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Lingguang Temple in Beijing celebrates Buddha’s birthday

2019-05-17 11:20:00China Tibet Online

On May 12 (eighth day of the fourth month in Chinese lunar calendar), the Buddhist Association of China held a ceremony to celebrate the Buddha’s birthday at Lingguang Temple in Beijing, the site where the Buddha’s tooth relics is kept and worshipped. More than a thousand people including figures from the three major Buddhist linguistic families of China, distinguished guests from China and abroad, and Buddhist followers gathered to celebrate the Buddha’s birthday and cherish the benevolence of the Buddha.

In front of the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, which is placed under the Buddha’s tooth stupa, the Buddhist Association of China Vice President Yan Jue, Vice President Zong Xing, Vice Executive Secretary Chang Zang, Vice President Hu Xuefeng, and Master Huba Tikadaxi led the chanting of sutras. They prayed that the Buddha’s light would grow more brilliant, the country would be prosperous, and for world peace.

After the chanting, the solemn and grand ceremony to bathe the Buddha was carried out. The guests and religious followers respectfully poured pure water over the Buddha statue in an orderly fashion. This ritual symbolizes using the Buddha’s wisdom and the “dharma water” to cleanse one’s own dirt and receive an auspicious blessing.

Ambassadors from Burma, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, minister from the Thai Embassy in China, as well as representatives from the Vietnamese, Indian, Laotian, and Afghani Embassies in China attended and participated in the event.

Leaders from the United Work Front Department of CPC Central Committee, Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Buddhist Association of China, and the High-level Tibetan Buddhism Collage of China as well as guests from all walks of life also attended the aforementioned event.

The Buddhist Association of China has led the three major Buddhist linguistic families in celebrating the Buddha’s birthday for five consecutive years. It has continued to promote cultural exchanges with relevant countries and regions for the Buddha’s birthday. It is currently actively promoting “Buddha’s birthday” as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.

The scene at celebrations of the Buddha’s birthday at Lingguang Temple. 

The scene at celebrations of the Buddha’s birthday at Lingguang Temple.

The welcoming ceremony.

Chanting ceremony.

Buddhist followers come to participate in volunteer work for the Buddha’s birthday event.

A foreign ambassador pours water over the statue of the Buddha.

An statue of Sakyamuni Buddha.

The ceremony of bathing the Buddha.

On-site translation.

 

 

 

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