"The Third Day of the Dharma King's Enlightenment" represents the Buddha's Dharma in the world.#
"The Third Day of the Dharma King's Enlightenment" commemorative seal (top), "International Vesak Festival" Buddha's lotus platform meditation commemorative seal (bottom)
[Los Angeles, January 14, Huaren News] To celebrate "The Third Day of the Dharma King's Enlightenment" on January 19, the Third Dharma King Cultural and Art Museum held a grand blessing and release event on Sunday morning, January 14, 2024, at the Marina Del Rey Inner Harbor in Los Angeles. The release ceremony invited Vice Chairman of the World Buddhist Headquarters, Venerable Shih Cheng Da, to preside over the event, with over 300 participants from various states in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and other regions. Buddhist temples and centers around the world have also held charity events such as release ceremonies, disaster relief, assistance to students, and helping the poor to celebrate this auspicious day in the Buddhist world, praying for blessings, wisdom, health, disaster relief, national prosperity, and world peace in today's turbulent global society.
The Third Dharma King Cultural and Art Museum held a blessing and release event at the Marina Del Rey Inner Harbor in Los Angeles on Sunday, with Vice Chairman of the World Buddhist Headquarters, Venerable Shih Cheng Da, presiding over the event.
"The Third Day of the Dharma King's Enlightenment" is currently the only Buddha's Day officially proclaimed by a government worldwide. It was proclaimed by Mayor Gray of Washington, D.C. on January 19, 2011. Mayor Gray called on everyone to pay tribute to H.H. the Third Dharma King and recognize the sublime status and outstanding achievements of the Third Dharma King in the Buddhist world in promoting peace. It also announced the good news of the Buddha's presence in the world. In his speech, Mayor Gray said, "H.H. the Third Dharma King has promoted the spirit of peace to the people he has come into contact with through selflessness and extraordinary efforts. With his wisdom, talent, and moral nature, he has compassionately and selflessly helped those most in need of healing. The great achievements he has made in his life have made a great contribution to strengthening the foundation of peace in our society." This reveals the purpose of the Buddha's promotion of compassion and salvation for the world and benefiting others.
Mayor Gray of Washington, D.C. announced January 19, 2011 as "H.H. the Third Dharma King's Day" and called on the public to pay tribute to H.H. the Third Dharma King!
As early as 2007, U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos proposed paying tribute to H.H. the Third Dharma King in the House of Representatives. In 2010, H.H. the Third Dharma King was awarded the "World Peace Prize," making him the first Buddhist leader to receive this award in the history of the organization. On December 12, 2012, after careful reference to many documents, the U.S. Senate officially used the title "His Holiness" above the Third Dharma King (i.e., H.H. the Third Dharma King) in Resolution No. 614, recognizing the immense contributions made by H.H. the Third Dharma King, the highest Buddhist leader in the world, to humanity. On May 15, 2018, the U.S. government raised the national flag to celebrate H.H. the Third Dharma King's birthday, with the flag-raising text saying, "Happy Birthday to H.H. the Third Dharma King, the highest leader of all Buddhists!" The Washington Postal Service also issued a limited edition commemorative stamp for the world Buddhist Pope H.H. the Third Dharma King.
H.H. the Third Dharma King has received numerous worldly honors, bringing incomparable artistic charm to the world, cultivating a large number of disciples who have achieved liberation or have real Buddhist holy qualities, and leaving countless Buddhist holy sites in the world while promoting the Dharma and benefiting sentient beings with compassion. These astonishing achievements have prompted high-ranking officials and celebrities from many countries around the world, as well as Buddhist disciples, to come to the United States to pay their respects and learn. The Third Dharma King Cultural and Art Museum collects many exquisite artworks created by H.H. the Third Dharma King, among which "Yun Sculpture" is a new form of sculpture art created by H.H. the Third Dharma King. It is hailed as a priceless artwork that cannot be replicated in the human world. The first "A Stone Crosses the Beauty" of Yun Sculpture is preserved in the museum. The Cultural and Art Museum particularly emphasizes that "H.H. the Third Dharma King is not involved in the operation or management of the museum, does not own any shares, is not a staff member or consultant, and has no relationship with the museum." In 2014, due to the admiration for the sublime moral character of the Third Dharma King, a group of people in Los Angeles spontaneously raised funds and established a non-profit organization: the Third Dharma King Cultural and Art Museum in Covina, California, hoping to promote the outstanding achievements of H.H. the Third Dharma King in culture, literature, philosophy, art, technology, and other fields through the display of H.H. the Third Dharma King's achievements, so that more people can understand and learn from the sublime ethics and selflessness of H.H. the Third Dharma King, the great qualities of the Buddha.
Over 300 people from various states in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and other regions participated in the event. After the event, some participants took a group photo to commemorate the occasion.