The Maha Cundi Dharani

The Latest distribution CD by kmspks: The Maha Cundi Dharani produced by Bodhicitta Productions.
Soothing music & touching voices that comforts one in distress...
Get a copy now...at their free distribution counters...
Meanwhile, enjoy one of the songs via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJrAckedwOg&feature=youtu.be

HAPPY VESAK DAY!

Stressed with work commitment, wasn't able to enjoy Vesak Day as well but managed to have a wonderful short session of Om chanting  at DKOm centre where the lead chanter of past Om retreats at kmspks, Lama Dawa, was the Resident Lama.
I had always liked English translated Tibetian prayers, really very motivational:-)

An extract from their prayer book on Motivation Prayer:

I vow to obtain the most perfect and precious Buddhahood quickly
so that all sentient beings, boundless as the sky
And especially those who hate me, those who harm me,
and those who create obstacles on my path may attain liberation and all-knowingness,
may experience happiness, may be separated from suffering and
may attain Buddhahood.

Thus, until I achieve enlightenment,
I perform virtuous deeds with body, speech, and mind.
Until death, I perform virtuous deeds with body, speech, and mind.
From now until tomorrow,
I perform virtuous deeds with body, speech, and mind.

And I also like the ending King of Prayers and Mani Dedication prayers which lead/guide all beings to Amitabha Buddha's Pureland.
Amituofo...

Thereafter, quick visit to the ABC Annual event near Aljunied MRT

Felt much better after the prayers...

May All Be Well,
May All Be Happy
Happy Vesak Day!!!!

Amituofo...

Buddha Bathing Ceremony

Accompanied M to visit the Singapore Buddhist Lodge early to avoid the crowd on the actual day of Vesak celebration (15th of 4th lunar month).
And at the side of the temple before the standing Amitabha Buddha, we find the Buddha Bathing Ceremony being set up serenely & beautifully before the Buddha. :-)

An Internet version of the ceremony can be found at 线上浴佛 by DDM

Origins of the ceremony : 二千六百多年前，印度迦毘羅衛國的王后摩耶夫人，在藍毗尼花園的無憂樹下，生下了悉達多太子，也就是後來出家成道的佛陀。太子誕生後，一手指天，一手指地，說道：「天上天下，唯我獨尊」，意思是說：「我乃是宇宙最尊貴的覺者，我將廣度一切沉淪生死的眾生。」，隨即有兩股水從天瀉下，沐浴在王子的身上。後來，佛教徒每年為慶祝佛陀誕辰就沿用此例舉行浴佛儀式。(ref: http://www.ddm.org.wt/event/buddha/2012/InPage01.htm)

It is recommended that when we are holding the ladle and while the water pours over the statute, we could chant the poem:

 "我今灌浴諸如來，

淨智莊嚴功德聚，

五濁眾生令離垢，

願證如來淨法身"

and silently pray as follows:

May our defilement of greed , anger, and ignorance be removed and our body, speech and mind be purified.

May the society be peaceful and serene, without any traces of violence, fraud and evilness.

May the enviroment be beautiful and peaceful and

with the merits from participating in the "Buddha bathing" ceremony,

may the "dust and dirt" of our worries be purified, our society and country beautified, transform this samsara world into peaceful Pureland, guide the evil minded towards compassionate Bodhicitta, thus is the true meaning behind the Buddha Bathing ceremony.

Pardon is sought on any incorrect translation above from the DDM article.

Amituofo...

---------

《浴佛，應該從何部位開始灌淋？》

浴佛時，應該由佛像的頭頂淋水，還是從肩膀呢？佛教徒對如何浴佛的看法頗不一致，有些覺得應該由佛像的頭頂灌注，有些認為必須由佛像的肩膀灌沐，有些則表示應該從頭、肩、腳各灌一次，合共三次，代表身語意清淨。

~一切從經典談起

關於灌淋部位眾說紛紜，那麼到底哪種說法較為合理呢？所謂的「合理」，從宗教的脈絡來說，指的便是經典依據。《佛說浴像功德經》指出：「其浴像者，各取少許洗像之水，自置頭上，燒種種香以為供養。」又「初於像上下水之時，應誦以偈。」經文中的「頭上」及「像上」指的便是佛像的頭頂。

佛教學者吳汝鈞教授在《佛教思想大辭典》亦指出灌注清水時，是在「佛像的頭頂上」。由此看來，浴佛時應將清水灌沐到佛像的頭頂上。

~不存在嚴格規定

然而習慣從肩膀開始灌沐的信眾也無需介懷，因為佛教始終是一門「自淨其意」的宗教。如《慧燈》的「佛學問答」就曾刊載，指出浴佛時的動作沒有嚴格規定：「一般的做法是在太子佛前合十跪下，以水勺搯水灌沐太子佛三次或一次，從頭或肩部灌沐太子佛都可以，浴佛後起身、問訊。」

這裏要凸顯的，其實是佛子們在浴佛時，須「以莊嚴、虔誠的態度和恭敬心進行」。因此，浴佛者的心態莊重虔誠才是最重要的。

~為甚麼用太子像

為甚麼浴佛法會水盆的中央，供奉的是悉達多太子像，而不是釋迦牟尼佛像呢？相傳悉達多太子誕生時，諸天散花，九龍吐水，為太子沐浴，因為太子將來成佛，開示聖法，化度眾生。

水盆中的太子像，總是一手指天，一手指地的。傳說，當太子誕生時，他一手指天，一手指地的說：「天上天下，唯我獨尊」。現代人可能覺得詫異，因為初生的嬰兒怎可能開口說話？

演培長老在〈佛誕獻言〉表示，這只是一種象徵意義，「象徵佛陀由於悲智圓滿所引起的自尊自重；象徵佛陀的以救世度生為己任！做個偉大的人，必須要看得起自己，認為我的生存天地間，不是等閒的，而是要為世界人類做番頂天立地的大事業的。

「這才能激發自己的意志，忍受種種的苦難，學習完成種種的功德。」所以當我們見到指天指地的太子像時，應該效法太子那樣，「從尊重自己中，完成人的人格，以達到究竟無上佛陀的境界。」

轉載：佛門網

Ref: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1040270932688435&substory_index=0&id=121848594530678&ref=m_notif&notif_t=group_activity