Buddha Day is more of an Interfaith Celebration in Melbourne.
I plan to start the day early by attending the Tea Ceremony.. but sleepy head me woke up at 12.30pm! =_= no idea it was 12.30pm when I woke up :P
There's a few interesting activities there, here's some pics....
This is the Field of Enlightenment, you can write your wishes or messages for peace on the plastic leaves and/or lotus flowers and pit them randomly on the flooor in front of the Federation Square. You'll see messages of different languages and with the strong wind that we have in late Autumn now, the leaves are flapping from left to right. :)
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| Little Prince and the 9 Dragon's Fountain |
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| The Legend of the Buddha's Birth |
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| Lining up to pray with josstick |
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| Bathing of the Buddha | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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This is something different, the Buddha Day celebrates not only the Buddha's birthday, it is also an Interfaith Multicultural Ceremony for Peace and Understanding. In this Interfaith Ceremony, prayers from scared texts for peace and understanding were offered by representatives from several faiths. On the stage there is Buddhist, Brahma Kumrais, Christian, Sufi, Muslim and Naga Indigenous Chants. It's something different that I have not seen from where I come from in Malaysia. It is great to see all religion stand together, each offering a small Chant for Peace and Harmony followed by an English explanation. This is something that represents the unity and harmony in humanity! Love it
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| The result of the Giant Brush calligraphy demonstration. I miss this though, when I reached here, it's already been done and waiting for the ink to dry. |
The BMW Edge hall is where I tried the Meditation class. During this class, the venerable taught us walking meditation and sitting meditation. I never know that we can do walking meditation! It's more of mindfulness, walking is an action that we do everyday but we don't put our mind to it. All the time, when we walk, our mind is occupied by thousands of thought, where to go next, what to do next, appointments, are we late, which bus to take etc. The walking mediation teaches us to be on the NOW, to think about what we are doing, concentrate while we walk with each movement, clear your mind and only concentrate on your steps. It is quite interesting!
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| "Mindfulness is not to search for anything, it is to settle the mind. Asettled mind will find its true nature" |
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There's also stalls along the Yarra River selling vegetarian food. I bought a vegetarian "Luo Mai Fan" and also "Pearl Milk Tea" for lunch. Also, there is stalls where you can lean different types of handicraft for free! There's bead stringing, building lanterns, fishes, fans from red packets, origami's and also how to make this cute little dragon fly from a thread. :) I made this!
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| Grab a cup of Holy Water before I head back. |
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Was soooo hungry when I reached home, made wraps with hotdog + mushroom egg omelet + avocado. This Caramel Brulee was sold in Coles for $5 for 4 :P~ Heavenly!
