Last year, this celebration was held locally, in Wollongong. This year, I had to take a train trip into the city, as the Buddha's Birthday celebration was to be held at Darling Harbor. I was working on the Saturday, but able to attend on Sunday May 11.
I arrived quite early, as I generally do. This enabled me to take a brief look at the stalls and food kiosks prior to watching what I mistakenly thought of as a poorly attended ceremony with chuckling nuns and absent dancers. This turned out to be the dress rehearsal, rather than an early start, however. I wandered along to view the information for non-Buddhists and display banners, and the wishing bell and birth garden display, before returning to the main ceremony.
A lion dance and costumed Buddhists from around the city and suburbs bringing fruits, flowers, and incenses to the main display stage started the official proceedings. I was most interested in the Thai and Tibetan costumes, as it is Buddhism from these countries that I mainly follow. Next, the arrival of the important Buddhists in attendance.
I found it strange following the Ode to the Triple Gem/Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem. Last year, I was only just beginning to consider practicing as a Buddhist, and they were unknown to me, until I read of their importance at home afterwards. This year, I was so well acquainted with it in the Tibetan format, that finding the Nan Tien Temple version confused me. (I shall have to retain the brochure, so that I can get used to it in advance, ready for next year!)
I listened to the speeches, of which I found the Abbess Yi Lai's the most agreeable. I enjoyed the dance and chanting performance, and also the 'Harmonise' song recital. As was the case last year, I felt a little too timid to go up to the stage front to Bathe the Buddha afterwards. Last year, I was not a Buddhist. This year, I am a home-Buddhist, but I do not yet have a connection to a local Temple or group. Whereas I have since learned the respectful Namaste gesture, I remain unaware of the correct etiquette and sequence for the bathing of the Buddha, so preferred to do so in my mind, visualization wise, instead of joining with the crowd.
Taking a brief look at the stalls for the last time, I departed at this point. The train trip home is a fairly long one of almost two hours duration, and I had to get home to feed our pigeons. I could not find a book stall catering for those of the community that are already on the Buddhist path, this year. However, there were plenty of informative brochures for people who wished to learn about Buddhism and its beliefs at the information stall.
I felt somewhat like the contents of a sandwich. I was neither in the bread category of those who practice Buddhism and have an affiliated Temple or group, nor of the bread layer of those who were new to Buddhism and had no experience or interest in personal practice. However, I was made welcome by those who spoke to me and there is much opportunity for someone with an interest in learning about Buddhism at such an occasion. My intermediacy was difficult to explain, but perhaps by next year, I shall have located a suitable Temple.
No comments:
Post a Comment