BATHING OF THE BUDDHA
(PRINCE SIDDHARTHA) CELEBRATION
The morning sun was ready for a very special day. It stretched his rays across the horizon and embraced the earth, sneaking its way between window blinds to awaken the sleeping. It was May 11th, a warm Sunday welcome to a festive celebration.
Prior to Sunday, our volunteers and Resident Venerables of ABLS busied themselves in preparation for the upcoming activities, paying heed to every little detail, as perfection is always an endeavor. All of Friday was dedicated to purchasing supplies and groceries ranging from flowers to decorations to fruits. The following day was well utilized in set-up and event coordination. Among preparation tasks, glass vases were filled with water and flowers, symbolizing the blessing of each person or family who donated to ABLS.
Come day of “Bathing of the Buddha,” the ABLS main assembly room opened its doors shortly before 8AM. Soon after, the temple was submerged in a sea of lively Buddhists, generating a strong aura of good spirits and energy. Two special guests were amongst the assembly of eager worshippers: Vice
Mayor Mr. David Cortese of San Jose and his family, and Mr. Mark WP Liao, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in San Francisco.
Everybody came to honor and commemorate the birth of the Buddha, and in doing so, bathed a tiny statue with ladles of water, signifying the purgation of our defilements and negative influences. The focus of the room was the small golden statue of baby Prince Siddhartha placed in a bowl of blessed water, the centerpiece encircled by garlands of floral arrangements. In the backdrop, carnations lined the alters and gracefully blended its soft yet contrasting colors in the bright foreground.
With an uplifting atmosphere, service began promptly at 8AM with chanting, followed by the Bathing of the Buddha two and a half hours later. At 11, Abbess Ven. Tien Inn offered our guests gifts, as it was Mr. Liao’s last day participating in ABLS events, due to a job transfer to Taiwan. In honor, we sang two songs to send him off with. Service then resumed with the usual routine, topped off with cake served alongside with an appetizing lunch. As Mother’s Day coincided with the ceremony, carnations and balloons were gifts to the mothers and grandmothers amongst the jovial crowd.
As always, Buddhists bring in good spirits to the temple, and on that Sunday each of us left with a stronger spirit. It was the kind of spirit nurtured and encouraged by the positive energy people shared with one another. By performing this ceremonial Bathing of baby Prince Siddhartha statue, we were all blessed with the opportunity to cleanse ourselves of self-defilements and sufferings; which will in turn help us achieve inner peace and happiness.
