Hsi Lai Temple Holds Triple Gem Refuge and Five Precepts CeremonyMore Than 300 Devotees Bear Witness to Humanistic Buddhism

Report by Ching-Hsia Pan, The Life News Agency, Los Angeles, USA

On May 23, the eve of Buddha’s Birthday, Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple held the “Triple Gem Refuge and Five Precepts Ceremony Bestowal of Dharma Nectar” Presided over by Venerable Huidong, Abbot of Hsi Lai Temple, the ceremony welcomed more than 300 Chinese- and English-speaking devotees who vowed to take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—regard the Buddha as their teacher, the Dharma as their guide, and the Sangha as their spiritual community. Participants also received and pledged to uphold the Five Precepts, committing themselves to refrain from wrongdoing, practice goodness, and purify body and mind.

The event took place during the commemorative year of [60 Years of Passing the Lamp, Honoring a 100-Year Legacy]—celebrating the 60th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan and the 100th birth anniversary of its founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun. With sincere aspirations, devotees made vows that became a meaningful testament to the continued flourishing of Humanistic Buddhism.

Amid the solemn chanting and ritual proceedings, participants reverently received the Triple Gem Refuge and Five Precepts. When Venerable Huidong asked whether they were willing and able to uphold the precepts, the entire assembly responded in unison, “Yes, we can.” As the verse, “Excellent is the robe of liberation, noble is the garment of repentance and reverence. I now receive and wear it, paying homage to the Buddha and seeking repentance,” echoed throughout the Main Shrine, those receiving the Five Precepts donned the ceremonial precept robe and vowed to cease wrongdoing, cultivate goodness, and practice according to the Buddha’s teachings.

Following the completion of the ceremony, Venerable Huidong conducted the Bestowal of Dharma Nectar Ceremony, bestowing symbolic nectar that represents the compassion and wisdom of the Buddha dharma. Through this blessing, participants prayed for the cleansing of afflictions and the cultivation of purity, peace, stability, and inner light.

In his Dharma talk, Venerable Huidong praised the participants for generating the aspiration to take refuge and receive the precepts. By observing the precepts, practitioners can purify the three karmas of body, speech, and mind, and ultimately attain enlightenment. He cited the Buddha’s teaching that “the precepts are the foundation leading directly to liberation.” Upholding the precepts is not only the basis of spiritual cultivation but also the condition for developing concentration and wisdom. The precepts one holds in the heart can continue across lifetimes and become a true source of refuge in life.

Quoting the scripture, “Even after hundreds of thousands of eons, karma does not disappear; when causes and conditions mature, one must experience the results,” Venerable Huidong noted that people often seek fulfillment externally, while the precepts serve as protective armor that prevents wrongdoing and safeguards body and mind. He encouraged everyone who had taken refuge and received the precepts to remain close to the temple, diligently study, reflect, and practice the teachings, embody the principles of the Three Acts of Goodness and Four Givings, and cultivate wholesome affinities with others. In doing so, they can enjoy a happy life, maintain inner purity, and progress together on the path to Buddhahood.

Among the many participants, twenty children from Hsi Lai Temple’s Three Acts of Goodness School stood out. Wearing modified haiqing robes and ceremonial precept garments specially tailored by volunteers from the Department of Social Education, the children appeared both dignified and adorable. Throughout the ceremony, they remained attentive and composed, performing gestures of reverence and bowing with remarkable poise. The youngest participant was only four years old.

Including children, parents, teachers, and volunteers, a total of 46 members of the Three Acts of Goodness School generated the aspiration to take refuge and receive the precepts together, sharing in the joy of the Dharma. After the ceremony, the group gathered before the bronze statue of Venerable Master Hsing Yun for a commemorative photo with Venerable Huidong and Venerable Huicheng, creating a treasured image of the transmission of Humanistic Buddhist faith across generations.

Venerable Huicheng explained that many students of the Three Acts of Goodness School come from English-speaking backgrounds. The program focuses on nurturing character grounded in truth, goodness, and beauty while helping students understand the true meaning of faith—not seeking protection from external sources, but learning to awaken the inherent Buddha nature within and harmonize body and mind with the Triple Gem and the precepts. Seeing the children naturally join their palms and bow respectfully during the ceremony reflected the fruits of their daily learning and demonstrated that the seeds of faith had begun to take root in their hearts, bringing him great joy.

Photo Captions (photos by 01~08 Chang Chih-Cheng, 09~10 Angie Chu)