Yesterday, May 24 2007 was Buddha’s Birthday! I am sorry to say that it rained heavily here in Seoul and so I didn’t get out and partake of the festivities. However, last weekend I did do the big parade and will post photos of that soon.
Wiki Says:
In Korea the birthday of Buddha is celebrated according to the Lunisolar calendar. This day is called 부처님 오신 날 (Bucheonim osin nal), meaning “the day when Buddha arrived”. Lotus lanterns cover the entire temple throughout the month which are often flooded down the street. On the day of Buddha’s birth, many temples provide free meals and tea to all visitors. The breakfast and lunch provided are often sanchae bibimbap.
Temple is a must on the big B’s birthday and here’s a tidbit on the ritual performed at the temple.
Bathing Buddha Procedure…This ritual is to improve harmony & inner
balance:1. Please kneel on cushion
2. Fill ladle & pour water over small Buddha statue 3 times 3. While pouring water, say:1st wash: “May I eliminate all
evil thoughts”2nd wash: “May I cultivate good deeds”
3rd wash: “May I help save all living beings”
Origin…
One of the main activities of the festival is the “bathing Buddha” ritual. Legend records that when Prince Siddhartha was born, there were extraordinary and auspicious signs heralding his birth. They
describe the sky as being clear with brilliant sunshine, flowers blooming and birds singing – dragons appeared in the sky spurting two streams of purified water (one cool and one warm), that gently cascaded down to bathe him. At his birth, seven lotus flowers sprung up beneath his feet as he walked – pointing one hand to the sky and ground he said “in the heaven above and earth below, I vow to liberate all who suffer in these three realms”. Since that time Buddhists all over the world celebrate his birthday by using fragrant water to bathe the image of Buddha. This ritual highlights a universal message that “it’s easy to wash away physical dirt but it’s much more difficult to cleanse one’s ‘inner dirt’ of greed, anger and ignorance.”
