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Under One Moon: Jinyin Temple’s Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet and World Peace Prayer Ceremony
On October 5, 2025, amidst the golden glow of autumn, the sacred grounds of Jinyin Temple came alive with banners, lotus lanterns, and the resonant sounds of bells, drums, and solemn Buddhist chanting. With reverence and joy, the temple opened its doors for the 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration and World Peace Prayer Ceremony, a grand interfaith gathering.
The celebration was hosted by The World League of Sino Esoteric Buddhism Associations together with Jinyin Temple, with support from the Sino Esoteric Buddhism Association (Canada), Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Yoga Retreat Center, Bushkill Community Church, Chestnut Retreat Center, East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church, Temple Hesed, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Poconos. It brought together the Mid-Autumn tradition of reunion with a shared spirit of compassion and peace. Nearly 200 dignitaries, faith leaders, and community members joined in a solemn assembly that crossed national and religious boundaries to pray for peace.
Prayers for Peace from His Holiness
His Holiness the Vajra Master Jinke Xuanlei sent a letter of blessing, delivered to the assembly by his disciple, Jinke Yinwei. The letter carried prayers for the people of Pennsylvania, for Sino–U.S. friendship, for the well-being of humanity, and for everlasting world peace:
“Though we come from different nations, speak different languages, and hold different beliefs, we are joined by a common hope for peace and a shared concern for humanity’s destiny.
Religion, sustained for millennia, embodies peace and the law of cause and effect. Jesus, through his life, revealed the meaning of love, reconciliation, and selfless devotion. The Prophet Muhammad, the Jewish prophets, the Hindu sages, the Taoist and Confucian saints—all have guided humanity with compassion and wisdom to revere heaven and earth, respect life, and uphold peace. Their spirit is profound and inspiring.
Where religions find common ground, there is no conflict of founders, no suppression of one path by another—only respect, trust, understanding, and tolerance. Without such harmony, the world remains trapped in strife. Without tolerance, society cannot find stability, religious belief cannot enjoy freedom, and human morality cannot be uplifted.
May the leaders and spiritual guides of the 21st century awaken hearts with wisdom and compassion, resolving divisions of ideology, faith, nation, and culture. May they reconcile atheism with theism, science with religion, materialism with idealism. May humanity rise above endless conflict, embrace harmony, and together achieve peace under heaven. May all hearts unite—for world peace, for unity, for the equality of all dharmas.”
Jinke Yinwei read this letter aloud, its words offered to the assembly in a spirit of reflection.
Gratitude from Community Leaders
Monroe County Commissioner Sharon Laverdure spoke about the temple’s role in the community:
“There's a really great article that gives an excellent background as to making East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, become a more beautiful place, and this is an introduction of Jinyin Temple.”
“I'm very excited for our county to have a beautiful venue like this. It's a place to worship. It's a place to pray. It's a place to get your heart back to where it needs to be, with very positive opportunities that will impact Monroe County. I'm so honored to have you pick Monroe County for your location. Jinyin Temple welcomes all to come together in a friendly atmosphere where acts of compassion and loving kindness will make a huge impact on our world. And I personally saw a part of this change for our county and for the world. ”
Sharon Laverdure, County Executive of Monroe County
Annette Atkinson, Supervisor of Middle Smithfield Township, reflected on resilience and renewal:
“The festival reminds us of light, union, and gratitude, values that feel especially meaningful as we see the temple's wonderful momentum returning from all those hard years. After the devastating fire and the long challenges of the pandemic, it is deeply inspiring to see the community come together again, stronger, brighter, and filled with hope. On behalf of Middle Smithfield Technology, I want to express our admiration for the Master, and especially the Executive Director who has worked so diligently to put all of this together and maintains a wonderful contract with the township. You have rebuilt not just the building, but a spirit of compassion and peace that enriches our entire county. You are all the better for it. As we celebrate under the same moon tonight, may its light remind us that peace begins right here, in our homes, in our hearts, and in gatherings like this. I thank you deeply for allowing me to share this evening with you. Happy New Autumn Festival. May peace and prosperity continue to shine on Jinyin Temple and all who gather here.”
