Buddha’s Birthday Celebration 2016
The “2016 Buddha’s Birthday Celebration” was held on 8th May, attracting over 5000 revellers. The day’s activities included bathing of the Buddha, vegetarian food stalls, special Buddha’s Birthday exhibition, Baby blessing, multicultural performances and little Prince/Princess beauty contest. Scene of joyous celebration can be witnessed everywhere. Bodies and mind were also purified from bathing of the Buddha as well as receive blessings.
Inside the Main Shrine over 300 devotees in colourful ethnic costume made abundance of offerings to the Buddha. Special welcome entourage flanked the courtyard while the youth group’s lion dance and the police’s bagpipe band announced the arrival of Prince Siddartha’s litter. It was indeed an magnificent scene. The ensuing ceremony was joined by BLIA North Island President Stephen Xu, The Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Philippines and the Head of Fo Guang Shan Philippines Buddhist College Venerable Yongugang, BLIA North Island Head Advisor Dolly Tsai and representatives from various political organisations, the police, Chinese community, and business community. They then proceeded to sing Ode to the Triple Gem under the lead of 30 Buddhist youths. Then a Chanting Service was presided by Venerable Abbess Manshin. She also led the VIPs to bath the Buddha as well as inviting representatives from different religions to offer prayers. This was followed by a short film showcasing Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s over 50 years of Dharma propagation. The Birth of the Buddha was celebrated under an atmosphere of harmony and diversity.
President Xu went on stage to spoke about Fo Guang Shan’s spirit of giving while propagating the Dharma locally. He gave examples of today’s over 600 volunteers, the delivery of the “366 Days with Wisdom” books for over 9 months around the country and the upcoming “3G4G Festival of Culture Sharing”. From BLIA’s team work and engineering of the mind, the warmth, joy and brightness of Humanistic Buddhism were shared wide and afar.
VIP Len Brown; Mayor of Auckland praised Fo Guang Shan North Island for it’s accomplishment from transform this location from a lonely corner into today’s magnificent venue full of compassion and right energy. Jami Lee Ross; Botany MP admires Fo Guang Shan’s determination, compassion, wisdom and it’s dedication to promote peace and harmony. Phil Goff; Mt Roskill MP expressed the Buddha’s Birthday Celebration is a platform for multicultural exchange, where the values and positive energy from different cultures were given it’s chance to be presented. The Chairperson for Taipei Economics and Cultural Office Mr Zhou expressed that Fo Guang Shan is a important religious organisation in Taiwan and this branch in New Zealand especially exemplifies the brightness of Humanistic Buddhism overseas. Dame Susan Devoy; Race Relations Commissioner expressed that Fo Guang Shan not only propagates Humanistic Buddhism, this organisation also bring out kindness through culture, art and education, whereby expressing the tolerant nature of Buddhism.
This was followed by a speech from the Abbess talking our recent crisis of global warming, havoc wrought by extreme weather conditions and unstable seasonal fluctuations. During these hours disaster we especially hope for the compassion of Buddhism to solve people’s suffering, and to encourage everyone to remember the qualities of love and peace, so we can all cherish and protect our natural resources and the earth. We should treat our fellow human beings in need with hearts of equality and selflessness.
Students from Fo Guang Shan Philippines Guang Ming University’s art department especially flew over to New Zealand to perform scenes from their play “Prince Siddhartha” during the ceremony. The audiences were awed when actors playing the Buddha and the Buddha’s disciples entered the Shrine. Then everyone was immersed into the performers’ beautiful music, voices and costumes.
This exceptional and professional musical performance added extra extravagance to the Buddha’s Birthday Celebration. Many audiences were surprised and touched by it’s atmosphere where they felt as they have traveled back in time in the time of the Buddha.