi, orange picking, cycling, and other wellness activities. Participants also created GPS-tracked heart-shaped routes, symbolizing the connection of compassionate vows through every step taken.

This year’s VEGRUN featured a wide variety of creative activities, showcasing the ingenuity and enthusiasm of Fo Guang members throughout Southern California.

The South Bay I and II Subchapters kicked off the series on April 12 at Point Vicente Lighthouse. Although the morning began with cloudy skies and light rain, the weather cleared just before the event, revealing beautiful ocean views. Thirty members, accompanied by two canine companions, participated in the walk. Along the trail, monastics and members carefully relocated snails to safer areas, putting their commitment to protecting life into action.

On April 18, a cycling team composed of members from the Hsi Lai and Cerritos Subchapters, Hsi Lai Temple Three Acts of Goodness School, and University of the West gathered at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte. A total of 110 participants joined the cycling event in support of the 2026 VEGRUN Global Run for Vegetarians. The ride also commemorated the spirit of Fo Guang Shan Founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who established the Yilan Youth Choir in 1953 and traveled by bicycle to spread the Dharma.

The Los Angeles I, Westminster, Rosemead, Monterey Park I, and Monterey Park II Subchapters jointly organized a hiking, Tai Chi, and birthday celebration event at English Springs Park in Chino Hills. Sixty-eight participants attended. Ninety-two-year-old Westminster Subchapter member Li Guan Panzhu completed the walking route while pushing a wheelchair. She happily shared that since helping establish the Westminster Subchapter in 1996, she has rarely missed activities organized by Hsi Lai Temple or BLIA. Today, four generations of her family practice Buddhism together, becoming a shining example of a Buddhist family. Meanwhile, Guo Lizhen’s family from the Westminster Subchapter had six family members participating, making them the largest family group represented at the event.

The White Tower III and Irvine Subchapters hosted a “Sky and Sea as One” walking meditation retreat at Salt Creek Beach Park in Dana Point. Fifty-two members and family participants, dressed in green T-shirts, walked along the coastline before engaging in seated meditation overlooking the ocean under the guidance of Venerable Jue Miao. Listening to the sound of the waves while observing their breath, participants experienced the practice of being fully present in both body and mind.

Approximately sixty members from the Walnut and White Tower I Subchapters gathered at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton for a group walk. The youngest participant was only fourteen months old, while the oldest was eighty years old. Venerable Man Guang guided participants through walking meditation and seated meditation. One teenager shared, “It felt as if all my worries suddenly disappeared.” Venerable Miao Zhong, advisor to the White Tower I Subchapter, encouraged everyone to remember that VEGRUN is not only about participation and celebration but also about bringing environmental mindfulness into daily life.

The Hacienda Heights and White Tower II Subchapters held their event at the Peacock Garden within the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia. Fifty-five participants enjoyed walking among lakes, waterfalls, and peacocks while reconnecting with nature. Venerable Hui Xuan explained that the heart of VEGRUN lies in cultivating regular exercise habits and embracing a vegetarian lifestyle that protects life, while bringing the spirit of the Four Givings into the community.

Meanwhile, members from the Riverside, Los Angeles II, and Long Beach Subchapters gathered at a Riverside orange grove. Nearly thirty participants enjoyed hiking, orange picking, games, and fellowship amid the fragrance of citrus blossoms. Venerable Man Deng compared spiritual cultivation to fruit trees that must be pruned each year before bearing fruit again, encouraging participants to strengthen their faith, reflect on life, and practice non-attachment.

The Rowland Heights I and II, along with the San Gabriel Valley I and II Subchapters, gathered at Schabarum Regional Park for outdoor activities. Participants practiced Yi Jin Jing, Ba Duan Jin, brisk walking, jogging, and enjoyed vegetarian fellowship. The atmosphere felt like a large family reunion. One member shared that after participating in VEGRUN with their child last year, the child later completed a 10-kilometer race. This year, they returned together, learning the values of companionship and care through exercise.

BLIA Los Angeles Chapter President Echo Tsai noted that this year marked the chapter’s first adoption of a decentralized “bloom everywhere” approach, allowing events to take place simultaneously across multiple communities. Participation numbers and accumulated mileage will be converted into charitable donations and supplies to benefit local communities.

From coastlines and parks to orchards and lakesides, Fo Guang members took each step and pedal stroke as an opportunity to promote vegetarianism, healthy living, compassion for all life, and spiritual environmentalism. Together, they traveled a path guided by compassion, aspiration, and service to humanity.

Photo Captions (Photos 01–10 courtesy of BLIA Los Angeles Chapter)