Annette Atkinson, Supervisor of Middle Smithfield Township
Jasper Diaz, Manhattan Borough Director for the New York City Mayor’s Office, spoke of the temple’s wider mission:
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Jinyin Temple for their kind invitation and for the wonderful work you do to bring peace, compassion, and harmony to our community. This temple is more than a place of worship. It is a beacon of hope for humans. Under the wise leadership of His Holiness, the Vajra Master Jinke Xuanlei, Jinyin Temple has shown great dedication to improving world peace, mental health, poverty alleviation, as well as nurturing spiritual growth and promoting the whole well-being of society. I had the privilege of meeting His Holiness and learned that, upon the joint invitation of U.S. Senators John Boozman and Christopher Coons—Co-Chairs of the National Prayer Breakfast—along with 26 members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, His Holiness became the first Buddhist spiritual leader in American history to address the National Prayer Breakfast. This is a remarkable milestone, not only for the temple, but for the recognition of Buddhist wisdom and values, and promoting understanding and unity among all faiths. As we celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for communion, reflection, and gratitude, let us remember that the light of the full moon reminds us of our shared humanity. No matter where we come from, we are all connected under the same sky. Once again, thank you to Jinyin Temple and His Holiness, the Vajra Master Jinke Xuanlei, for your tireless efforts and for welcoming me into your community. May this festival continue to bring joy, harmony, and prosperity to all. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Interfaith Prayers and Blessings
Religious representatives from many traditions offered prayers in turn. Pastor Jason Parsons recalled his first visit to Jinyin Temple in 2023 with heartfelt reverence:
“In August of 2023, eight members of the Jinyin temple came to a Sunday service to hear me preach at our Christian church. Not long after, along with my wife and neighbor, we were invited for a tour of the temple and the surrounding property. What really stood out to me was the Globe of Peace, Unity of Humanity Mandala that hangs right here at the main prayer hall, and its inclusion of Jesus Christ. You see, I don't know very much about Sino-Esoteric Buddhism, but I do know the value of being seen and acknowledged. I felt seen. I felt acknowledged and included, and connected.”
“Knowing you are all my neighbors is really, really good news. We are so much more alike than we are different. Thank you, Jinyin Temple, for all you do in this beautiful corner of the world. Thank you for the light that shines bright on the corner of my home on 209. Thank you for being a beacon of hope and inspiration and a catalyst for peace, unity, compassion, inclusion, and connectivity. I will forever be your ally. May God's blessings be upon you all. Amen.”
Pastor Jason Parsons, Evangelical Christian representative
Imam Hakan offered an emotional recitation from the Quran during the prayer ceremony:
“You alone can help the eyes between souls, turn distance into closeness, and strangers into brothers and sisters. Unite our hearts today.”
“Allah, unite our hearts, reconcile our differences, guide us to the paths of peace, and take us from darkness into light. We echo this prayer tonight. Guide us to the paths of peace, from the darkness of ego to the light of awareness, from division to unity, from despair to hope.”
Imam Hakan, Chestnut Retreat Center
Rev. Sue Odesskey shared the ‘Interfaith Prayer for World Peace’:
“Spirit of life, God of many names, be in our hearts and minds as we come together today to pray for our world and for world peace. We come today as people of privilege, grateful for this blessing and hopeful for our future. Let us know that each from our own tradition comes today to lift our spirit in unity. Knowing that we are part of an interconnected web of life, let us acknowledge and embrace our oneness. We pray that we may be loving and able stewards of this world. We pray that we acknowledge our differences as we seek out our common ground, each of us working toward the good of all, toward the goal of world peace. We recognize that there is hurt and sorrow, deeds that confound us, and actions for which we can find no justification. Yet we also know that there is untold goodness. Folks that work every day for the benefit of all people, let us stand with them. We pray that we have the strength to recognize the inconvenience of our spiritual work and to overcome the inertia that invades us during these difficult times. We pray that while we recognize the occasional tiredness in our bones and in our hearts, that we call upon the strength of our higher power that we might be the best person that we are called to be as we reach out for our goal of world peace. Yes, let us be the good we want to see in others. Let us work to be the change that we seek as we renew our goals for world peace and compassion for all human beings. We will renew these goals in our hearts. Let us say, Amen.”
