Wednesday, September 21, 2005
中秋节 (Mid-Autumn Festival) 19th September 2005 (Sunday) : Passing on the Buddha's Light
Created history... i cooked fried beehoon yesterday... and not for 1 or 2 people but 30! Tasted ok though. Lots of activities done!
The celebrations started with a symbolic light
passing ceremony with the Buddhist Discussion Group members. Light is passed from the Buddha's candle to the candles in our lanterns.It symbolises the Buddha's wisdom being passed on to us in the form of the Dhamma. I thought of having it since Mid-Autumn Festival has something to do with brightness, there's a connection somewhere.
First of all, we chanted the Namo tassa followed by Tisarana and Pancasila, first in Pali followed by Mandarin. Then, a candle is lighted from the flame on the candle offered to the Buddha. The flame is passed from one person to another symbolising unbounded compassion and the sharing of Dhamma to all beings without discrimination.Just as the lantern is dark without the candle being lighted, the Buddha's wisdom cannot help us if we don't put the Buddha Dhamma into practise. Thus the Buddha's admonition, "Appamadena Sampadetha."(Be heedful in your practise).
The celebrations started with a symbolic light
passing ceremony with the Buddhist Discussion Group members. Light is passed from the Buddha's candle to the candles in our lanterns.It symbolises the Buddha's wisdom being passed on to us in the form of the Dhamma. I thought of having it since Mid-Autumn Festival has something to do with brightness, there's a connection somewhere.First of all, we chanted the Namo tassa followed by Tisarana and Pancasila, first in Pali followed by Mandarin. Then, a candle is lighted from the flame on the candle offered to the Buddha. The flame is passed from one person to another symbolising unbounded compassion and the sharing of Dhamma to all beings without discrimination.Just as the lantern is dark without the candle being lighted, the Buddha's wisdom cannot help us if we don't put the Buddha Dhamma into practise. Thus the Buddha's admonition, "Appamadena Sampadetha."(Be heedful in your practise).
