On April 18 and 19, IBPS
Manila and BLIA Philippines jointly organized this year's Vesak Day
celebration at the largest mall in Asia, the SM Mall of Asia in Manila. Held
at the open-air Music Hall, the event was open to the public.
The beat of the dharma drum at 10:30AM on April 18, signaled the beginning
of the official opening ceremony. Led by Venerable Master Yung Jau, the head
abbess of IBPS Manila and the President of BLIA Philippines, Mr. Albert Teh,
distinguished guests from the community graced the event that included sutra
chanting, prayer and gift offering and Buddha bathing. A highlight of the
event was an offering procession of incense, candles, perfume, fruits and
flowers by representatives from BLIA Philippines. Special guests to
the opening ceremony included representatives from various religious faiths
who also participated in the Buddha Bathing ritual.
Throughout the two days, thousands of visitors participated in the Buddha
Bathing ceremony as well as the other activities offered.
On the evening of April 19, a variety show was presented as part of the
closing ceremony. The final closing was a solemn sutra chanting and prayer
offering headed by Venerable Master Yung Jau. The blessings from this
activity were dedicated to the stability in Philippine socieity, spreading
dharma to the Filipino people and peace on earth.
Photo Gallery Photos by Kester Dee, Grace
Loo, and Winnifer
Venerable Master Yung Yi at the dharma drum
The opening ceremony procession
Head Abbess Venerable Master Yung Jau leads the ceremony
Head Abbess Venerable Master Yung Jau lights the first incense
Guests representing various religious faiths
Head Abbess Venerable Master Yung Jau leads the prayer offering
Offering incense
Offering books
Offering perfume
Offering fruits
Offering flowers
Devotees
Special guest Fr. Caloy Reyes, the Secretary of the CBCP (Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines) Commission on Inter-religious
Dialogue
Guests were given tokens of appreciation for gracing the occasion with
their presence
Special Guests
Head Abbess Venerable Master Yung Jau bathes the Buddha
Aerial view of the Music Hall at the SM Mall of Asia
... and a view from the ground
Infant Buddha
Devotees and Members of BLIA Philippines
Guests from all walks of life came to bathe the infant Buddha
another member of BLIA
Even toddles enjoy bathing the Buddha
... some need help though
Monsignor from Binondo Church bathes the infant Buddha
Venerable Master Yung Jau and the Monsignor, with BLIA President Mr.
Albert Teh on the background
The Wishing Bodhi Tree
... was a popular attraction
After bathing the Buddha, they wrote down their hopes and wishes
Sign up station for the Wishing Bodhi Tree
Infant Buddha Mascot
Kids loved him
... so did everyone else
Children's activity center
Volunteers from BLIA Philippines distributed balloons
Bookmark
Prayer beads
First act on the variety show
BLIA YAD sings
Guest singer Smiley from the Hi-I Sunshine Choir
Taichi performance by the Kuan Yin Sub-chapter
BLIA members who are from the Hi-I Sunshine Choir
Male vocalists form the Hi-I Sunshine Choir
"We are One" was the closing act
everyone sang and danced along with the music
... including Venerable Master Chueh Jeng of IBPS Iloilo and Venerable
Master Yung Jau
Venerable Master Yung Jau
Head Abbess of IBPS Philippines
Venerable Master Chueh Jeng of IBPS Iloilo
Venerable Master Chueh Xin
Venerable Master Yung Yi
Venerable Master Chueh Jen
Sutra chanting and prayer offering
Ms. Grace Loo, secretary general of BLIA Philippines and chairperson of
2008 Vesak Day
Venerable Master Yung Jau, head abbess IBPS Philippines
Mr. Albert Teh, BLIA Philippines President
Group photo of some of the volunteers
The Origin of Vesak Day
Vesak Day celebrates the birthday of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who was to
become Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
The exact date of Vesak, informally “Buddha’s Birthday,” is on the 8th day
of the 4th month in the Chinese lunar calendar (typically May), coinciding
with the first full moon of that month. The date varies from year to year in
the Western Gregorian calendar and actually encompasses the birth,
enlightenment (Nirvana), and passing (Parinirvana) of the
Buddha.
The Legend
Flyer
According to the legend of
Prince Siddhartha’s birth, his mother Queen Maya was traveling home to see
her parents and had stopped to rest in the lush Gardens of Lumbini where she
went into labour.
It is said that auspicious signs heralded his birth; the sky was clear with
brilliant sunshine, flowers bloomed and birds sang. Upon his birth, nine
heavenly dragons appeared and emitted two streams from their mouths, one
cool and one warm, of the purest fragrant rain, which gently cascaded to
bathe the newly born Prince. The baby Prince immediately took seven steps
and seven lotus flowers sprang from beneath his feet.
Flowers drifted down from the heavens. The young Prince, purified in body
and mind from the rain, pointed one hand towards the heavens and one towards
the earth, and he said, “Heaven above and earth beneath, I am the
Honoured One; the One who liberates all who suffer in the Three Realms.”
Significance of Bathing the Buddha
After the death of the Buddha, it became a tradition to bathe the statue of
the infant Buddha to commemorate his birth.
According to historians, the custom of bathing the Buddha dates back as far
as the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280AD) in China. As one of the most
significant dates in Buddhism, Buddhists all over the world continue to
celebrate the Buddha’s birthday with the tradition of bathing the infant
Buddha with fragrant water. A symbol of inner purification, the tradition is
said to assist with the purgation of sins. A universal message states that,
“It’s simple to wash away physical dirt, but it is much more difficult
to cleanse one’s inner dirt of greed, anger and ignorance.”
For the bathing ceremony, the altar is arranged as a flower garden,
representing the Garden of Lumbini.
Benefits Gained
The ritual performed with reverence and a purified mind is said to
improve harmony and inner balance, leading to a flourishing, fulfilling,
wholesome, blissful and enlightened life.
(souces: Wikipedia, BBC and
BLIA Victoria Australia)
I.B.P.S. Manila, Philippines
656 P. Ocampo St. Malate, Manila, Philippines
