【True Buddha Foundation Dharma Affairs Announcement】

TBF-DA Celebration Sadhana Notice No. 0001

This is to inform all True Buddha School (TBS) temples, chapters, and cultivation associations that, starting from today, May 16 of the lunar calendar will be observed as the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha. Therefore, the Buddha's birthday celebration ritual will be held on this day.

Background:
During the grand Shakyamuni Buddha Homa Ceremony held on Sunday, May 12, 2019, at Rainbow Temple, Dharma King Living Buddha Lian-sheng entered samadhi and received confirmation from Shakyamuni Buddha that the Buddha's birthday is May 16 of the lunar calendar, a summer full-moon day of the lunar calendar.
On Feb. 8, 2020 at the True Buddha Foundation (TBF) office in Seattle, Grandmaster was asked to provide guidance concerning the Buddha's birthday. The Root Guru compassionately reconfirmed that the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha is May 16 of the lunar calendar.

Accordingly, TBF now formally announces that TBS will observe May 16 of the lunar calendar as the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha. We therefore ask all TBS temples, chapters, and cultivation associations to adhere to the Root Guru's instruction that May 16 of the lunar calendar is Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday, and this is the day the True Buddha School shall hold a celebration ritual to celebrate Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday.
In addition, because of different national cultures, such as Vesak on the full-moon day in May, Buddha-bathing Day on April 8 of lunar calendar, or local national holidays, the Buddha's birthday celebration and corresponding activities may also be held according to local customs.
Shakyamuni Buddha Mantra:
''Om, mu-ni, mu-ni, ma-ha-mu-ni, sha-kya-mu-ni, so-ha.''

One must receive empowerment prior to reciting the Shakyamuni Buddha Mantra. A request for the Root Guru's remote empowerment may be made via letter or fax to TBF.

Best Regards
True Buddha Foundation
Feb. 13, 2020