Blessed Buddha's Nativity Day

Forum for discussion of East Asian Buddhism. Questions specific to one school are best posted in the appropriate sub-forum.
Post Reply
plwk
Posts: 2932
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:41 am

Blessed Buddha's Nativity Day

Post by plwk »

Image

Today, 8th Day of 4th Lunar Month, 6th April 2014, Upavasatha Day, the Chinese Mahayana Tradition commemorates the Buddha's Nativity
plwk
Posts: 2932
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:41 am

Re: Blessed Buddha's Nativity Day

Post by plwk »

Image

Asita the seer, in his mid-day meditation,
saw the devas of the Group of Thirty
— exultant, ecstatic —
dressed in pure white, honoring Indra,
holding up banners, cheering wildly,
& on seeing the devas so joyful & happy,
having paid his respects, he said:

"Why is the deva community
so wildly elated?
Why are they holding up banners
& waving them around?

Even after the war with the Asuras
— when victory was the devas'.
the Asuras defeated —
even then there was no excitement like this.

Seeing what marvel
are the devas so joyful?
They shout, they sing,
play music, clap their hands, dance.

So I ask you, who live on Mount Meru's summit.
Please dispel my doubt quickly, dear sirs."

"The Bodhisatta, the foremost jewel,
unequaled, has been born for welfare & ease
in the human world,
in a town in the Sakyan countryside, Lumbini.
That's why we're all so wildly elated.

He, the highest of all beings,
the ultimate person,
a bull among men, foremost of all people,
will set turning the Wheel [of Dhamma]
in the grove named after the seers,
like a strong, roaring lion,
the conqueror of beasts."

More here

More from Abhinishkramana Sutra: The Birth & Buddhacarita: Bhagavatprasūtiḥ
plwk
Posts: 2932
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:41 am

Re: Blessed Buddha's Nativity Day

Post by plwk »

phpBB [video]


Bhikkhus, a certain person is born in the world for the welfare and pleasantness of gods and men. Who is it?
It is the Thus Gone One, Worthy and Rightfully Enlightened, born out of compassion for the world.

Anguttara Nikaya: Ekanipata: Ekapuggalavaggo

Video presents the 'Nine Dragons Bathing Sakyamuni' in 'The Grand Buddha of Mt. Líng', Wú Xī, southern Jiāngsū Province in China
plwk
Posts: 2932
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:41 am

Re: Blessed Buddha's Nativity Day

Post by plwk »

phpBB [video]


One common way of performing the abhiseka rite of bathing the Buddha image whilst singing the 'Bathing the Buddha Gatha'
(Video presents a common scene of bathing the Buddha during Vesak Day in Malaysia's Fo Guang Shan's East Zen Monastery (東禪寺 / dōng chán sì) and chant by the Fo Guang Monastic choir)

我今灌沐諸如來, 淨智莊嚴功德海, 五濁眾生離塵垢, 同證如來淨法身
wǒ jīn guan mù zhū rú lái, jìng zhì zhuāng yán gōng dé hǎi,
wǔ zhuó zhòng shēng lí chén gòu, tong zhèng rú lái jìng fǎ shēn
Now do I bathe the Tathagatas,
Adorned with Pure Wisdom, Oceanwide Storehouse of Merit and Virtue
May sentient beings of five turbidities steer off defilement
Together attaining the Tathagata's Pure Dharmakaya
Last edited by plwk on Mon May 05, 2014 6:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
plwk
Posts: 2932
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:41 am

Re: Blessed Buddha's Nativity Day

Post by plwk »

Image
Another method of performing the abhiseka bathing rite whilst chanting 'The Bathing Buddha True Words / 有浴佛真言 / yù fó zhēn yán'
唵底沙底沙僧伽娑诃: ǎn dǐ shā dǐ shā sēng qié suō hē' as seen in this video

The Sutra On The Merit Of Bathing The Buddha
plwk
Posts: 2932
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:41 am

Re: Blessed Buddha's Nativity Day

Post by plwk »

phpBB [video]

The Noble Great Vehicle Sūtra “The Play in Full”
Wherever he placed his feet on the ground,
A beautiful lotus,
Adorned with many jewels,
Sprouted forth from the earth.

Thus, having taken seven steps,
With the melodious voice of Brahmā, he proclaimed:
“The sublime physician, dispeller of old age and death,
Has now arrived!”

Fearlessly he looked in all directions
And then spoke meaningfully:
“I am the leader of the world;
Supreme in this world, I am its guide.
“This is my last birth.”

Saying this, the Guide of Men smiled.
Today, 8th Day of 4th Lunar Month, 25th May 2015, Upavasatha Day, the Chinese Mahayana Tradition commemorates the Buddha's Nativity
Nicholas Weeks
Posts: 4209
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:21 am
Location: California

Re: Blessed Buddha's Nativity Day

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

City of 10,000 Buddhas:

Image
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Post Reply

Return to “East Asian Buddhism”