Question as above . . .. . . why?
Why must it be on Vesak Day?
Vesak Day is the most holy time in the Buddhist calendar.
Vesak Day is actually celebrated to commemorate the birth and enlightenment of Buddha. In fact, we are bathing ourselves rather than bathing Buddha. Buddhists used to recite the following verses when bathing Buddha.
我今��诸如�
净智庄严功德海
五浊众生离尘垢
��如�净法身
I don't know how to translate. Something like this. Can someone translate if you know better.
The meaning is something like this : I'm bathing Buddha (Buddha is referring to everyone because everybody has 佛性） to purify my deeds. Be all sentiment beings cleanse our sins and be like Buddha who had done so and attained Nirvana.
Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:Vesak Day is the most holy time in the Buddhist calendar.
Vesak Day is actually celebrated to commemorate the birth and enlightenment of Buddha. In fact, we are bathing ourselves rather than bathing Buddha. Buddhists used to recite the following verses when bathing Buddha.
我今��诸如�
净智庄严功德海
五浊众生离尘垢
��如�净法身I don't know how to translate. Something like this. Can someone translate if you know better.
The meaning is something like this : I'm bathing Buddha (Buddha is referring to everyone because everybody has 佛性） to purify my deeds. Be all sentiment beings cleanse our sins and be like Buddha who had done so and attained Nirvana.
Thanks for reply
Originally posted by hasene:Thanks for reply
You are welcome !
It was said when Gautama Buddha was born in a park. A dragon appear in the sky to shower him. After which, He took seven step which result in 7 blossoming lotus appearing on the ground. With a hand pointing to the sky and the other pointing to the ground. He proclaimed," I alone am the World-Honored One."
Hence, in order to remember this event, temple will set up this BABY GAUTAMA altar since we are unable to witness it. However, as Buddhist we can parttake in rejoicing over Buddha's birth, life,contribution to humankinds and our life.
Well, if u ask me if the event did really occur. I think it is rather subjective. Whether it occur or not, it will not in anyway make the Buddhism basic teaching less true. I would like to end with Joseph Campbell statement, " All cultures … have grown out of myths. They are founded on myths. What these myths have given has been inspiration for aspiration."
Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:Vesak Day is the most holy time in the Buddhist calendar.
Vesak Day is actually celebrated to commemorate the birth and enlightenment of Buddha. In fact, we are bathing ourselves rather than bathing Buddha. Buddhists used to recite the following verses when bathing Buddha.
我今��诸如�
净智庄严功德海
五浊众生离尘垢
��如�净法身I don't know how to translate. Something like this. Can someone translate if you know better.
The meaning is something like this : I'm bathing Buddha (Buddha is referring to everyone because everybody has 佛性） to purify my deeds. Be all sentiment beings cleanse our sins and be like Buddha who had done so and attained Nirvana.
Now, we come to bathe all the tathagata
Seek the purity, wisdom, dignity and virtue
May the sentient beings of the five-fold be rid of all defilements/afflictions
And realize the Dharma Body (dharmakaya) of the Tathagata
"It's simple to wash away physical dirt, but it is much more difficult to cleanse one's inner dirt of greed, anger and ignorance."
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Now, we come to bathe all the tathagata
Seek the purity, wisdom, dignity and virtue
May the sentient beings of the five-fold be rid of all defilements/afflictions
And realize the Dharma Body (dharmakaya) of the Tathagata
Thanks AEN !
Originally posted by reborn76:It was said when Gautama Buddha was born in a park. A dragon appear in the sky to shower him. After which, He took seven step which result in 7 blossoming lotus appearing on the ground. With a hand pointing to the sky and the other pointing to the ground. He proclaimed," I alone am the World-Honored One."
Hence, in order to remember this event, temple will set up this BABY GAUTAMA altar since we are unable to witness it. However, as Buddhist we can parttake in rejoicing over Buddha's birth, life,contribution to humankinds and our life.
