GHPGVNTHHK Ven. Thích Chúc Hiền Translated by Ven. Thích Trừng Sỹ
The Common Joy of Buddhist Devotees in the United States
The Buddha’s Birthday Celebration in Washington D.C. is a sacred festival of Buddhist Devotees raising offerings to commemorate the Shakyamuni Buddha Day appeared in the world to teach sentient beings 2,649 years ago, and at the same time to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese Buddhists leaving their homeland to live and practice Buddhism in the United States of America.
Under the peaceful and cool Washington D.C. sky, near the soaring tower Washington Monument, in the U.S. National Park, where there are many unique architectural works imbued with culture and history, with shady green gardens, clear blue lakes, beautiful roads and walking paths.
Many statues of the infant Buddha with 32 good features and 80 peaceful beauties stand on a solemn lotus pedestal, with five-color Buddhist flags flying. The Buddha’s Birthday celebration, Buddhist calendar 2569, normal calendar 2025, organized by the Vietnamese American Unified Buddhist Congregation of the United States, was solemnly held on April 19 and 20, 2025.
The precious witness of the Venerable Elders, Monks, and Nuns, distinguished guests, noble and intellectual people, journalists, social media and numerous Buddhist followers everywhere gathered in the boundless joy of the children of the Buddha to admire and review the teachings, the golden messages full of compassion and wisdom of the Buddha to prepare for the journey to enlightenment, to somewhat soothe the endless suffering of finite human life.
Shakyamuni Buddha manifesting to save all beings,
Guides the ignorant to escape from suffering
Preaches the Dharma to promote the practice of peace and happiness
Opening and preaching the Dharma of joy and love
According to conditions of teaching gratitude of prosperous meditation
Favorable circumstances of transmitting the Dharma principles of enlightenment
The dignified wisdom gives up the secular things
The roots of the world are quiet and void of false names
The countless dharma realms return to their true nature
The waves of the world are directed toward goodness
The Buddha’s birthday, flags flutter in his celebration
Joy radiates and shines all around…!
Surrounding Buddha’s Birthday, open the mind of meditation
Joy, equanimity, love, and compassion settle down
karmic affinity
Setting up the altar and hanging banners
The Dharma is revealed, the incense is lit and the vows are made
The incense spreads a fragrance of awakening the pure thoughts
The verses suddenly resonate, spreading the sacred path
The noble and solemn statue of miraculous signs
The radiant halo fills the full circle
The five-colored flag flutters in the wind
Birds sing joyfully throughout the land
The light of wisdom shines on all directions
World peace changes injustice, violence, hatred, etc.
The first day of the Buddha’s Birthday took place with many special and meaningful programs such as: Ribbon cutting, opening ceremony, sermon, the transmission of Ten Good Deeds precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, candle lighting to pray for world peace and happiness for all living beings.
Light up the spiritual source, light the meditation candle
Respectfully celebrate Buddha’s birthday, spread all the good conditions
Five continents meet to build the shore of goodness
Four seas meet to build a mysterious wharf
Happiness overflows, karmic retribution is transformed
Peace pervades the entire country
The moon in the cool wind, words of chanting prayers
The fourfold Community practices together, fulfilling their great vows..!
Wishing the world peace and joy.
Overcoming sorrow and suffering, ending affliction
Joy and equanimity arouse the source of clouds of the present blessings
Loving-kindness and Compassion opens the way of the country for the transmission of gratitude
Every place is less immersing thing
Everywhere is harmonious and free from regions
Evil karma gradually ended is the conscious mind of transformation
The Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern members meet together with harmonious union…!
The two days of the Buddha’s Birthday Celebration have left in the hearts of attendees, viewers online with so beautiful pictures, but emotional vibes and peaceful, solemn, pure and sacred hours like returning to bathe in the marvelous Dharma stream of Shakyamuni Buddhaya.
Washington DC, 2:00 am on April 20, 2025
Ven. Thích Chúc Hiền
(Taking notes and re-record)
