Buddha Jewel Monastery in Shoreline hosted its annual Buddha Bathing Ceremony on May 17, drawing visitors from across the Pacific Northwest.
Photos  Courtesy of Buddha  Jewel Monastery

This spring Buddha Jewel Monastery welcomed visitors from throughout the Pacific Northwest, to participate in its annual May 17 Buddha Bathing Ceremony. The monastery is located in Shoreline, a city just north of Seattle.

The traditional Buddha Bathing Ceremony commemorates the birth of the Buddha, and included sutra chanting, meditation, lamp offerings, bathing of a Buddha statue, and vegetarian food prepared by volunteers and dharma supporters from the community.

Families, long-time practitioners, and first-time visitors gathered throughout the day, in an atmosphere of sincerity, mindfulness, and gratitude. As participants entered the meditation hall, many paid their respects before the Buddha bathing altar, while incense and chanting filled the space. During the ceremony attendees poured water over the Buddha statue, symbolizing purification of the mind and the aspiration to cultivate wisdom and compassion in daily life.

The event reflected the monastery’s continued role as a center for Buddhist practice, meditation, education, and community life in the Pacific Northwest. Major renovations and expansion projects at Buddha Jewel Monastery were completed in 2022, turning the facility from a Christian church built in the 1950s, into a modern and beautiful Buddhist monastery.

The renovated Chan Hall preserves the building’s distinctive soaring wooden ceiling while providing a spacious setting for meditation and Buddhist ceremonies. At the front of the hall is a golden statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, flanked by Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva. Rows of yellow meditation cushions placed atop traditional wooden meditation stools create a serene and welcoming space for meditation, dharma classes, and ceremonies.

Beyond the Chan Hall, the renovations also upgraded the main lobby, lecture hall, dining hall, conference room, library, and other common areas, and included the addition of an elevator and new landscaping. These improvements continue to support the monastery’s growing English and Mandarin-speaking community, and Buddha Jewel’s expanding educational and meditation programs.

Buddha Jewel Monastery has served the Northwest since opening in 2008. The monastery originally operated in South Seattle before relocating to its current Shoreline location in 2017. It is part of the international network of Chung Tai meditation centers, founded by the late Grand Master Weichueh in Taiwan.

The year 2026 also marks the 10th anniversary of Grand Master Weichueh’s passing. Grand Master Weichueh is widely respected for modernizing the presentation of Chan Buddhism, while preserving its traditional foundations. Under his guidance, more than 100 meditation centers were established around the world, including several in the United States.

Chan Buddhism, known as Zen in Japan, emphasizes calming and purifying the mind through meditation and mindful living. At Buddha Jewel Monastery, teachings are shared through dharma talks, meditation instruction, sutra study, discussion classes, and traditional ceremonies.

The monastery continues offering weekly classes in both English and Mandarin throughout the year. Programs include beginning meditation and Buddhism classes, Mahayana Buddhist studies, sutra study classes, and parent-child meditation class. One of the monastery’s regular public events is “One Incense,” a one-hour guided meditation session every Monday evening at 7 p.m.

Monthly ceremonies also continue to bring together practitioners and visitors for meditation, chanting, dharma talks, lamp offerings, and community gatherings. In addition to religious programs, the monastery hosts retreats, volunteer activities, youth education, and cultural events throughout the year.

All dharma classes and events at Buddha Jewel Monastery are offered free of charge, and are supported through donations and volunteer efforts from the community.

As one volunteer shared during the Buddha Bathing Ceremony, “The monastery is not only a place for Buddhist learning and meditation, but also a place where people can find peace, kindness, and support in everyday life.”

More information about upcoming classes, meditation sessions, and public events can be found on Buddha Jewel Monastery’s website.

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