Quiet is the New Loud
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Sunday, May 14, 2006
vesak
Vesak, a Buddhist festival celebrating the birth of the Buddha.
A few of us went to a temple for Vesak Day, which was on Friday. Headed to a Buddhist temple at Richmond Hill. We kind of lost our way there, but tracked it down in the end. The temple wasn't what I expected. It was a Thai temple, or more like a monastery. Simple building, not those kind of Chinese temples with the pillars, the carvings and the mass incense-burning. Most people there were Thai, or Indonesian, with a few Westerners too.
This was how it went. People bring food (not leftovers), bought of home-cooked; something like a pot-luck thing. Portions of it were put into bowls for the different monks, so there is a variety for them from everyone. Then we head to the prayer hall where there was the chanting of the Sutra and since it's for Vesak, there was this short excerpt of the origins of Vesak.
The catch - EVERTHING WAS FOREIGN TO ME. The chanting was done in Sanskrit, instead of the usual Chinese chanting I'm used to (ie. Amitabha as opposed to Amituofuo). Furthermore, the monks spoke in Thai too. The only line I understood was "December 15 1999," which I have no idea what it was for.
I was kind of uncomfortable. I was sitting in front of most other people, so I couldn't see what the rest were doing. I didn't know if I should place my hands together while the monks were chanting, or if I should chant along those lines which I don't even comprehend or remember and pronounce. Plus, I didn't know to cross my legs or kneel, and when I did the latter, my unflexible feet ached since it was pressed flat down.
But I have to say, I found some solemn while closing my eyes and listening to some of the chants and songs. Very peaceful. A monk also showered some 'holy water' on us. It was just mind- and body-cleansing.
Finally, FOOD! Everyone went up to the monks and put white rice into those big bowls. Then the small bowls that we filled with flavoured food were given to them. We feasted on what's left. Very tasty, all the Thai, Indonesian flavours. The monks also gave us what they couldn't finish. We left after that. There were more praying but we didn't stay behind.
As we were driving down Bayview, we stopped at this Chinese temple. It felt so much more familiar. Prayed with incense, and it felt very comforting too. We also got some Buddhist books, that have pictures and colours about Buddha and the way of Buddha. We then went for a vegetarian meal, since we weren't full. Yummy! I miss the vegetarian beehoon back in Singapore..
This experience was enlightening. I don't mind visiting temples on festivals, but maybe not weekly. Religion is a funny thing. There are people who are fanatics, yet there are atheist. Sometimes it helps to find solace in faith.
A few of us went to a temple for Vesak Day, which was on Friday. Headed to a Buddhist temple at Richmond Hill. We kind of lost our way there, but tracked it down in the end. The temple wasn't what I expected. It was a Thai temple, or more like a monastery. Simple building, not those kind of Chinese temples with the pillars, the carvings and the mass incense-burning. Most people there were Thai, or Indonesian, with a few Westerners too.
This was how it went. People bring food (not leftovers), bought of home-cooked; something like a pot-luck thing. Portions of it were put into bowls for the different monks, so there is a variety for them from everyone. Then we head to the prayer hall where there was the chanting of the Sutra and since it's for Vesak, there was this short excerpt of the origins of Vesak.
The catch - EVERTHING WAS FOREIGN TO ME. The chanting was done in Sanskrit, instead of the usual Chinese chanting I'm used to (ie. Amitabha as opposed to Amituofuo). Furthermore, the monks spoke in Thai too. The only line I understood was "December 15 1999," which I have no idea what it was for.
I was kind of uncomfortable. I was sitting in front of most other people, so I couldn't see what the rest were doing. I didn't know if I should place my hands together while the monks were chanting, or if I should chant along those lines which I don't even comprehend or remember and pronounce. Plus, I didn't know to cross my legs or kneel, and when I did the latter, my unflexible feet ached since it was pressed flat down.
But I have to say, I found some solemn while closing my eyes and listening to some of the chants and songs. Very peaceful. A monk also showered some 'holy water' on us. It was just mind- and body-cleansing.
Finally, FOOD! Everyone went up to the monks and put white rice into those big bowls. Then the small bowls that we filled with flavoured food were given to them. We feasted on what's left. Very tasty, all the Thai, Indonesian flavours. The monks also gave us what they couldn't finish. We left after that. There were more praying but we didn't stay behind.
As we were driving down Bayview, we stopped at this Chinese temple. It felt so much more familiar. Prayed with incense, and it felt very comforting too. We also got some Buddhist books, that have pictures and colours about Buddha and the way of Buddha. We then went for a vegetarian meal, since we weren't full. Yummy! I miss the vegetarian beehoon back in Singapore..
This experience was enlightening. I don't mind visiting temples on festivals, but maybe not weekly. Religion is a funny thing. There are people who are fanatics, yet there are atheist. Sometimes it helps to find solace in faith.