2025 Five Precepts and Bodhisattva Retreat

Over the course of three transformative days, participants from across North America gathered at Hsi Lai Temple for the Bodhisattva Precepts Retreat. With sincerity, humility, and a deep sense of purpose, many took the significant step of receiving the Five Precepts and committing to the Bodhisattva path. This path is not about personal gain, but about cultivating patience, generosity, ethical conduct, and the courage to ease the suffering of others, even when it is difficult. As Venerable Master Hsing Yun taught, "To take the Bodhisattva precepts is to take the vow to benefit all sentient beings." Choosing this path means choosing to put others first, to face the world with an open heart, and to transform one's everyday actions into a source of light and hope. This rare and profound ceremony marked not just a personal milestone, but a collective promise to live with integrity, to serve with compassion, and to walk together toward a more awakened world.