6th May, 2012
KOTA KINABALU: Buddhists in Sabah were told to observe the true teaching of Buddha – to eliminate greed, anger and ignorance.Venerable Kai Yin, the abbot of the Santavana Forest Hermitage in Tuaran, made the call during a brief dharma talk delivered in conjunction with Wesak Day celebration yesterday. He also urged them to perform the ritual with reverence and a purified mind.Hundreds of Buddhists of all ages from all walks of life attended the dharma talk held at the prayer hall, before proceeding to take part in the Buddha-bathing ritual.Earlier, they also took part in the alms-giving ritual involving its Sangha Committee led by Ven. Kai Yin.In his brief speech, Bhikkhu Jotipala, the superintendent of the Hermitage touched on the history of the Wesak Day celebration, and its significance.The scorching heat yesterday did not deter Buddhists state capital from thronging the various Buddhist temples in the city, to pay homage to Lord Buddha to mark Wesak Day.A series of Buddhism rituals and programmes were organised by these temples to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and passing of Shakyamuni Buddha some 2,450 years ago. The highlight of the celebration was the bathing of the miniature statue of Lord Buddha, a symbolic gesture of inner purification and removal of “greed, hatred and ignorance”.
