Fo Guang Shan Pilgrimage and Alms Round: Over Hundred New Novices Enter Ximending to Forge Good Connections

Central News Agency (Taipei, May 5, Central News Agency reporter Wu Hsin-Yun) - To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Fo Guang Shan's founding, a "Pilgrimage and Alms Round" was held across Taiwan, with over a hundred new novices today wearing bamboo hats and kasayas, walking through Taipei's Ximending, hoping to promote Humanistic Buddhism, pray for people's peace, social harmony, and world peace. Fo Guang Shan was founded on May 16, 1967. To celebrate its 60th anniversary and the 100th birth anniversary of its founder, Master Hsing Yun, Fo Guang Shan organized the "Fo Guang Shan 2026 International Ten Thousand Buddhas Triple Platform Ordination Ceremony." The ordinands strictly adhered to Buddhist rituals, inheriting the dharma lineage, and began their cross-Taiwan pilgrimage and alms round on May 3. The Taipei section of the pilgrimage and alms round began today, with a departure ceremony held at Longshan Temple at 8:20 AM. Over a hundred monastics who received the Triple Platform Ordination gathered inside Longshan Temple, wearing bamboo hats and kasayas. Despite continuous rain, many devotees stopped to watch. Fo Guang Shan Abbot, Ven. Hsin Bau, delivered a Dharma talk during the departure ceremony, stating that Buddhists speak of "one bowl for a thousand families' food, a solitary journey of ten thousand miles, for the matter of birth and death, begging through spring and autumn." In ancient times, Chan masters, for the sake of the great matter of birth and death, would travel thousands of mountains and waters, alone or in small groups, to seek the Dharma. Today's pilgrimage is also to allow sentient beings to receive blessings and benefit from the Dharma. Ven. Hsin Bau recalled that the first Fo Guang Shan pilgrimage and alms round was in 1987, when they walked from Taipei to Pingtung, and then from Pingtung to Fo Guang Shan, a journey of one month. Whether under strong sun or rain, they adhered to the spirit of pilgrimage, which is the spirit of seeking the Way: "not fearing difficulties, adhering to one's resolve, and adhering to one's beliefs." Ven. Hsin Bau mentioned that during that pilgrimage, they received much support from various temples, providing places for rest and lodging, and also received help from many police officers and schools. This time, they also thanked many distinguished guests for their support and sponsorship, making this pilgrimage and alms round possible. Ven. Hsin Bau stated that in order to achieve social harmony, the flourishing of Buddhism, and greater peace of mind, he believes everyone will joyfully support this pilgrimage, and wishes everyone through this pilgrimage increased blessings and wisdom, peace of body and mind, and auspiciousness. After the departure ceremony, Ven. Hsin Bau, Ven. Yong Fu, Ven. Jue Pei, Ven. Man Fang, and others led the new novices to begin the pilgrimage and alms round. Despite the heavy rain, as soon as the procession started, devotees swarmed forward to offer alms, and some were overjoyed to receive Dharma gifts. Huang Shu-Wei, Chairman of Bangka Longshan Temple, stated that Longshan Temple is a 287-year-old temple in the center of Taipei. The departure of Fo Guang Shan's pilgrimage and alms round from Longshan Temple this time is of extraordinary significance, allowing devotees of Longshan Temple to understand the importance of Buddhism and also facilitating cooperation and exchange between them. Fo Guang Shan pointed out that the procession's lion dance troupe was undertaken by Bangka Qingshan Temple, and the drum troupe by Taiwan Provincial Chenghuang Temple, adding color to the event. Shop owners and residents along the way also set up incense tables at their doorways to welcome the Buddha and the pilgrimage monks, offering alms with pious hearts. The pilgrimage and alms round started from Bangka Longshan Temple, then passed through Qingshan Temple, Qingshuiyan Ancestor Temple, Taipei Tianhou Temple, and ended at Taiwan Provincial Chenghuang Temple for dedication, praying for people's peace, social harmony, and world peace. (Editor: Chang Ya-Ching) 1150505 Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship of yours is a force to protect press freedom. Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.