2026 Bathing of Prince Siddhartha 浴佛

A ladle of fragrant water symbolically washes away worldly defilements;
a single moment of purity gentle returns us to our original nature.

We warmly invite to participate the “Bathing of the Buddha” ceremony, offering fragrant water,
and to purify the mind in a moment of stillness and clarity.

The Bathing of Prince Siddhartha ceremony re-enacts the moment when celestial dragons bathe the newborn Prince. Perfumed water, arranged with flowers in a basin, is scooped with a ladle and mindfully poured over the statue of baby Prince Siddhartha.

To bathe the Buddha:
1. Kneel before the altar, palms joined in reverence to the Buddha.
2. Take a ladle, fill it with water, and gently pour it over the Buddha statue’s shoulder.
3. Recite the Vesak Hymn:

I today bathe the Tathagatas,
Pure wisdom, solemnity, and merit are gathered,
The five impurities of sentient beings are cleansed,
I vow to attain the Tathagata’s pure Dharma-body.

4. Dedication of merit:

May all merits accumulated from this ritual be dedicated to [name] and all sentient beings, purifying defilements and negative karma, bringing happiness and freedom from suffering.

一瓢香汤，洗涤尘心；
一念清净，回归本然。

诚邀您以香花净水浴佛，
于一念清凉中，洗净自心。

每年的卫塞节，佛教徒带着一颗虔诚恭敬的心，以香花净水灌浴佛像，以此象征外离身垢，内离心染。透过身、口、意的净化，体现清净无染、本自具足的佛性。

我们该如何浴佛？
1. 跪在佛像前，双手合十对佛陀表示敬意。
2. 用三勺香花净水灌浴佛像。
3. 默念浴佛偈：

我今灌沐诸如来；
净智庄严功德海。
五浊众生离尘垢；
同证如来净法身。

4. 回向：

愿以此浴佛功德回向给【名字】及法界一切众生，愿他们远离烦恼及恶业、离苦得乐。