Buddha Birthday Celebration Multicultural Festival 2013
The public favourite Buddha’s Birthday Multicultural festival was ceremoniously held on 14th April. VIPs in attendance included National party members Melissa Lee, Jami-Lee Ross, Labour party member Dr Rajen Prasad, Auckland Chinese Consul General Ching Bao Nu, Director of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Auckland Lincoln Ting, BLIA South Island chairperson See shen Lee, Inspector Rakesh Naidoo, Inspector Christ De Wattignar, and over one hundred guests representing many different religions. They were invited in by Venerable Abbess Manshin and Ceremony chairperson Dolly Tsai, thus began the ceremony. The proceedings also included over 500 devotees and visitors making offerings to the Buddha.
The full ceremony officially started in the morning at 10:00am. All VIPs were ushered into the Main Shrine under the sound of traditional Scottish bagpipes, and guided by Fo Guang people holding up the New Zealand National flag and Buddhist flag. Under the lead of Abbess Manshin’s chorus of Buddhist hymns, all honoured guests proceeded to chant along, make blessings, bathing and offer flowers to the Buddha. Tibetan lamas, Christian, Catholic, Islamic and Hindu clerics and representatives all stepped on stage to offer blessings to everyone present.
Venerable Abbess Manshin expressed that harmonious society comes from people’s harmonious mind, harmonious mind comes from harmonious faith, and harmonious faith comes from inter-faith respect and tolerance. We hope to link heart to heart between different culture and ethnic groups by using freedom, equality and peace. Like Venerable Master Hsing Yun said, “Co-existence with Oneness” is the universal truth and criteria for mankind’s happiness. Let’s use equality of Oneness and compassion of co-existence to arrive at the goal of achieving the spirit of “5 harmonies”.
Ceremony chairperson Dolly Tsai spoke about the many honours achieved by Fo Guang disciples over the past year’s propagation works. These achievements allowed our founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun to joyfully express that Buddhism has been affirmed by the general public. Fo guang Shan temple is a peaceful, respectful, tolerant and transcendent place. Many have joined to practice the Buddha’s wisdom and compassion, which enabled purification of the mind, courageous advancement, and adding more meaning to our lives.
Government Ethnic Affairs Private Secretary Melissa Lee spoke on behalf of Minister Hon Judith Colin to acknowledge this celebration is to commemorate Buddhism’s original teacher Sakyamuni Buddha’s birthday. This festival is the perfect day to allow exchange and meeting between different cultures and religions. She is grateful to BLIA for once again organising such a meaningful event that promotes harmonious community, strives for peace, and encouraging the actualisation of multiculturalism.
Local Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross expressed that Fo Guang Shan is an important religious and cultural centre. New Zealand is also a hub of gathering between many different cultures, hence Fo Guang Shan has contributed greatly toward religious harmony and community peace.
Auckland Chinese Consul General Ching Bao Nu spoke about the flourishing of Buddhism is also due to many existing Chinese philosophical ideals is in intoned with Buddhism. It’s hoped that everyone can beautify the world by spreading the ideals of “3 goods and 4 giving” promoted by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Mr Nu then wished everyone well by speaking Master Hsing Yun’s couplet “Unwavering Advancement despite Life’s Twists and Turns”.
Director of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Auckland Lincoln Ting talked about Fo guang Shan’s roots in Taiwan, which was founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Now the Order has over 200 temples around the 5 continents. Fo Guang Shan propagates Humanistic Buddhism through the promotion of arts and culture. Mr Ting thanked Fo Guang Shan New Zealand for promoting harmonious interfaith exchange, allowing everyone to have a place to purify their minds.
After the ceremony’s completion, Abbess Manshin led the honoured guests back to the courtyard, where Fo Guang people performed the song “Harmonise” with beautiful voices and elegant hand gestures. Then the Kapa Haka group performed “Harae Mai”, followed by more music from the Scottish bag pipe band. Then the crowd lined up ready to bath the little Prince Siddartha with devoted heart.
Besides the solemn interfaith Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony earlier, there was also a baby’s blessing ceremony held in the afternoon, where 140 little darlings received blessings. The Art Gallery opened a new exhibition presenting the story of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, allowing everyone be familiarised with his life. Also, on the courtyard, temple corridors, grass lawns and car park, are full of stalls including Free Medical Advice, Culture and Craft Stalls, delicious food from many nationalities, and Children’s Wonder Land. There are literally visitors everywhere! Many multi-cultural performances caught the public’s attention. NZ Police have established stalls allowing interested people to learn about joining the force. A community stall was also set up to raise public awareness for the prevention of shark slaughtering. NZ Fo Guang Shan’s YAD also took the opportunity to promote their upcoming 2013 AZNBYC event. The day’s festivities attracted more than 7000 visitors.