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eugenia
29 july 1990
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HAPPY VESAK!- a season of gratitude connecting liv... WALAO EH.what an ss paper we had.almost everybody ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!hahahahahahhaai go... i miss....how i wish time would stop there.my life... REAL REAL kl trip.ok i shall finish everything in ... the REAL kl tripLOL.i was tired after typing the f... week end at KLahhh.. had spent my long labour day ... VEGETARIANISM''If a person does not harm any livin... C.O.M.P.A.S.S.I.O.N.'' It is by having compassion ... somebody pls make me stop thinking.too much though...

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Saturday, May 13, 2006 ++

vesak day

vesak day is the most important event of the year for the buddhist community.
it commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and the final nirvana of the buddha on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month.
this occasion is observed by millions of buddhists throughout the world.
it is a festival for rejoice and goodwill to all.
it is also an occasion for reflection of our own personal spiritual development.

for some buddhists, the observance of vesak begins early in the morning when they assemble at temples to observe the 8 precepts.
others may join the communal observances by going through ceremony of taking the threefold refuge, observing the 5 precepts, making offerings at shrines and chanting.
they may also participate in processions and circumambulation, and listen to sermons of the buddha's teachings.

in some temples, buddhists take part in the ceremonial bathing of the statue of baby prince siddhartha ( the buddha when he was a prince) placed in a basin of perfumed water strewn with flowers. the perfumed water is scooped with a ladle and poured over the statue. this symbolises the purification of one's unwholesome deed with wholesome deeds.

many buddhists also take vegetarian meals on this day as they recall the teaching of universal compassion. on this day, temple are colourfully decoratedwith buddhist flags and lights, and shrines are filled with flowers, fruits and other offerings.

light transference ceremony

in this ceremony, devotees hold a lit candle after sunset, as they pave around the perimeter of a temple, holy objects or monument in walking meditation as te chant mantras or the buddha's name in praise of him. the ceremony represents the passing of the light of wisdom (sharing of the truth) to every direction of the world to dispel the darkness of ignorance. on a personal level, it has the significance of lighting up one's inner lamp of wisdom.

the indefinite passing on of light to countless others without one's own flame dying illustrates that wisdom can be shared without loss on one's part. the burning of the wick with the melting of the candle reminds us of the impermanence and transience of all conditioned things, including our own lives. reflection so helps us to treasure every moment alive without attachment. mindfulness is practised in not letting the flame be extinguished. this is symbolic of the constant guarding of the mind against negative factors detrimental to the spiritual life. in the ceremony, it is more inspiringto see a single flame illuminate a sea of darkness into an ocean of lights than bring brightness to each another.

3 steps 1 bow

in this ceremony, devotees usually line up before sunrise to meditively cirumambulate the perimeter of the temple, bowing once every three steps, while chanting mantras ot the name of buddha in praise of him. upon every prostration, the buddha can be visualised standing upon one's open palms to receive the buddha, the open palms symbolise lotus that denote blossoming of purity. (though the lotus flower's roots are in the ''mud of defilements.'', it blossoms pure and untainted from it. every prostration is thus the paying of respects to the buddha (or countless buddhas and bodhisattvas). this practice helps to purify the mind, humble the ego and lessen obstacle along the spiritual path as one repents past misdeeds and aspires towards spiritual improvement. with mindful og one's body, speech and mind during the practice, concentration and calmness can be attained.

as this ceremony is long, it reminds one of the long and difficult journey towards enlightenment. but it also serves to remind us that as long as we are determined, all difficulties can be overcome. perseverance in completing the practice despite its difficulties also help to strenghten our faith in the buddha and his teaching to lead us towards an enlightenment. the break of dawn at the end of the ceremony represents the light of wisdom despelling the darkness of ignorance as one advances on the journey towards enlightenment. 1:10 AM

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