4/29 Vesak Celebration at Columbia University

On April 29 at 2 PM, the Buddhist Council of New York and Columbia University Buddhist Association (CUBA) hosted the Vesak celebration at Low Library, Columbia University. This festival is of the utmost importance in the Buddhist tradition as it commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. New York Buddhist communities were invited to the event. Chan Meditation Center and Dharma Drum of Young People participated and assisted in decoration.

This year's theme was "Lotus in the Mud" which represents the idea that enlightenment can arise from the most difficult circumstances. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, monastics and laypeople came together, transcending differences in nationality, race, and traditions. During the event, through pious chanting, they prayed for the world and all sentient beings. They bowed to the Buddha and  bathed the statue of Prince Siddhartha, purifying their body and mind through the ritual. Then they transferred the merit and wished that sentient beings be free from suffering.

During the event, Venerables from three major traditions of Buddhism were invited to give talks. Venerable Aluthgama Dhammajothi, who represented the Theravada tradition, pointed out the importance of cultivating Samatha and Vipassana. He wished everyone to uplift their power of concentration and wisdom, and liberate themselves from suffering. Khensur Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan from the Vajrayana tradition encouraged everyone to generate wisdom through practice and avoid greed, hatred, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt, and reminded the audience that regardless of identity, we should never forget that we all have the potential of attaining Buddhahood in this life.

Venerable Chang Hwa, the Director of CMC, as the representative of the Mahayana tradition, expressed that ordinary people inevitably consider gain and loss and give and take but ultimately never own anything. Sakyamuni Buddha came to this world and showed the way to be free of all sufferings and attain enlightenment. He revealed the Four Noble Truths including the truths of suffering, the causes of suffering, the ending of suffering, and the path to end all suffering. Buddha taught us the way to undo the driving force of karma, to stop suffering, and to see the intrinsic pure nature that all of us equally have.

Venerable Chang Hwa said we bathed the Buddha to celebrate his birthday. The statue of Prince Siddhartha represents the original virtues and merits of Buddha's pure and majestic wisdom. Venerable encouraged everyone to practice letting go of self-ego. She wished all beings to be free from the suffering of body and mind and realize the same pure dharmakaya of the Buddha. 
During the performance portion of the event, Venerables and laypeople from Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) sang the song "Triple Gems" and Tzu Chi Sign Language Performing Group performed "Give Love," expressing respect and gratitude to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and the aspiration to benefit all sentient beings.

Article: Amanda Yeung
Photos: Minglu Gao