Xiang Yun Temple Marks 25th Anniversary with Inaugural Bodhi Family Blessing Ceremony

Merit Times Correspondent Zhi Ding, Austin

To put into practice Fo Guang Shan's core values of "harmonious relationships between self and others" and "harmonious families," Fo Guang Shan Austin Xiang Yun Temple held its first-ever Bodhi Family Blessing Ceremony on January 1, 2026 (New Year's Day). The event also marked a significant milestone in celebrating the temple's 25th anniversary.

On the day of the ceremony, the temple was beautifully decorated with festive lights and ornaments. Twenty-three Bodhi couples, representing diverse cultural backgrounds, received blessings before the Buddha. Their years of marriage ranged from 2 to 58 years, and the event attracted over 120 family members, friends, and devotees, creating an atmosphere that was both solemn and heartwarming.

During the ceremony, led by Venerable Jue Ji and other monastics, participants respectfully chanted sutras, recited vows, and collectively read Venerable Master Hsing Yun's "Prayer for Bodhi Families." With the Dharma as their guiding support, the couples vowed to walk the path of life and spiritual cultivation hand in hand. Several couples shared reflections on marriage and Buddhist practice, emphasizing that mutual trust, tolerance, and compassion are the foundations of a harmonious family.

The ceremony concluded with the cutting of a blessing cake symbolizing completeness and fulfillment, followed by the presentation of commemorative gift boxes, conveying wishes for lasting harmony and happiness. This Bodhi Family Blessing Ceremony vividly demonstrated the integration of Humanistic Buddhism into family life, fostering family harmony and contributing to a more compassionate and beautiful society.

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