Join us for a celebration of the birth of the Buddha! The event takes place at the St. Norbert Arts Centre on Sunday May 31 starting at 7:00pm. The program includes a Parade of Lanterns, spiritual dance and music and features a Dharma Talk by Sensei Ulrich.

Alfred Bloom, Honolulu Star Bulletin, April 5, 2008

Honolulu, Hawaii (USA) -- The story of Buddha's birth is rich in symbolism and suggestions of meaning, appealing to the imagination and feelings. It is a question for us whether we can draw any meaning for ourselves out of such ancient stories.
The fanciful nature of the stories of the white elephant, the baby's birth fully grown, supernatural rain and flowers tends to limit their meaning to children. Nevertheless, they tell us about the role of Buddhism in the world.

Hanamatsuri, as a festival of Buddha's birth, developed in China and Japan as an occasion of beauty and joy. Spring was an auspicious time in nature. An ancient account tells us that when Buddhas are born, "all evil is ended, everything has fully matured."

Flowers play a conspicuous role in many Buddhist myths and in Buddha's birth, signaling times of celebration, hope, joy and beauty. Pouring sweet tea over images of the child Buddha and adorning flower pavilions became popular in Japan during the Tokugawa age after the 17th century. The liberating message of Buddhism brought welcome relief for ancient people with their many cares, anxieties and sufferings.

In Mahayana Buddhism every Buddha comes into the world with the purpose to emancipate those in bondage. However, as Buddhist thought deepened, it understood that salvation, like liberty, is indivisible; it must include everyone else.

The understanding of the mission of Buddhism expanded over the centuries, focusing on lay people as the center of the religion and the bearer of the mission of Buddhism. The transition in the role of the layperson received vivid expression in Shinran's vision. The Bodhisattva Kannon appeared as a monk and announced that he (Kannon) would become a woman as his wife. Together they would adorn and enhance the world. Shinran was commissioned to take this message to the masses in the eastern area of Japan.

Shinran's strong sense of mission also appears in the story of his vow to recite a sacred text for the benefit of suffering beings. He soon stopped, realizing it was not the right way to achieve his purpose. He remembered Shan-tao (Zendo), a Chinese Pure Land teacher, who stated that sharing one's faith with others is the true way to express one's gratitude for the Buddha's compassion. Thereafter, Shinran devoted his life to teaching the farmers and workers of eastern Japan.

We can draw some insight for the contemporary meaning of Buddhism from these stories:

» First, despite many historical changes and cultural contexts, the goal of Buddhism remains the same. It is to liberate people from their sufferings and to bring joy to their lives.

» Secondly, the context of Buddhist mission is in ordinary family life. Shinran and his wife had a mutual partnership to share the teaching.

» Thirdly, there must be outreach to people. Buddhism can no longer be isolated within the four walls of a temple, but it must turn outward to participation in the community and world.

As we take up our responsibility, we must constantly ask ourselves: How are we, as Buddhists, enhancing the world in which we live? Does our Buddhism bring joy to life in the world, peace and justice? In this way Hanamatsuri, the festival of flowers, will not merely be an annual event, but an expression of the meaning of our lives.

------------------------

Alfred Bloom is an emeritus professor of religion at the University of Hawaii.

What is Vesak?
The Buddhist Channel, April 30, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Vesak (Sinhalese) is the most holy time in the Buddhist calendar. In Indian Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the holiday is known by its Sanskrit equivalent, Vaisakha. Due to the leap year in the lunar calendar, Vesak is celebrated on both May 1 and 31 in 2007 (varies according to countries). The word Vesak itself is the Sinhalese language word for the Pali variation, "Visakha". Visakha/Vaisakha is the name of the second month of the Indian calendar.

On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The Birth, Enlightenment and the Passing Away of Gautama Buddha. The exact date of Vesak is defined according to the astrological calendar, as the time of the full moon of Taurus, which corresponds to the birth, enlightenment (Nirvana) and the passing away (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha. According to the Chinese Lunar calendar, Vesak is usually celebrated on the full moon day of the fourth month.

For this year 2007 however, there are two full moon days in the month of May. Some countries have opted to celebrate on the first full moon (May 1) based on the resolution passed at Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in 1950, whereas others have chosen to do so on the second full moon day (May 31), based on the traditional chinese calendar.

The decision to agree to celebrate Vesak as the Buddha’s birthday was formalized at the first Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (W.F.B.) held in Sri Lanka in 1950, although festivals at this time in the Buddhist world are a centuries-old tradition.

The Resolution that was adopted at the World Conference reads as follows:

"That this Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, while recording its appreciation of the viscous act of His Majesty, the Maharaja of Nepal in making the full-moon day of Vesak a Public Holiday in Nepal, earnestly requests the Heads of Governments of all countries in which large or small number of Buddhists are to be found, to take steps to make the full-moon day in the month of May a Public Holiday in honour of the Buddha, who is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest benefactors of Humanity."

Where Vesak is celebrated in 2007 (brackett denotes what the public holiday is called in each respective country).
May 1: Sri Lanka (Vesak), Malaysia (Wesak), Cambodia (Visaka Bochea - Buddha Day), Myanmar (Kason Full Moon - Buddha Day)
May 2: Nepal - (Buddha Jayanti - Buddha Day), Laos - (Vesak), India (Buddha Purnima - Buddha Day), Bangladesh (Buddha Purnima - Buddha Day)
May 24: Hong Kong (Buddha's Birthday), South Korea (Seokka Tanshin-il - Buddha's Birthday), Macau (Buddha's Birthday), Taiwan (Buddha's Birthday)
May 31: Singapore (Vesak), Thailand (Visakha Bucha Day)
June 1: Bhutan (Buddha Day), Indonesia (Waisak - Buddha Day)

In Japan, Buddhists including the Jodo Shinshu sect, celebrate Buddha's birthday on April 8 as Hanamatsuri.

Among the events in Winnipeg, there will be a "Blue Moon Buddha Birthday" celebration at the St. Norbert Arts Centre on Sunday, May 31. The program includes a lantern procession, chanting of loving kindness and insight meditation. Radhika, a teacher from the Sri Lankan community, and Sensei Ulrich of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple will each give a dharma talk. There will be music, tea and snacks in the gallery.