Well, if u ask me if the event did really occur. I think it is rather subjective. Whether it occur or not, it will not in anyway make the Buddhism basic teaching less true. I would like to end with Joseph Campbell statement, " All cultures … have grown out of myths. They are founded on myths. What these myths have given has been inspiration for aspiration."
I believe the story. There are many things written in the scripture which sound unbelievable and I doubted them before but I experienced them or saw them with my eyes so I believe everything is being said.
The first time I read Buddha proclaimed ," I alone am the World-Honored One." The first thought that came to my mind was why Buddha was so arrogant. Later I realised that the "I alone am" was referring to every individual self (each one of us). Meaning everybody is their own master. No one can help us to heaven or push us to hell.
Originally posted by reborn76:It was said when Gautama Buddha was born in a park. A dragon appear in the sky to shower him. After which, He took seven step which result in 7 blossoming lotus appearing on the ground. With a hand pointing to the sky and the other pointing to the ground. He proclaimed," I alone am the World-Honored One."
Hence, in order to remember this event, temple will set up this BABY GAUTAMA altar since we are unable to witness it. However, as Buddhist we can parttake in rejoicing over Buddha's birth, life,contribution to humankinds and our life.
Well, if u ask me if the event did really occur. I think it is rather subjective. Whether it occur or not, it will not in anyway make the Buddhism basic teaching less true. I would like to end with Joseph Campbell statement, " All cultures … have grown out of myths. They are founded on myths. What these myths have given has been inspiration for aspiration."
Thanks for sharing. It sounds fairy tale though.
I Alone Am The World Honoured One
by Ven Jue Xing from �江月影 (2)
(loose translation by me)
The founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha, was born as a prince. On the first day of his birth, he stepped on lotus flowers and walked seven steps, with one finger pointing to the sky and one finger pointing towards the earth, he said "Above the skies and below the earth, I alone Am the World Honoured One." "I alone Am the World Honoured One", what does this mean? Why did the Buddha say this? Many times people have this question/doubt.
Actually, what the Buddha referred to as 'I' is not the ordinary sentient beings' egoic mind consciousness, much less is it a 'self' that wants to be a religious leader. It is because the Buddha has been awakened for many lifetimes and kalpas ago, and has already achieved 'No Self', and continued to practice till present that he was able to attain the fruition of Buddhahood. Otherwise, the 'I' in 'I Alone Am The World Honoured One' would be just the ordinary sentient being's me-form, me-clinging. Why then did the Buddha said "I"?
This is because what the Buddha referred to as "I" is actually taking himself as a presentation: He is the Buddha, the Buddha is Awareness, this Awareness fully pervades all space and dharma realms. Everything that is sentient or insentient is a part of it, every sentient beings in the universe rely on Awareness for survival, and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the three times achieve liberation through realising Awareness. Thereafter, they rely on Awareness's marvellous functions to walk the Bodhisattva path, saving all sentient beings. Therefore it is said, "Above the skies and below the earth, Awareness alone Is the World Honoured One." And the reason for the Buddha's action is to show that every human being has the essence of Awareness in its completeness right from the beginning, and he wishes to awaken our Awareness.
The Lotus Sutra states:
“Shariputra, what is meant by ‘All Buddhas, World Honored Ones, appear in the world only because of the causes and conditions of the one great matter?’ The Buddhas, the World Honored Ones, appear in the world because they wish to lead living beings to open the knowledge and vision of the Buddhas and gain purity. They appear in the world because they wish to demonstrate to all living beings the knowledge and vision of the Buddhas. They appear in the world because they wish to lead living beings to awaken to the knowledge and vision of the Buddhas. They appear in the world because they wish to lead living beings to enter into the Path of the knowledge and vision of the Buddhas.”
“Shariputra, these are the causes and conditions of the one great matter for which all the Buddhas appear in the world.”
Therefore, Buddha took birth in our world to enable sentient beings to open the knowledge and vision of the Buddhas and gain purity, demonstrate to all living beings the knowledge and vision of the Buddhas, lead living beings to awaken to the knowledge and vision of the Buddhas, enter into the Path of the knowledge and vision of the Buddhas. Therefore Buddha wants to open the way of Awareness, enabling sentient beings to realise the Essence of Awareness.
