Since time immemorial, due to their ignorance and delusion, all sentient beings have created many negative karmas that cannot be eliminated. Thus, they are trapped in the cycle of birth and death in the six realms, constantly experiencing the suffering of life and death. Fortunately, throughout many lifetimes, these beings may have sowed good seeds in the Buddha's teachings and are now fortunate enough to encounter someone who can save them.

Having created countless negative karmas,

All originating from greed, aversion, and delusion.

Thoughts, body, and speech lead to actions,

Now turning inwardly, hoping to change karmas

The bonds of love among living beings are created through countless lifetimes of negative karma, driven by greed, anger, and delusion. However, now they have the opportunity to be liberated and attain goodness through the refuge in the Three Jewels

When the Buddha achieved supreme enlightenment, He saw that all living beings in the six realms of existence share the same essential nature, which is pure, tranquil, and silent. If one reflects upon this truth and cultivates one's true nature, one can attain enlightenment and be free from suffering. 

In the Mahāvaipulya Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra, the Universal Worthy Bodhisattva's Ten Vows teach that “the Buddha's greatest love is for living beings, while the greatest love of living beings is their own lives. By saving the lives of living beings, one accomplishes the Buddha's great wish.”

The entire ashram keep praying for little creatures to be reincarnated as human beings, meet the Buddha's teachings, and practice fully the Buddhist path

Therefore, during the ceremony of releasing living beings, the entire ashram concentrated their minds on the wish and recites the Three Jewels Refuge for all sentient beings, bestowing the Dharma name "Wonderful Sound" - the miraculous sound of the holy name "Namo Amitabha Buddha". 

The beings that are returned to the peaceful world are given the opportunity to continue living 

On the occasion of the birthday of the Compassionate Father, all the congregation prayed and wished for the grace of the Three Jewels to be spread everywhere, from the radiance of the temple's divine music, to rescue and help all sentient beings escape from the cycle of rebirth and death, and to follow the righteous path, and to cultivate the Pure Land, constantly reciting the name "Namo Amitabha Buddha" to establish a spiritual connection with Amitabha Buddha, so that all can live in the path of Righteousness and Dharma, and when they have enough merit and virtue, they will all be reborn in the Western Pure Land. 

At the moment of the ceremony of releasing living beings, a miraculous white cloud appeared in the blue sky, surrounding the Holy Statue of Four-Faced Amitabha Buddha 

The whole ashram believes that the colorful cloud is the radiance of the Ten Directions Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Saints, and the Infinite Light of Amitabha Buddha who leads all sentient beings to the happy land of Buddha 

At the moment when the cage was opened for the birds to return to freedom, to the peaceful world they belong to, the joy spread throughout the ashram, and on the face of each Buddhist was an immeasurable joy for having contributed a bit of merit to the rescue of all living beings . 

Below are some images captured at the ceremony of releasing living beings on the morning of December 11th, 2022 at Dai Tung Lam Hoa Sen Pagoda: