关于卫塞节|About Vesak Day
2500多年前在卫塞节这一天，人间见证了佛陀的诞生、得道、与涅槃。佛法很深奥，虽然极少人能够在有生之年里彻底地探讨佛陀的教诲，但佛陀也留下了许多方便法门让世俗人可以随时开始实修并终究得到解脱。
生活在末法时期的五浊恶世让人的身心感到尤其疲乏。在人与人、国与国之间的分歧越来越明显的时代里，卫塞节的意义变得更重大：除了纪念佛陀之外，庆祝卫塞节更重要的目的是要提醒大家无论环境再恶劣我们都得坚持以慈悲待众生、以正念保持平常心。
来到这里的佛友们也算是和佛法有缘。无论您是第一次接触佛法或已修行多年，报恩寺希望能够通过今年的卫塞节庆祝活动给予您护持，帮助您止息心中的烦恼并增长福慧。
More than 2,500 years ago on Vesak Day, we witnessed the birth, enlightenment and the entering of nirvana of the Buddha. Buddha's teachings is very expansive and though very few people could grasp its entirety in a single lifetime, the Buddha had left behind numerous ways to ease into Buddhist thought so much so that practice can be done anywhere, anytime, till one gains freedom from all suffering.
We live in an increasingly chaotic and complex era - a world where division between people and nations has become more and more severe. It is precisely so that celebrating Vesak Day has become all the more important - other than remembering the Buddha, the more crucial task is to remind ourselves that compassion and positivity are gifts that can improve everyone's lives.
Being here and reading this means you have some level of affinity with Buddha's teachings. Regardless whether this is your first time reading something about Buddhism or you've been practicing for many years, Poh Ern Shih hopes to assist your journey with this year's celebrations. May all of us gain enough wisdom to be free from suffering.
当天流程|Celebration schedule
10am - 浴佛、持诵金刚经 | Bathing the Buddha; Diamond Sutra recitation
浴佛是净化自己内心的一种表态。通过浴佛，我们在向诸佛菩萨请求加持，让我们能够尽快地袪除心里的贪欲、瞋恨、愚痴。浴佛也有许多功德，包括：现受富乐，无病延年； 亲友眷属，悉皆安稳； 于所愿求，无不遂意；常见诸佛、恒持正法； 人所敬奉，生欢喜心等等。
Bathing the Buddha is an expression of one's desire to purify ourselves. Through this ritual, we are essentially inviting blessings from the heavenly beings to assist us in removing hatred, greed and ignorance from our hearts. This ritual also brings numerous forms of merits, including longevity, good health, blessed family members & friends, all benign wishes coming true, gaining respect from others, as well as never straying from the Buddhist path for eternity.
10am to 2pm - 义卖会 | Charity Bazaar
自疫情爆发以来报恩寺今年将首次举办义卖会，让养老院的乐龄人士前来感受温暖与吉祥的气氛。还请各位佛友的踊跃赞助！
For the first time since the pandemic, Poh Ern Shih is bringing back our charity bazaar this year. We will be inviting individuals from a few elderly care homes to have them enjoy the prosperous atmosphere on Vesak Day. We appeal for your kind donation to make the bazaar a huge success!
11am - 供佛 | Offering to the Buddha
2pm - 传授三皈依 | Taking refuge in the Three Precepts
人生中，最可怕的事莫过于无所依靠。佛经形容人生就像在大海中漂荡，波浪汹涌，种种诸难，常有忧患，常常在恐惧害怕中求吉祥、求平安、求依靠、求安乐。但什么才算是真正的依靠，好让我们的心灵能得到永恒的安全感呢？唯独三皈依。
《皈依》是找到了依靠，犹如沉没在茫茫大海中，找到了救命的浮木；在人生的苦海中，找到了安身立命之处。而《三皈依》指的是仰赖佛、法、僧而取得永久的依靠并终究离苦得乐。
The scariest thing in life is having nothing to rely on. The Buddha taught us that life is like floating on a vast ocean of torrential waves, each representing a form of suffering, relentlessly tormenting us. Amidst this, we naturally seek out a sense of security and more often than not they come and go. What then can really give us a permanent escape from all sorts of pain? Only seeking refuge in the Three Precepts.
'Refuge' here means seeking shelter from the torrents of life's sufferings, akin to finding a floating piece of wood to hang on to when one is about to drown. Seeking refuge in the Three Precepts then means sheltering oneself from sufferings through the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddha's teachings) and the Sangha (the monastic community).
6pm - 三步一拜 | 3 steps 1 prostration
每一拜代表自己对佛的礼敬，也意味着忏悔过去恶业的决心，从中净化自己的身、口、意而取得平静。
Every prostration represents one's gratitude and respect towards the Buddha. It also represents the will to repent for evil deeds committed in the past, purifying one's actions, speech and mind to redeem inner peace.
7.30pm - 传灯 | Light passing
护持方式|Options to support the event
供灯 | Light Offering - $10
传灯 | Light passing - $10
供花 | Flower offering to the Buddha - $20
供佛 | Offering to Buddha - $20
供寿桃寿面 | Longevity peach & noodles - $20
供水果花篮 | Fruit and flowers - $38
万字灯 | Swastika light - $100
供如意斋 | Vegetarian meal- $100
特别活动 | Special initiative
赞助养老院人士在义卖会中享用美食、感受吉祥与温暖的氛围 | Sponsor individuals from elderly home to enjoy a meal at the charity bazaar and let them soak in the prosperous vibes of Vesak Day
每人$10 | $10 per elderly
报名方式 | Registration
Whatsapp (9639 2440)
电话｜ Landline (6474 3926)
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