{"id":2275,"date":"2013-06-01T10:47:28","date_gmt":"2013-06-01T02:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stuif.com\/blog\/?p=2275"},"modified":"2013-06-01T10:47:28","modified_gmt":"2013-06-01T02:47:28","slug":"wesak-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stuif.com\/blog\/?p=2275","title":{"rendered":"Wesak 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Christian religion the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated in December (Christmas), his death in March\/April (Good Friday) \u00a0and his ascension to Heaven in May (Ascension Day).<\/p>\n

Buddhism is more efficient and commemorates birth, death and the reaching of Nirvana of Gautama Buddha on the same day, called Wesak. It is celebrated on the Full Moon day in May, which fell this year on May 24. I was in Taiping at that time, visiting my friends George and Jennie.<\/p>\n

There are several Buddhist temples in Taiping. In the morning we visited the Thai Wat Phodhiyaram \u00a0(Thai) \u00a0and the Bodi Langka Ram Temple (Sri Lankan), located next to each other in Assam Kumbang, Taiping. And in the evening we went to the\u00a0Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary<\/a> (SBS), high up in the hills of Tupai. All of them belong to the Theravada<\/a> school of Buddhism.<\/p>\n

\"Buddhist<\/a><\/p>\n

As you know \u00a0I am a secular humanist, opposed to religion. But I feel quite attracted to the philosophy of Theravada Buddhism. I do not believe in reincarnation, but the concepts of\u00a0Anicca<\/a> (impermanence), Dukkha<\/a> (suffering) and Anatta<\/a> (not-self) appeal to me. Although I must confess that I have not yet made much progress on the Noble Eightfold Path<\/a> \u00a0\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

In Sri Lanka I have attended Wesak many years ago. There it is a very solemn, quiet event, people are dressed in white sarongs and visit the dagoba (temple) to offer flowers. There may be some food, but that is for the poor.<\/p>\n

How different was the atmosphere this time in Malaysia! Many people come just for the free (vegetarian) food, I think, I saw many Indian (hindu) people. In the Thai temple a long queue of devotees was waiting to pour water on a Buddha (and then take this holy water home to bathe themselves). More Mahayana than Theravada…?<\/p>\n

\"Wesak\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many people had been lighting candles, a very nice sight.\u00a0\"Candles\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are a few more pictures taken during our morning visit<\/p>\n\n\t\t