WAT PHRA DHAMMAKAYA AND ITS WORLDWIDE BRANCH CENTERS ARE ORGANIZING VARIOUS ACTIVITIES ON VESAK DAY-AN IMPORTANT DAY OF THE WORLD
Ven. Sanitwong Wuttiwangso, director of the communication department at Wat Phra Dhammakaya, said that VESAK Day is a commemoration of the day the Lord Buddha was born, became enlightened and passed away and has been officially recognized by the United Nation as “the world’s internationally important day”.
Vesak Day of 2015 falls on June 1st, and Wat Phra Dhammakaya and its 181 worldwide branch centers will be organizing various activities to acquaint people with Vesak Day and Buddhism. On this day, Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani will organize an alms-offering ceremony to 2,000 monks. During the late morning, there will be a meditation session; in the afternoon, a higher ordination ceremony for 12 novice monks of varying Pali levels, with Most Venerable Phra Maha Bodhiwongsajarn (Pali Studies Level 9, Royal Institute) acting as the ordination preceptor, will be held. The evening will conclude with a ceremony to light lanterns and circumambulate the Grand Meditation Stadium of the Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya.
- In the United States, Wat Phra Dhammakaya D.C. recently joined Vesak Day activities at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on May 14th. The Dhammakaya International Meditation Center in Azusa, California, will be arranging an international Vesak Day celebration that includes ceremonies to offer gifts to 200 monks from all Buddhist sects, light Vesak lanterns, circumambulate in homage of the Lord Buddha and meditation for world peace.
- In England, Wat Phra Dhammakaya London, in collaboration with Fo Guang Shan Temple (London), is organizing a Buddha’s Birthday Celebration in the heart of London.
- In Indonesia, the Dhammakaya Foundation and Warubi Society—a leading Buddhist organization of Indonesia, are organizing meditation sessions, auspicious chanting, candles lighting and sky lanterns releasing in homage to the Lord Buddha at Borobudur Cetiya.
In Singapore, the Kalyanamitta Center of Singapore and Buddhist monks from every Buddhist sects are arranging Vesak ceremonies at Suntec City. There will be an exhibition on Vesak Day and activities include ceremonial bathing of the Buddha image, lighting lanterns in homage to the Lord Buddha’s holy relics, chanting, and meditation session in English and Chinese languages. Monks from every Buddhist sect in Singapore and international guests have been invited to join in these auspicious ceremonies.
Special thanks to Photo from LION’S ROAR STAFF www.lionsroar.com
