(Announcement) On May 23, nearly a thousand devotees came from Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other places to participate in the simple, solemn Bathing the Buddha Ceremony in the plaza of the huge Buddha statue at the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. The Buddha statue had been adorned with flowers by several laypeople and students of Instilling Goodness and Developing Virtue Girls' Schools, adding to the gaiety of the occasion. While bathing the Buddha, each person contemplated the Buddha of his own nature being cleansed of the filth of ignorance accumulated since beginningless ages past.

After lunch at one o'clock, Dharma Master Sure directed the Liberating Life Ceremony. Over a hundred pheasants and turtles of all sizes were released from their cages in the meadow in front of the Five Contemplations Dining Hall. After a long while, the pheasants still had not flown away. Flapping their wings with strenuous effort, they finally succeeded in leaving the ground and flying off to freedom. Seeing this, everyone applauded and cheered. Meanwhile, the turtles ambled towards the open fields. Hopefully, these fortunate creatures will always remember the Triple Jewel and soon be born in a pleasant realm.

At the same time as that ceremony, the Three Refuges and Five Precepts were being transmitted by Dharma Master Jen Yi from Taiwan on behalf of Ven. Master Hua. Under the guidance of the proctor Dharma Masters, the faithful men and women sincerely and properly carried out the ceremony. After two o'clock, people started leaving, filled with gratitude and the joy of the Dharma. Hope they will all come back to the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in the future.