On 12 May 2013, Yanshan Leizang Temple in Sydney, Australia held a Bathing Buddha ceremony in advance celebration of the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha.
澳洲悉尼嚴山雷藏寺於2013年5月12日預祝釋迦牟尼佛佛誕舉行「浴佛」儀式。
The Buddha's birthday — or Buddha's Day — commemorates the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha in northern India in 623 BCE. According to the legendary account, nine celestial dragons poured fragrant waters over the newborn prince to bathe him. From this tradition arose one of the most important observances of the festival: bathing the Buddha's image with fragrant water.
顧名思義，佛誕即釋迦摩尼佛佛祖之聖誕。公元前623年，佛祖誕生在北印度，有天上九龍吐出香水為太子沐浴。因此典故，便有了慶祝佛誕的重要內容之一：以香水沐浴佛身。所以，浴佛節又名佛誕節。
In truth, the Buddha has no need for us to bathe him — the purpose of the Bathing Buddha ceremony is to use the external form of the Buddha to cleanse our inner Buddha-nature. The primary aim of bathing the Buddha is to purify our own body and mind.
其實佛並不需要我們替祂洗浴，我們「浴佛」只是藉外在的佛來滌洗我們的內在佛，浴佛的目的主要還是在淨浴自己的身心。
The Bathing Buddha ceremony carries deep significance. In the world today, moral decline is a prevalent concern. Just as our bodies can be washed clean with water, and our clothes cleaned when soiled, the turbidity and ignorance of the human heart can only be cleansed by the Dharma water of the Buddha. In holding this ceremony, we are truly washing our own hearts and minds. When we pour water over the golden form of Shakyamuni Buddha, we are in reality bathing ourselves — purifying our own Buddha-nature — with the aspiration that the accumulated negative karma of countless past lives may be cleansed and illuminated.
舉行浴佛法會，有其意義：當今社會世風日下，人心不古，道德敗壞的問題普遍存在。平常我們身體髒了可以用水洗淨，衣服髒了也可以用水清洗；但人心的污濁無明，則要用佛的法水洗滌，我們在此舉行浴佛法會，實際上是藉此來洗滌我們的心靈。當我們在灌浴釋迦牟尼佛的時候，其實就是在沐浴自己，灌浴自己的佛性，希望累世的惡業得到清淨，得到光明。
Taking advantage of this auspicious occasion, Yanshan Leizang Temple held the Bathing Buddha ceremony for all devotees to bathe the golden form of the child Shakyamuni Tathagata. Before the bathing, Masters Lian An and Lian You led the assembly in making offerings before the Buddha and reverently reciting the Sutra on the Merits of Bathing the Buddha, followed by prostrations to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The assembly then formed a queue and, led by the two masters, reverently and devoutly bathed the body of the Buddha — using the Dharma water to wash away past causes and present effects, and to dissolve their karmic hindrances.
嚴山雷藏寺順此因緣，特舉行「浴佛」儀式，供信眾浴佛，灌沐釋迦如來童子金身。浴佛前，由釋蓮銨、蓮由法師帶領大眾進行佛前獻供，恭誦《佛說浴佛功德經》，禮拜諸佛菩薩。接著在兩位法師帶領下，與會大眾順序列隊虔誠禮拜沐浴佛身，以法水洗滌前世因今世果，消除自身業障。
May the merit of bathing the Buddha help everyone remove the defilements, self-clinging, afflictions, and dissatisfactions within their hearts, bringing coolness and ease to body and mind. May the spirit of the Buddha's compassion be brought to life in action, so that every person may cultivate a heart of compassion.
同時也希望以浴佛功德，人人都能去除心中垢污、我執、煩惱、不如意事等，令身心清涼自在。把佛陀慈悲精神落實在行動上，使每個人都有慈悲觀念。
The celebration of the Bathing Buddha Festival should be observed with the solemn spirit of "moral character," "compassion," and "respect for others." All disciples of the Buddha should, on this auspicious occasion, give rise together to the Bodhicitta mind, and receive together the illumination of the Buddha's light. May all who have bathed the Buddha be of one heart with the Buddha — purifying themselves and purifying society — carrying forward and expanding the spirit of the Buddha's compassion, joy, and equanimity.
慶祝浴佛節，應該以「道德人格」、「慈悲心」、「尊重他人」等莊嚴的心態來慶祝佛誕節。凡佛弟子，應值此浴佛殊勝因緣，同發菩提心，共沾佛光。但願浴佛後，人人與佛同心，淨化自身，也淨化社會，把佛陀的慈悲喜捨精神加以發揚光大。
12 May 2013 also happened to be Mother's Day. After the Bathing Buddha ceremony, everyone gathered together to enjoy the delicious food offered to the Buddha by fellow practitioners and devotees, celebrating Mother's Day as one community.
5月12日適逢母親節，浴佛後大家歡聚一堂，享用同門善信供佛的美味佳肴，一起慶祝母親節。