All sentient beings rely on Awareness for survival, it is because they have the Essence of Awareness that they are able to be aware, feel, or know. However it is because sentient beings lost sight of the Essence of Awareness that they are unable to become self-aware, this is called "lost in sentient beings", or otherwise known as ignorance. Whereas, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have first realised Awareness, and it is because they realised Awareness, and relied on Awareness in cultivation, that they achieved liberation from all habitual energies and karmas of sentient beings, and thereby accomplish the Fruit of Buddhahood. In the universe, other than Awareness, all phenomena are only illusory forms and arising due to the aggregation of causes and conditions, and when the causes and conditions separate the phenomena ceases. They do not have any real or eternal essence, and therefore the Buddha once being born into this world declared to the world that above the skies and below the earth, other than Awareness, all are conditioned arising and conditioned ceasing, impermanent and illusory forms, therefore "Awareness Alone IS the World Honoured One." - for it is Eternal.
Therefore, Buddhists should have right understanding and right view. The purpose of practicing Buddhism is not for other matters. Regardless of which dharma door you practice, it is for the purpose of Awareness/Awakening. Only with Awakening, opening wisdom, seeking liberation, can it be the correct aim. We must never attend to trifles and neglect the essentials, not knowing self-awareness and seeking the outside, else it would be to proceed in the opposite directions of the aims of Buddhist practice.
Hmmm... there is this nice ppt slide on significance of bathing the Buddha
http://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/bathing-the-buddha-on-wesak
Actually "Bathing the Buddha" does not happen only on Vesak day.
Originally posted by Isis:Hmmm... there is this nice ppt slide on significance of bathing the Buddha
http://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/bathing-the-buddha-on-wesak
Actually "Bathing the Buddha" does not happen only on Vesak day.
actually bathing of the Buddha was started when eh? because early Buddhism does not have bathing of the Buddha nor is burning of incense etc. I reckoned it was due to fitting to the local cultures and customs right?
Originally posted by Rooney9:actually bathing of the Buddha was started when eh? because early Buddhism does not have bathing of the Buddha nor is burning of incense etc. I reckoned it was due to fitting to the local cultures and customs right?
i see it as a skillful means to help people.
Originally posted by Isis:Hmmm... there is this nice ppt slide on significance of bathing the Buddha
http://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/bathing-the-buddha-on-wesak
Actually "Bathing the Buddha" does not happen only on Vesak day.
YOu are not welcome to post in this thread I started. You are a hypocrite , a troll in other forum and acts an angel in buddhism forum.
Originally posted by hasene:
YOu are not welcome to post in this thread I started. You are a hypocrite , a troll in other forum and acts an angel in buddhism forum.
Fine i will not post in ur thread anymore. First of all.. i'm not an angel.. i'm just a human who can make mistakes sometime..
Originally posted by Isis:
Fine i will not post in ur thread anymore. First of all.. i'm not an angel.. i'm just a human who can make mistakes sometime..
YOur mistake include depriving people of expressing themselves to speak for themselves.
Just make sure you stay out of others' business by not nitpicking on them.
you stated you got to go now so now you are here to . . .???
Originally posted by hasene:
YOur mistake include depriving people of expressing themselves to speak for themselves.Just make sure you stay out of others' business by not nitpicking on them.
you stated you got to go now so now you are here to . . .???
i already say people can say whatever they want as long as it abids to forum regulation. as i have said u can accept/reject my advices.
cheers and bye
Originally posted by Isis:i already say people can say whatever they want as long as it abids to forum regulation. as i have said u can accept/reject my advices.
cheers and bye
Who do you think you kidding? If you really mean what you posted above you would not pick on me to tell me off. YOu don't even read enough in that forum to jump into impression of my post.
U said in your earlier post here you will not post in this thread, and you did it. hahahahha. YOUr words and actions contradict, hahha.