May the Divine Presence....
Give us the Breath of Life, Bless Our Existence with Its Wisdom, Strength, and Enlightenment….
Make us not just Spectators in the Grand Theater of the Cosmos, But True Fuel that Moves the Wheel of Ascension, Shared Compassion, Mercy, and Love….
Make Us All as Small as a Grain of Sand, Yet, Allow Us to Leave Behind a Great Legacy of Light, Hope, Faith, and Charity With Our Own Example…
Let Us Be Fully Aware of the Every Day the Miracles that Makes Everything In our Bodies and Nature Itself True Gifts of Its Glory Within Us…
That Embodies Its Higher Magnificence Within Our Soul, Mark Our Existence With Its Everlasting Gift of Giving Us the Christ I Am Presence that Makes Us Immortal …
Give us the True Essence in Ourselves to Realize the Richness, Prosperity, and Total Abundance that is Real and an Integral Part of Creation and Our Own Gifts To All By Our Sharing…
May This 2012 Wesak be Sublime in Our Realization Of the Grandness of Our Mission, and Love for Our Planet, Our Brothers and Sisters of the Universe, and the Everlasting Ongoing Search to Be Better Each Day, Expand the Divine In Our Existence, and Give Our Best To All.
To All That Encompasses Life In Its highest Divinity, the Lord Buddha, The Christ Self Higher Consciousness, Angels, Archangels, Divine Beings, Ascended Masters, Saints, Intergalactic Brotherhood of Light, and Our Brothers and Sisters Who so Lovingly Share This Planet.
Namaste!
Rev. Barby Soliman May 1st, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Rev. Barbara Soliman
Courtesy of www.godspeed-network.com
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Courtesy of: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/wesak.shtml
What is Wesak and why is it so important?
Wesak is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is celebrated on the full moon in May. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his enlightenment and death.
Buddha literally means 'one who is awake' and has become enlightened. It is a term that denotes a person who has attained the supreme wisdom and compassion of Enlightenment.
To Buddhists Enlightenment is a blessed state in which the individual attains Nirvana - the transcendence of desire and suffering. Woman lighting incense at Buddhist temple Woman lighting incense at Buddhist temple © Buddha's disciples
Many of Buddha's disciples have attained Enlightenment, and there have been many other Enlightened teachers.
The celebration of Wesak is a chance to remember the story of how the Buddha gained Enlightenment, and to reflect on what it might mean for individual Buddhists to move towards Enlightenment themselves.
Celebrations
The festival is celebrated with much colour and gaiety. Homes may be cleaned and decorated. In Thailand, for example, special Wesak lanterns are made of paper and wood, and often there a large ceremonial releases of caged birds.
In many countries during the festival, Buddhists will visit their local temple for services and teaching, and will give offerings to the monks of food, candles and flowers. Traditional dancer at Buddhist shrine Traditional dancer at Buddhist shrine.
Chanting and praying are an important part of Wesak. The 'Bathing the Buddha' ceremony is also often included. Water is poured over the shoulders of the Buddha and serves as a reminder to purify the mind from greed, hatred and ignorance.
Chinese Buddhists incorporate elements of their country's culture into their religious celebrations like the traditional dancing dragons.
Gifts are taken to an altar to be offered to the Buddha statues. This shows respect and gratitude to the Buddha for his life and teachings.
If there is food it is usually vegetarian as Buddhists try not to harm animals.
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