Puja (Sanskrit: पूजा; Pāli: Pūjā) means “offering” or “reverence.”
It originated in ancient India and symbolizes an act of expressing respect and gratitude toward what is pure and noble.
In Buddhism, Puja is a gesture of homage and devotion to the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, and the protective deities, reflecting the practitioner’s inner sense of gratitude and dedication.
There are many forms of Puja: offering flowers, lights, incense, and food; chanting scriptures or mantras; sitting in meditation; or dedicating wholesome deeds for the benefit of all being.
While outer offerings are expressions of form, the true Puja arises within — from the purity, awareness, and compassion of the awakened heart.
Under the leadership and inspiration of Venerable Master Yu Fan, NCC members have devoted many years to actively participating in life-release activities across the world. Their compassionate efforts have reached numerous cities, including Los Angeles and San Diego in the United States; Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in Thailand; Guangzhou and Chengdu in China; and Auckland in New Zealand. Each life-release event reflects deep respect for all living beings and represents the practice of compassion in action.
Life release not only symbolizes freeing lives from suffering but also awakens kindness within the hearts of those who take part. It nurtures compassion, allowing participants and witnesses alike to feel the warmth and uplifting power of the Buddha’s teachings. Through these acts of goodness, may the Dharma flourish widely, may wholesome thoughts grow, may countless lives be benefited, and may peace and harmony prevail in the world.
NCC Foundation will continue to uphold this aspiration, promoting charitable work and Dharma activities so that mindfulness and compassion may take root, grow, and spread across the globe.
Below is a collection of photos from life-release events around the world.
