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On April 29, 150 folks gathered at Columbia College’s Low Library rejoice Vesak.
“Bathing the Buddha” is a ceremony carried out throughout Vesak, the place blessed water is poured over a picture of an toddler Buddha. Picture by way of BCNY.
The Buddhist Council of New York (BCNY) partnered with The Columbia College Buddhist Affiliation (CUBA) to current a celebration of Vesak Day at Columbia College’s iconic Low Library on April 29, 2023. Vesak Day, sometimes celebrated in early Could, marks each the delivery and parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni and is a day of celebration for Buddhists worldwide. Roughly 150 folks gathered for the festivities.
The Buddhist Council of New York, based in 1985, is an affiliation of Buddhist Temples and organizations whose mission is to foster dialogue, cooperation and unity inside the Buddhist neighborhood within the New York Metropolis space, in addition to to arrange three occasions yearly: Meditate NYC, Vesak Day and the Buddhist Discussion board. Within the Eighties, BCNY collaborated extensively with the United Nations, ensuing within the U.N. recognizing Vesak Day as an official vacation for its staff. BCNY has lately been invited to collaborate with the NYC Mayor’s workplace of faith-based communities, and met with the Mayor this Fall.
Rev. Doyeon Park, President of BCNY.
The celebration included numerous prayers and talks from Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions in addition to shows from the Rev. Doyeon Park, President of BCNY and Mohsen Mahdawi, President of CUBA. Whereas there have been many faculties of Buddhism represented, there was a typical message that our primary nature is basically pure, and that the essence of the varied buddhist paths includes permitting our primary nature to emerge and radiate for the advantage of all. Vesak Day additionally featured performances together with “Give Love” and “Triple Gems” from Tzu Chi and Buddha’s Gentle Worldwide Affiliation, and culminated within the bathing of the Buddha, a conventional approach of paying homage to the Buddha.
In most years, the Vesak celebration features a colourful outside procession of varied sanghas sporting conventional robes and carrying colourful banners. Whereas the spring rains made the procession impractical, the complete afternoon was nonetheless full of a way of pleasure and goodwill.
See extra pictures of BCNY and CUBA’s Vesak celebrations under:
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