10/20/2024

Austin Xiang Yun Temple - Chinese and American Participants Take Refuge in Buddhism

Reporter Pu Hui

On the afternoon of October 20th, Xiang Yun Temple held a Taking Refuge in Trible Gems Ceremony, attended by nearly 20 people of diverse backgrounds. Under the guidance of Venerables, Jue Ji and Yong Jia, participants engaged in repentance and made vows, taking refuge under the Buddha. The temple gifted each new devotee a set of prayer beads and a book titled “Returning to the Original Intent of the Buddha”, while the Austin BLIA gifted them flowers as blessings.

The average age of those taking refuge was 28, each drawn to Buddhism for unique reasons. Hai Xuan and Hai Pu, from Malaysia and California, were raised in Buddhist families. Xiang Yun Temple gave them a sense of coming home, inspiring them to deepen their Buddhist journey through taking refuge.

Hai Yue, Hai Cong, and Hai Jin had been exploring Buddhism for some time, visiting various temples. The temple's atmosphere and the philosophy of Humanistic Buddhism resonated deeply, leading them to see Xiang Yun Temple as a spiritual home. They committed to volunteering and actively practicing Buddhism.

Hai Liang, a member of the English study group, has volunteered at Xiang Yun Temple for seven years. Through meditation, scripture copying, and reading, she discovered inner peace and developed a deep appreciation for the Dharma.

Hai Cheng once felt lost in life. At Xiang Yun Temple, he joined the English study group, practiced meditation, and read Mahayana sutras. The Buddha's wisdom gave him renewed strength and a firm resolve to follow the path of learning from the Buddha.