Buddha Day Ceremony


There are different records of Buddha's birthdate, but what remains unchanged is the intention of Buddhists to express their gratitude to Buddha.

Taking the calendar traditions of North Asia, South Asia and Tibet into consideration, the Buddhist community in Singapore sets the official date of the Vesak Day as the 15th day of the fourth lunar month each year. Tzu Chi, which originated in Taiwan, inherits the North Asia tradition established by the Yuan Dynasty and commemorates the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month.

In 2000, the Taiwanese government designated Buddha's Birthday as a national holiday and it coincided with Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. Therefore, following Tzu Chi Taiwan, Tzu Chi volunteers around the world standardised and begun to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday, Mother’s Day and Global Tzu Chi Day on the second Sunday of May yearly together, collectively referred to as "Three Festivals in One".

The annual Buddha Bathing Ceremony is an important Dharma Assembly for Tzu Chi volunteers in Singapore. It promotes the truth, goodness and beauty of Buddhism, and also unites local inter-faith communities to pray together for Singapore and beyond. On this day, Dharma Masters from various monasteries, local dignitaries, representatives of the ten major religions in Singapore and people from the community prayed sincerely together for the peace of Singapore and the world.

 

Pay homage to the Buddha and receive the fragrance of flowers

Master Cheng Yen believes: "For the sake of Buddhism, we must express the beauty of sincerity, not only in Taiwan, but also around the world. This is to allow the Buddha's light to shine brightly, to enable the righteous Dharma to remain in the world, and for Buddhism to flourish in the world. For Dharma to continue in the world, it needs to be demonstrated by people."

In the centre of the outdoor stadium was a dignified and pure crystal Buddha statue, surrounded by thousands of volunteers and congregants who came together to form a totem that was well-organised and neat. With pious thoughts, they circumambulated around, worshipped and bathed the Buddha.

 

 “Buddha Bathing” is a way to remind everyone to purify their intrinsic nature at all times. To pay homage at the Buddha's feet with our utmost respect is to cleanse our hearts. After paying homage at the Buddha's feet, dip your hands in fragrant water and when you join your palms together devoutly, you will smell an aromatic scent. The scent symbolises that the fragrance of the Buddha's virtues, Dharma and pure spirituality will always remain in our hearts.

 

The origin of “Three Festivals in One”

The celebration of “Three Festivals in One” refers to Buddha’s Birthday, Mother’s Day and Global Tzu Chi Day.

Global Tzu Chi Day commemorates the founding of Tzu Chi in Hualien, Taiwan on 14 May 1966 (or the 24th of the leap third month of the lunar year 1966). In the early days, Tzu Chi volunteers returned to Hualien Jing Si Abode according to the lunar calendar to participate in anniversary celebrations and celebrate Master Cheng Yen’s lunar birthday.

As Tzu Chi volunteers began to spread all over the world, Master Cheng Yen hoped that Tzu Chi could become internationalised and with that, facilitated overseas volunteers to return to Taiwan regularly according to the Gregorian calendar, which is accepted as an international standard. In celebration of Tzu Chi’s 30th anniversary in 1996, Master declared the second Sunday of May each year, that is Mother's Day, as "Global Tzu Chi Day" to express our gratitude to our parents and all living beings.

With the adjusted date of Taiwan’s national Buddha’s Birthday and Master’s wish to raise the profile of Buddhism around the world, Master called on Tzu Chi volunteers worldwide to organise the “Three Festivals in One” event at their local communities, starting from the 40th anniversary celebrations. On this day each year, Tzu Chi volunteers lead the locals to express their gratitude to the Buddha, their parents and all living beings, and pray together for the well-being of all.