Posts Tagged ‘Happy Vesak Day’

Although this blog is focus on the topic of ‘death’, Buddhism has long been an advocate of the cycle of ‘life and death’. Thus, I’ll use this blog to share my Buddhist life journey before I die and regret someday…:)

This post is about Vesak (also known as Wesak) Day, which is an auspicious celebration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. This year, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to attend the Colours of Vesak Festival, a Multicultural Performance by SA Zhu-Lin Buddhist Association. The performance revolves around the life of the Buddha, just like the movie: Little Buddha.

As the stage performance was managed by mostly Malaysian Buddhist students, it was a nostalgic moment for me to witness such an interesting performance (reminding me of my involvement in Buddhist plays when I was a young boy).

Few memorable moments of laughter for this show are:

1. A ’skinny’ white elephant appearing in Queen Māyā Maya’s dream touching her side, and made her became pregnant, after 20 years of marriage without birth
2. when the Buddha was born, he stood straight, took seven steps, and declared “I alone am the World-Honored One.” And he pointed up with one hand and down with the other, to indicate he would unite heaven and earth. I am told the seven steps represent seven directions — north, south, east, west, up, down, and here. Mahayana Buddhists interpret “I alone am the World-Honored One” in a way that “I” represents all sentient beings throughout space and time — everyone, in other words.
3. A half contemporary half ancient ‘talent show contest’ in the selection of Yasodhara  as Prince Siddhartha’s wife to keep Prince Siddhartha happy in the palace

Pictures of the Colours of Vesak Festival show cast and crew members:

There are 2 significant events that stood out from this show:

a) Ordination of Maha Prahjapati Gotami, Buddha’s step mother

Maha Prajapati Gotami, Buddha’s step mother, requested ordination. He refused and eventually travelled on to Vesali. Gotami followed with a large group of ladies and on arrival met Ananda, the Buddha’s attendant, who agreed to ask the Buddha on their behalf. Eventually – if reluctantly – the Buddha agreed, subject to Eight Important Rules.

When the Buddha allowed women to be ordained, it was because he realized women have the same spiritual potential as men to be enlightened. He therefore allowed them to become nuns. The statement that by accepting women, Buddhism
would be shortened from 1000 years to 500 years is no longer valid because the Buddha’s teachings had prospered for over 2500 years. So such words could have not have come from the Buddha. He also set out the Garudarama or the Eight Important Rules in order to strengthen the sangha. So there is no question that Buddhism would decline because women become nuns.

Another argument was that:

the issue isn’t centered around the 1000 to 500. It’s the issue that women “is” the problem that only buddha ordained them so they lost their lineage to be ordained today because there is no female arahants to do so. The basic argument is skewed. That’s the real problem, so …
1) the 1000 to 500 becomes sort of a “cursed” for women … they are perceived as the culprit … making today’s women “faulty” to be ordained ….
2) if women lost the lineage of arahant nuns to further the ordaination process for all the females, then males have problems as we know now  as well we don’t have arahant males to ordain us … so if that argument is true, for the last 2000 years, we are illegal in our ordination and all our elders are fakes …
3) the ordination was done by ananda (stream enterer) …. so anyone could do it, do not need arahant nor the buddha to perform it … just literally anyone can do the ordination … short of being a 5, 8 or 10 precept holder

therefore, the argument didn’t centered around the 500 years after the buddha’s passing.

b) Buddha’s exposition of Dharma to Upali

Once Upali, the millionaire and a follower of Niganta Natha Putta was so impressed by the Buddha’s expounding of the dhamma, that he immediately met the Noble One and expressed his desire to become a follower forthwith.

The Buddha, calm and collected as usual replied, “Upali, a distinguished citizen like you should not arrive at hasty decisions. Think about the matter calmly, investigate and inquire with care and then make up your mind”.

These words of wisdom of the Buddha made Upali more keen to become a follower of the lofty teaching of the noble teacher.

He then respectfully told the Buddha, “Lord had I joined as a follower of another teacher the adherents of that teaching would have taken me in procession round the town, proclaiming that such and such a millionaire became a follower of their teaching. You O! Lord, on the contrary advise me to think further, investigate and analyse, without being hasty”.

He then appealed once again to the Buddha to take him as a follower. On realizing that Upali wanted to become a follower through conviction, He gave his consent. The Buddha advised Upali to treat his former teacher with respect and regard and to support him as usual.

This incident and the resulting conversation clearly shows that the Buddha’s aim in disseminating the dhamma was not to swell the number of converts, but to change the hearts and minds of the people and draw them towards the Buddhist way of righteous living.

Even today there are thousands of people living in the West, who lead lives in conformity with dhamma but do not call themselves Buddhists. The Noble One’s advice to Upali to support his former teacher shows that the sublime teaching of the Buddha does not speak of other religions or their teachers in disparaging terms.

The dissemination of the dhamma is done in the most civilized and cultured manner. No threats, coercion or other iniquitous methods are ever employed. The spread of the dhamma has been going on for over 2000 years. The hands of the dharmadutas were clean of blood, while not a single threat or even a harsh word escaped their lips. This is a good lesson to certain religious sects, that are very busy, particularly in developing countries trying their utmost to get a good “harvest” of converts.

What do you think was the most memorable part of the show?

How do you apply Buddhism in your day-to-day practice?

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