Reverend Susan H. Odessky, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Poconos
Rabbi Daniel Swartz reminded the assembly of the prophetic call to action:
“How many of us go through life not fully awake, not understanding the opportunities around us for making our world a better place, for healing hurts, for bringing peace, for sharing and loving kindness. But we're supposed to do more than just hear the shofar. We're instructed by the prophet Isaiah, Lift up your voice like a shofar. Each of us has our own special strength and wisdom and heart. And we should not hesitate to lift that up and to share it in the broader chorus of the world, to help shape our world for what it should be.”
“The words are, the river goes forth from Eden to water the garden. The words are, the river goes forth from Eden to water the garden. The words are, the river goes forth from Eden to water the garden.”
Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz, Temple Hesed
Pastor Nicole Vogel spoke of unity across faiths:
“It is an honor to be with everyone here today, people of many faiths and traditions, gathered around a longing for shared peace in this very divisive world. We come from different names for God, different ways we describe things, different practices, different ways of understanding the sacred, but peace is a value that unites all of us. It is something that every one of our traditions cherishes and seeks to embody. In my Presbyterian tradition, we understand peace not only as the absence of conflict, but as the presence of wholeness, a gift from God that also calls us to action.”
“Teach us, O God, to be peacemakers, not merely lovers of peace when it is easy, but builders of peace when it is costly. Open our hearts to see our neighbors not as strangers, but as siblings. Open our hands to heal, to serve, and to reconcile. And open our imaginations to dream of the world as you intended it. Where swords become ploughshares, where justice and mercy embrace, and where all creation lives in harmony. We pray all of this trusting in your grace, the grace that transcends borders and names, and draws everyone ever closer to the peace that surpasses all understanding. Amen.”
Pastor Nicole Vogel, East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church
Swami Muktatmananda Ji began his prayer with the chant ‘Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,’ calling for peace of body and mind:
“Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. May all beings be happy, may all be free from illness, may all see the divine in one another. The Vedas teach that all creation is a manifestation of God, and when we greet each other with ‘Namaste,’ we honor that divinity within.”
“We pray: Asato mā sad gamaya, tamaso mā jyotir gamaya, mrityor mā amritam gamaya—lead us from non-existence to existence, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. May we be free from the obstacles of nature, from the hindrances of the world around us, and from the burdens of our own bodies and minds. May peace prevail within and without.”
Swami Muktatmananda Ji, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Yoga Retreat Center
Lighting the Eternal Lamp for Peace
As night descended, the chant “Light Emitting from Sambhogakaya Wisdom Seed” resounded through the Main Prayer Hall. Together, representatives lit the Eternal Lantern of World Peace. One by one, the lights merged into a radiant glow, symbolizing compassion, understanding, and unity.
Representatives of major world religions jointly light the “Eternal Lamp for World Peace.
Sacred Art and Universal Vision
At the ceremony, a mandala painting titled “Globe of Peace, Unity of Humanity”, created by the Vajra Master Jinke Xuanlei together with his disciples, was unveiled. The artwork portrays Earth embraced by saints, sages, and leaders from East and West, encircled by the flags of all nations, with world leaders joining hands at its edges as a symbol of unity. The painting has been shared at international venues, including the United Nations, where it has been appreciated for its message of harmony and peace.
Guests also received sacred mandala calligraphy by the Vajra Master, offered as a symbol of compassion and spiritual reflection.
Closing Benediction
As bells and chants filled the autumn night, the assembly became a reflection of interfaith harmony, reminding all present that true unity does not erase differences, but grows from mutual respect and compassion.
May the Eternal Light of World Peace burn brightly.
May wisdom illuminate the world,
compassion warm the heart,
and harmony prevail among all faiths and traditions.
May the world be united in peace.
Event Photos
2025 Mid-Autumn Festival & World Peace Prayer Ceremony
Jinyin Temple Main Hall
Jinyin Temple Main Hall