(Photo by Law Sook Fong)
Every year, Buddhists around the world commemorate the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha through a ceremony known as “Buddha bathing” to remember the great teacher's compassion and wisdom. The tradition involves symbolically washing a small image of the Sakyamuni Buddha, recalling, for the worshippers, the importance of self-reflection and purification and how we should all extend compassion to the suffering beings.
As the morning light shed on eastern Taiwan on 8 May, Tzu Chi Foundation’s first Buddha Day Ceremony of the year commenced at the Hualien Jing Si Hall with more than 3000 people in attendance. Tzu Chi branches and offices across 30 countries also held ceremonies of various scales on the same day to pay reverence to the Enlightened One and to honour all mothers and sentient beings.
The verdant lawn of Yio Chu Kang Stadium in northern Singapore was dotted with thousands of numbered placemarks that same morning. Three Buddha bathing altars – a big, round one and two long ones – stood sturdy on the centre and both sides while volunteers busily decorate them with elegant white flowers after waters was channelled into the reservoirs.
At the audience area and along the outer corridors, hundreds of blue and grey uniformed volunteers were busy wiping chairs and setting up the historical exhibit in anticipation of a huge crowd in the evening. The sound of the two emcees rehearsing their lines could be heard on the sound system……
After months of anticipation and preparation, Tzu Chi Singapore’s first outdoor celebration of Buddha Day, Mother’s Day and Tzu Chi’s 45th Anniversary had finally arrived. Despite numerous challenges which include venue uncertainties due to the 2011 General Election, every single volunteer had stuck to their responsibility and performed their best to contribute to the organizing of the event.
As part of Tzu Chi culture which was taken from the great teachings of Buddhism, the ceremony was going to feature a walking meditation procession where 1152 volunteers who observed vegetarian fast for 108 days walk in tune with a calming chant.
Sister Tee Lek was among the procession that persisted in practicing the movements despite the scorching heat in the afternoon of 8 May.
After retiring more than a year ago and feeling disorientated, Sister Tee indulged in casino gambling for a year until her sister-in-law introduced her to Tzu Chi. The encounter and the constant contact with Master Cheng Yen’s teachings prompted her to reflect on her ways. In order to follow the teachings everyday, the 57-year-old even learned to use the computer to be able to go online.
“To me, our Master in like a mother who shows me the correct way to go in life,” she said, “I know I won’t get lost so long I remain steadfast in Tzu Chi and follow what our Master has taught us.”
A sanctified opening
The time was almost 5pm. The sight of the Buddhist flags and Tzu Chi flags fluttering in the wind exuded a welcoming gesture to the thousands of people who arrived in chartered buses arranged by the Foundation. Among them were the Foundation’s donors, beneficiaries, affiliate groups, families and friends of Tzu Chi volunteers, employees of several Tzu Chi entrepreneur volunteers and etc.
Mr Jeremy Liang, Deputy Representative of Taipei Representative Office in Singapore, too graced the occasion.
At 7pm, the ceremony commenced with 88 dharma masters from various monasteries marching into the stadium under the sombre opening music. With grace and solemnity they lead the 7000-strong congregation in praising and paying homage to the Holy Triple Gems: The Buddha, The Dharma (his teachings), and The Sangha (his disciples).
Three huge, 360-degree rotating Lapis Lazuli Buddha statues were placed on each of the Buddha bathing altars signifying the Buddha's all-encompassing compassion and wisdom to all sentient beings; while 100 other smaller statues were positioned along the periphery of the centre altar and the two long ones. As the sky darkened and the lights turned on, everyone could see clear and radiating glows reflecting through the lapis lazuli and penetrating into the sky. The mist emitted through the altars’ lotus pool created an ethereal feel for the ceremony.
As the mass walking meditation begun, the 1152-strong procession began circumambulating on the stadium lawn, the scene akin to the Dharma wheel turning.
Bringing Buddhism closer to the multitude
The beauty of Buddhism and the unity and order of the procession mesmerized all that was present. Several members of the public even stood up from their seats to send off the dharma masters at the end of the ceremony.
“Tzu Chi’s tri-celebration manifested the compassion Buddhists should harbour for all sentient beings. Such compassion is often voluntary and out of pure goodwill,” commented the Secretary-General of Singapore Buddhist Federation, Venerable Guang Pin. The Venerable was pleased to see fellow dharma masters set aside their monastery work and busy schedule to show support for Tzu Chi’s Buddha Day Ceremony.
Several dharma masters had even altered their monastery’s Buddha Day celebration date, bringing along their followers with them that evening.
Among them was Venerable Guo Jun who brought forward Phou Tai Kok Temple’s Buddha Day celebration which originally fell on the same day as Tzu Chi. The Venerable is also the disciple of the late Venerable Yin Shun, the mentor of Master Cheng Yen. Like Venerable Guang Pin, Venerable Guo Jun was pleased to witness the mutual support demonstrated by his fellow monastic members and hoped that the Buddhist community would work together to spread the spirit of Great Love in Singapore.
The Venerable further complimented that Tzu Chi’s ceremony ritual was retro yet modern having adhered to the Buddha’s spirit and being eco-friendly at the same time. “This ceremony has a vibrant and modernized feel,” noted the Venerable. “It helps bring Buddhism closer to the multitude.”
