Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, May 20 (Nepal Oregon News): Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima is a very auspicious day for Buddhists all over the world. Twenty five sixty third (2563) Buddha Jayanti was celebrated at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA on Saturday May 18, 2019 amid various programs.
A number of Nepalese community members from Portland and neighboring cities took part in the event. Also present at the Buddha Jayanti celebration were a number of American Buddhists as well as Americans interested in Buddhism.
Buddha Purnima celebrations started at the Mahavihara with the chanting of Naam Sangiti Tuta by Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya and other Nepalese and American participants. During the Naam Sangiti, everyone gave bath to Baby Buddha.
On the occasion, colorful Baby Buddha Procession was taken out around the temple at the Mahavihara accompanied by the music players who played various Newah music instruments.
Also, during the Buddha Jayanti festival, a Five Buddha (Pancha Buddha) play directed and conceptualized by Axi Tristan Codrescu was staged at the Mahavihara. The play was performed by seven children and five ladies. At the end of the play, Prajwal honored the participants by giving away Vajra Necklace. Guruju Prajwal also told stories to children about Siddhartha Gautam Buddha.
108 butter fed diyos (candle-like lights) were illuminated during the ceremony.
Likewise, Refuge Dance (a performance of Buddha Bandana Dance through Charya Nritya) was also performed 108 times continuously by American and Nepali devotees. Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya honored the dancers on the occasion by wrapping Khata (traditional scarf) on them and by giving Eight Auspicious Symbols to them.
 |
| Refuge charya dance |
At the end of the function, a talent show was held. Prajwal, Uppa Shakya and Anastasia Roderick performed the Pancha Buddha charya dance. Danish Lok Nath threw light on the importance of Buddhism. He played a classical musical instrument. Likewise, Jameela performed Bengali rituals along with a Bengali song, and Sarah sang an English song about peace and happiness.
 |
| (Danish Lok Nath performing on a rare musical instrument.) |
 |
A group of Nepalese ladies and gentlemen also performed Sheel Prarthana and Tri-Ratna Bandana on the occasion.
 |
| (From left to right: Gyani Maharjan, Devi Laxmi Maharjan, Padma Laxmi Manandhar, Naveena Shakya, Dina Shakya, Anjali Bajracharya, Ekamananda Bajracharya and Pradeep Bajracharya performing Sheel Prarthana and Tri-Ratna Bandana.) |
The program was followed by a Kheer dinner (rice cooked in milk with sugar, cashews, cloves, cardamoms, raisins, coconuts etc) along with Jeri-Swari, Maarpa, and other Newah delicacies. The celebration of Buddha Purnima in a number of countries across the world highlights the significance of Buddhism as a major religious force in the world with an estimated 480 million adherents.
This is again a testimony that Shakya Muni Siddhartha Gautam Buddha who was born in Nepal is adored and respected worldwide as the apostle of peace and light of Asia, and his teachings about peace and non-violence are relevant today more so than ever when so many nations are mired in violence and civil wars.
The four noble truths and eightfold path are the most important teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddhism, in fact, is not just a religion, it is also a way of life, a realism of non-violence and peaceful co-existence.
After all, why do Buddhists all over the world celebrate Buddha Purnima? As a matter of fact, Purnima means full moon day. For Buddhists, every full moon day of the month is sacred and pious. The full moon day in the month of Baisakh has an additional and special significance. On this particular day, Siddhartha Gautam was born, attained enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana.
The four noble truths are the most basic formulation of the Buddha's teachings: All existence is Dukkha (suffering). The cause of Dukkha is cravings. The cessation of Dukkha comes with the cessation of craving. Noble eightfold path is the means to end the Dukkha.
(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)
No comments:
Post a Comment