Merry Meet to All,
In early May, i was pondering on "What to do for Vesak day?",
during a coffee session with my friends & students, one of my
student suggested we make "Lotus Lanterns" as offering of light to
Buddha. Then Meowsusan who was there also said she knows how to
make the lanterns! It was a great idea seemingly however i feel
something is missing. Anyway i told them to proceed with the "Lotus
Lanterns" making with a number of 99! All of us put in our efforts
in producing the lanterns from scratch. In late May, i came to the
idea of it will not only be a simple offering of lanterns &
light as what most fellow buddhists do at Temple & Monastery!
Intuitively i had this intent to make this offering in a place of
water like river or stream & the number of lanterns to be 108
instead of 99! Then a place of offering came to my mind.
On 1st of June 2004, we meet-up at 10pm near our place of offering.
We had dinner there first, there are only 3 of us as some of them
cannot make it, i, Meowsusan & one of my student Jason!
We reached around 11:45pm at our place of offering after a long
hike there, a really nice river! At 12am which was 2nd of June 2004
Vesak Day, i initiated them to lay out the candles which i brought,
all 108 candles! The Ceremony begin, Each of us layed out 36
candles infront of us & i gave them instruction to send loving
kindness energy of white light into the candles & chant mantra
over each candle when they do so! I proceeded mine with chanting of
"Itipiso" over my 36 candles while radiating white, pink, gold
& sliver lights into it! When it is done, followed by "Pali
Suttra Chanting" led by me, Oceanos, i instructed them to follow me
in my recitations & chanting of the following
suttras:
1. Vandana (x3)
~ Homage to Buddha.
2.Ti-Sarana
~ The Three Refuge, Salutation To The Buddha, Salutation To The
Dhamma & Salutation To The Sangha.
3. Jaya-Mangala-Gatha
~ Stanzas of Victory.
4. Offering of Light.
5.Offering of Incense.
After the Chanting over all the 108
candles, we proceed to send out the offerings! My student, Jason
was tasked by me to put the lanterns into the water, Meowsusan's
task was to lay out the lanterns, I will put candle in them one by
one & as i light the candle with the intent to send out Loving
Kindness energy to all beings in this plane while chanting Mantra
in my mind! The whole ceremony was fully completed at 3:30am &
we all felt really happy about it. May all beings to be well &
happy! May all beings be without pains & sufferings! May all
beings be blessed by the Light of the Buddhic energy!
I give thanks to all who make the efforts to participated &
rendered help in making this ~*~Vesak Day 2004 Water Offerings of
Light Ceremony~*~ possible! Meowsusan, En' & Jason thanks for
your help in making the lanterns! All cannot make it, your efforts
& intentions will be appreciated in all planes! who Happy Vesak
Day to all!
Blessed Be,
Oceanos