Year 2011 marks the 45th anniversary of Tzu Chi Foundation. With its works now spanning across the five continents, Master Cheng Yen expressed her great expectation for all Tzu Chi followers to continue working among the multitude and to promote the spirit of Buddhism to all corners of the world to lead more people to the right path of life and enlightenment.
A tranquil evening for all
During the ceremony, participants are guided to sincerely carry out the consecrated rite of bowing and offering flowers to the figure of the Buddha, as well as dipping hands in the water laid before his image.
Through such ceremony, Tzu Chi hopes to revive the spirit of Buddhism which is to constantly cleanse one’s heart and to restore one’s pure nature.
Stadium Manager, Sani Mohd Salim, related to the inner peace he felt while he joined the congregation in the ceremony ritual. “I really admire you guys,” he said to the volunteers, “I’ve never seen such magnificent event all my life.” The Muslim had been very helpful in assisting the committee to secure the stadium sites for the ceremony and expressed his wish to be able “see you guys again next year”.
Tzu Chi donor Mr Chua Teck Huat is the manager of Blue Cross Thong Kheng Home, a charity home adjacent to Tzu Chi Free Health Screening Centre that provides shelter and care to healthy adults with disabilities. Mr Chua had enlisted more than 20 volunteers to accompany the Home residents to the Buddha Day Ceremony. To make the volunteers look neat, Mr Chua’s good friend, Miss Lee, presented each of them a green T-shirt made by recycled PET bottles.
Zhang Su Jie was smiling contently when she finished bathing the Buddha’s feet under the support of her husband. The couple was about to leave the stadium and when the visually challenged Mdm Zhang heard the greeting of a Tzu Chi volunteer, she immediately reached out to hold the volunteer’s hand to express her appreciation and sentiments over the ceremony. Even though she can’t see, Mdm Zhang, who has been listening to Tzu Chi songs since many years ago, said she was able to feel the sanctity of the ceremony through the music played.
In end March, after a health checkup, 24-year-old Ong Jenn Bing found out that there is a tumour beside his bladder. The Tzu Chi youth volunteer from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) knew he had to go for surgery as soon as possible in order to continue supporting the ceremony’s placemark team. Just six days before 8 May, his family, worrying about his recuperation, decided to have him withdraw from the team along with the 1152 walking meditation procession. It was a sad news for the youth but he soon diverted his attention and instead persuaded his mother who came visiting him from Sabah to attend the Buddha Day Ceremony with him. “Let this be my present for Mum on this Mother’s Day,” he whispered in his heart.
Jenn Bing has always been the worrisome child for his mother being born with right kidney agenesis (absent of right kidney) and having going through a bumpy adolescence.
“Before Jenn Bing joined Tzu Chi, I’ve been asking him every year to attend Buddha bathing ceremonies with me but he always turned me down. But this time he’s the one making invitation to me and my family. Although he is far away from home, knowing he is with an organization like Tzu Chi really set my mind at ease,” said a teary Mrs Ong, which was soon hugged by her son dearly promising her he will be good.
With thousands of lotus lamps lit during the final mass prayer, we hope that the hearts of every single participant were illuminated as well. As with all Tzu Chi activities and endeavours, we pray for the human minds to be purified, that society be harmony and the world be disaster-free. May the light of Buddhism shine upon Earth and the Dharma wheel keep turning for all eternity.
Volunteers busy wiping the chairs under the morning sun. An extra 3000 chairs were added on top of the stadium’s seating. (Photo by Law Sook Fong)
The ceremony commenced with 88 dharma masters from various monasteries marching into the stadium under the sombre opening music. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
The dharma masters opened the ceremony and led the congregation in paying homage to the Triple Gems. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Venerable Guang Pin (right), Secretary-General of Singapore Buddhist Federation, thinks it is a rare opportunity to have dharma masters from various monasteries to attend the same ceremony to pay homage to the Enlightened One. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Venerable Guo Jun, abbot of Phou Tai Kok Temple, was pleased to witness the mutual support demonstrated by fellow monastic members and hoped that the Buddhist community would work together to spread the spirit of Great Love in Singapore. (Photo by Lee Wey Jiun)
Mr Jeremy Liang (right), Deputy Representative of Taipei Representative Office in Singapore, paying homage to the Buddha. Standing beside him was Mr David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Tzu Chi commissioners and Tzu Cheng Faith Corps members carrying out the consecrated rite of bowing and offering flowers to the crystal figure of the Buddha, as well as dipping hands in the water laid before his image. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
Volunteers paying homage to the Enlightened One. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
Many members of the public brought their parents and children to the ceremony to honour the Buddha, their parents, and all sentient beings. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
Mr Chua Teck Huat from Blue Cross Thong Kheng Home enlisted more than 20 volunteers to accompany the Home residents to the Buddha Day Ceremony. (Photo by O Kok Kin)
Tzu Chi youth Ong Jenn Bing see the ceremony as a Mother’s Day gift to his mother. (Photo by Ng Jia Han)
The congregation praying at the end of the ceremony. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
TIMA members Dr Phang Pern Yen and wife (both in white polo shirts) followed the rehearsals closely despite their busy schedules. They also brought their three daughters to the Buddha Day Ceremony to experience the solemnity they felt. (Photo by Law Sook Fong)
Sister Tee Lek seen practicing in one of the rehearsals in Jing Si Hall. (Photo by Lim Chee Wah)
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