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Siddhartha: A Musical Journey to Enlightenment is an original
production by Chu Un Temple and BLIA Cebu. The musical play is in
English and is based on the poetry and verses of Venerable Master
Hsing Yun, founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order.
The first run of the show was on July 6, 2007 at the Waterfront Cebu.
Due to the positive response and overall success of the show, the
cast was invited to perform excerpts of the musical at Fo Guang Shan
in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C. in celebration of Venerable Master
Hsing Yun's birthday in September 2007.
A repeat performance of the musical in its entirety at the Cultural
Center of the Philippines in Manila was successfully concluded on
November 4, 2007. The Manila show was presented by I.B.P.S.
Manila, Philippines (Fo Guang Shan Manila) and Buddha's Light
International Association - Philippines.
The CCP show was originally scheduled for three performances (two on
November 3 and one on November 4). Due to the high demand
for tickets, an additional performance was added on November 4.
The success of the show is a significant achievement in the history
of Buddhism in the Philippines.
The entire cast has been invited to perform in Taiwan in May 2008.
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Siddhartha is a musical based on
the life of Siddhartha Gautama, a historic figure from 600 BC India.
As an infant, prophecy stated that he will either become a great
king or an enlightened monk. In order to prevent him from becoming a
monk, his father, the king, kept him within the confines of the
palace and provided him with all the comfort and luxury available in
the kingdom. Thus, Siddhartha grew up completely unaware of the pain
and suffering occurring outside his surroundings.
During a trip outside the palace grounds, the young prince came face
to face with the unpleasant realities of old age, sickness and
death. His heart was so moved by the sight that he left his family
to set out into the world to look for a way to end all human
suffering.
In the course of several years of self-searching and introspection,
all his sacrifices proved fruitful and worthy when he finally
achieved enlightenment and became the fully actualized Buddha. He
espoused the practice of mindfulness and the propagation of the Four
Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. From these basic
teachings of the Buddha sprung one of the oldest and richest
religious traditions of all time.
With its grand themes of culture, religion and tradition, Siddhartha
is still a coming-of-age story of a young man, searching for the
meaning of life, and finding it silently tucked within himself.
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