Wat Phra Dhammakaya and the World Buddhist Organization together with the monastic community from all over the world host an online chanting and candle lighting ceremony in homage to the Buddha on the International Day of Vesak via ZOOM.
Venerable Phrakrusamu Sanitwong Wuttiwangso, Director of the Communication Department, mentioned that Vesak Day (26 May 2021) is an important day in Buddhism because it was the day that the Buddha was born, became enlightened, and attained complete Nirvana. This day is also recognized by the United Nations as the International Day of Vesak. On this occasion, Wat Phra Dhammakaya, in collaboration with the World Buddhist Organization and various Buddhist networks, organized an online event by inviting the monks from all over the world to jointly chant and the lay people participate in lighting more than 180,000 candles, arranged in the images of the significant events of the Buddha: His Birth, Enlightenment, and Attainment to Complete Nirvana.
The ceremony commenced at 7:00 pm by paying respect to the Triple Gem and was followed by the lighting of over 180,000 candles in homage to the Buddha, the mass meditation to purify the mind, the chanting by monks in Thailand and from all over the world, the spread of loving kindness for peace, harmony, and safety from COVID-19, and the celebration for achieving 3,406,000,000 rounds of Dhammacakka recited.
“Today’s ceremony was organized to commemorate the great wisdom, the virtues and the great compassion to human beings of the Buddha. This event is strictly complied with the preventive measures against COVID-19 by limiting the number of participants at the venue and requesting the monks and lay people to participate online. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wat Phra Dhammakaya and the Dhammakaya Foundation have donated over 116,800 items of medical supplies and equipment at the total value of more than 10.3 million baht.” said Ven. Phrakrusamu Sanitwong.
