Quoting from the invitation to the ceremonies:
“The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is the largest Buddha carved from gemstone quality jade in the world. The Jade Buddha stands nearly 9 feet tall and is beyond value. Its size and beauty make it a wonder of the world. The Buddha inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodh Gaya (India) is the model for the Great Jade Buddha. This Buddha was chosen because it is universally recognized by all Buddhists. Famous artisans from Thailand carved the Buddha from a rare boulder of translucent Jade (“Polar Pride”) which was discovered in Northern Canada in 2000.
“Veneration of the Jade Buddha will include recitation of the Buddha’s Ten Thousand Names for Repentance and Reform. We will devote our merits to World Peace and Happiness for All Sentient Beings.”
This community, the Vietnamese Buddhists of Tampa Bay, are a very devout and generous group of people who exemplify Lord Buddha's teachings in practice. A good friend, who has studied more of Buddhism overall than I have, explained that the Buddhism of Viet Nam is truly non-sectarian although generally called Mahayana. I personally experienced their welcoming and accepting character in their acceptance of me as a Ngakpa in my robes. In fact they made all of us welcome. In this setting, where, as another friend stated it, we were in the minority, beyond the language differences I felt so comfortably at home.
On the day before, when we had gone to the temple mistakenly on the wrong day due to a typographical error in a notice, I went into the temple and venerated their main Buddha statue and spent a few minutes in meditation. One of the ladies, sought so fervently to encourage us to come back on the correct day. The welcome felt so genuine especially because I recognized the lady from those who had come to the Maitreya Project Relic Tour. In fact, on Saturday, I recognized so many more faces from that weekend.
On this occasion we saw the results of all the work that had been under way on Friday. Beautiful decorations had been completed. Flowers were everywhere. So many people were dressed in traditional costume as well as festive attire. Everything about the setting and the level of excitement of everyone clearly spoke of expectation of the imminent arrival of a most famous dignitary.
On this Saturday morning I felt my first obligation to again go into their temple to again venerate their Buddha and meditate. However, just as I got to the steps, the relics were being brought out, giving me the opportunity to venerate them which turned out to be the only such opportunity on this day. As we went to find a seat while we could, we found a friend we knew from a very different setting who had also unexpectedly been a few seats away from us when we went to see the Dalai Lama give a public talk in Davie, Florida.
This event began with a procession of the monastics with the highest honor being given to the head abbot of the International Sangha Bhiksu Buddhist Association and including among them the abbots and abbesses of several monastic communities. The presence of the Jade Buddha in our local area being such a great privilege, several local dignitaries were also present including local politicians. We were most fortunate that they were considerate enough to keep their speeches brief.
For me there were three high points in the ceremony. First was the release of doves, several of whom seemed most reluctant to leave the presence of the Jade Buddha either landing on it or nearby, generally staying very close to it for a considerable time. Next was the participation of the children which included a “dragon” and fireworks. Finally, there were the actually prayers for peace chanted by the monastics led by the senior abbot. I could not tell whether these were being chanted in Pali or in Vietnamese, but some of them were obviously very familiar to the Vietnamese people present as they joined in the chanting. Overall they were dramatic and very moving in spite of my not understanding the actual words. The energy of them was palpable.
My personal high point of the day was the opportunity to venerate the Jade Buddha myself. I was able to make prostrations before it and circumambulate it. However, I must admit that at that point I was becoming physically tired. The previous day I had thought that we could go from this ceremony to “Change Your Mind Day,” but I had decided that it would most likely be too much for one day. I now realize that I had been right to change my plans to just visit some thrift stores on my way home in search of a power unit for the laptop that I had been given to recycle and to find a couple of long sleeve white knit shirts.
Although I am steadily gaining strength, I still wind up pushing the limits of what I can do. Perhaps this is the only way that we can find out that the processes of healing have extended those limits. This isn't really a situation of “overcoming obstacles,” because my efforts had minimal impact on these changes. Instead, the most that I could contribute toward all of this was to create the best environment for healing to take places whether by availing myself of alternative healing modalities like Reiki or striving to maintain the right spiritual conditions for healing. I am most grateful that, between my karma, my efforts to facilitate my healing and the benefits of both alternative and conventional healing modalities, I am not only overcoming the cancer but also recovering from the treatments.
I was also able to get to the Dharma Center on Sunday afternoon, getting back to the normal and everyday things of my life. It was so good to be with my Vajra brothers and to share with them the experience of seeing and venerating the Jade Buddha! I could also share with them my excitement at having the opportunity to attend the Phowa Retreat in Gainesville and discuss some of my efforts to support the center with my crafts, skills and talents. In all this, the most important thing is that I seek to be of benefit to all sentient beings.. Every endeavor, every struggle, every effort has its true value in that!
No comments:
Post a Comment