Fo Guang Shan North Carolina Hosts First Bodhi Couple Vow Renewal Ceremony, Fourteen Couples Bathed in the Light of the Buddha
- FGS NC media 北卡佛光山文宣組
- Jan 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 16
[Reported by Yu Chuan, North Carolina, USA] On January 1, 2026, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple of North Carolina, together with the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) North Carolina Chapter, jointly held its first Bodhi Couple Vow Renewal Ceremony. A total of 14 Bodhi couples participated, including BLIA North Carolina Chapter Elder Advisor Jill Chen and her husband Wei-Shan Chiang, as well as BLIA North Carolina Chapter Vice President Yi-Wen Wang, along with other devoted Buddha’s Light members. Nearly 90 family members, relatives, BLIA members, and members of BLIA Young Adult Division (YAD), North Carolina gathered to witness this warm and dignified vow renewal ceremony.
The ceremony was held in the Jade Buddha Shrine, where the entrance was beautifully adorned with a floral archway. Under the guidance of the emcee, the Bodhi couples entered one by one. The ceremony was presided over by Venerable Miao Jou, Superintendent of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina, who served as the certifying witness. She respectfully read “Prayer for Bodhi Couples” written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the Founding Master of Fo Guang Shan, offering blessings for the couples. She then guided them in renewing their vows through the recitation and signing of the vow text. Following this, the couples exchanged gifts and placed prayer beads—presented by the temple—on one another, symbolizing their commitment to take the Dharma as their guiding refuge and to walk the path of life together.
In her Dharma talk, Venerable Miao Jou cited the article “Getting Along as Husband and Wife” from Hsing Yun’s Dharma Words, encouraging couples to practice four essential principles in their relationships: communication—expressing one’s feelings openly; coordination—bridging differences and drawing closer; adaptation—cultivating shared interests; and understanding—learning to appreciate and praise each other’s contributions. She emphasized that only through harmony and unity can couples face life’s challenges together, grow mutually, and build happy and harmonious families. She also wished that every Bodhi couple would enjoy a lasting union, just as Fo Guang Shan has continued its legacy for 60 years and beyond, toward a hundred years of harmony.
During the ceremony, the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple of North Carolina Choir performed “A Blissful Union,” offering sincere blessings to the couples with their pure and melodious voices, filling the hall with joy and celebration.
BLIA North Carolina Chapter Elder Advisor Jill Chen and her husband Wei-Shan Chiang, married for 37 years, shared that both of their children had previously served as the first and second presidents of the BLIA-YAD, North Carolina. The entire family has supported the temple since before its construction. The couple expressed heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers for their years of quiet dedication, which allowed them to relive tender and meaningful moments during the vow renewal ceremony, and expressed hope that this event would become an annual tradition of the temple.
Jingky Gilbert and Jasmine Lang, who held their Buddhist wedding at Fo Guang Shan North Carolina in February last year, attended this year’s ceremony together with Jasmine’s parents, allowing two generations to participate side by side. While renewing their vows before the Buddha, they also demonstrated the intergenerational transmission of faith and family values. Jingky shared that since their Buddhist wedding, they have consciously practiced affirming and praising each other in daily life. Jasmine remarked that the Venerable’s teachings on marital harmony were deeply meaningful, filling her with a sense of happiness and gratitude.
