Toronto News

Supermoon day, May 5, 2012, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was super forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the 100 or more Buddhists who assembled on the Ontario Legislature grounds to celebrate Wesak for the 32^nd year in Toronto. Sponsored by the Buddhist Council of Canada, the 4 by 8 foot Torana with a full-size face of the Buddha was unveiled by the youngest members of the audience.

While the BuddhaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Triple event of Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbana ‘Final Demise’ comes to be celebrated in many a temple across Canada, what was special about this event was that it was a pan-Buddhist celebration.

Devotees making an offering of flowers, hand to hand in a human chain. The Ontario Legislature is in the background.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Reflecting this panorama from across the Canadian Buddhist spectrum was the Buddha PƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¥jƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚  with leadership from five temples, Theravada to Zen. ItƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  began with the Opening homage to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, followed by the Five Training Principle (aka Precepts), administered by Bhante Ahangama Rathanasiri of the Toronto Mahavihara. This was followed by an offering of flowers and incense, passed along hand to hand in a human chain, with the Sangha members placing them at the altar. The leadership came from Bhante U Kawwida of the Burmese Mahadhammika Temple.

The Bathing of the Baby Buddha was a new experience for many, a ceremony based in the story of the future Buddha taking seven steps, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ upon his birth, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ each ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ received by a lotus, as explained by Thich nu Tinh Quang of the Little Heron Zen Hermitage in Hamilton, Ontario. AsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the devotees lined up to personally bathe the Baby Buddha, following the Sangha members, it was a dynamic chanting of the Heart Sutra to gong music that sent vibrations through the air. It was led by Sensei Taigen Henderson of the Toronto Zen Centre, ably assistedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by 10 or more members of his congregation.

Assisted by Thich nu Quang, it was 11 year old Kusal Bellana who led the congregation in the BuddhaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Golden Chain of Love ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-that stretches around the worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, undertaking to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-think pure and beautiful thoughtsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ and deedsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, knowing that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-on what I do now depends not only my happiness but also that of the others.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Following it was the Four Vows, another Mahayana practice,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to liberate ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-all beingsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and attain ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Great Way of the BuddhaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

It was now the turn of Bhante Abhisampanno, from the UK, visiting Toronto for the opening of the Buddh Vihar andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the Dr Ambedkar Centre,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to lead the congregation ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the Transfer of Merit (puƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¤ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚¤ƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚ numodanƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚ ) and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Pleading forgivenessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

If the beginning of the one hour ceremony was the Processional of the Sangha, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it was the Unity Song following it that set the ball rolling towards a quiet and spiritual ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ camaraderie among the devotees dressed in a range of colours, from all white to other. The words rang,

Roll along, roll along

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Roll the Dhamma wheel.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Let us all Buddhists unite

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to roll the Dhamma wheel.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The words come from Ven. Bhante Punnaji, now a leading residential light in Malaysia, but formerly of the Toronto Mahavihara, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and originally sung by the Buddhist Toronto musician, Brent Titcombe.

A final act of piety was the PadakkhinƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚ , with the devotees led by the ordained Sangha, doing three circumbulations around the Torana, with shoulder to the right,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to the words of saadhu saadhu saadhu and chanting.

Upon the conclusion of the Buddha PƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¥jƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚  was a Dhamma Dana ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”gift of DhammaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, an article by Prof. Suwanda H J Sugunasiri, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Fetus in the Buddha’s Conditioned Co-origination FormulaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚? (also available on www.buddhistcouncil.ca).

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Devotees engaged in a Buddha Vandana

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Homage to the BuddhaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢

Presenting the BeADonor.ca Program of the Trillium Gift of Life Network of the Ontario Government, he invited the community to consider organ donation, given many a patient awaiting such a gift,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  appealing to the BuddhaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Teachings of MettƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”lovingkindnessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, KarunƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”compassionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Anicca ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”impermananceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and Anatta ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”asoulityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

Thich nu Tinh Quang spoke about the Daughters of the Buddha (Sakyadhita) Canada, whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  she represents on the Buddhist Council of Canada ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr Karunaratna Paranavitana, the Consul-General for Sri Lanka in Toronto, and Bryan Levman, SecretaryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of the Buddhist Council of CanadaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  thanked everyone for their presence and commitment.

It was now time for refreshments, provided by the Consulate as well as byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the community.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The presence of young people was a particular encouragement at a time when more and more of the younger generation are seen to be getting away from temples, not understanding the mumbo-jumbo in the heritage languages, and / or attracted by the secular life of the education they receive.

At 15 Celsius, the weather was a perfect balance of the receding cold of the winter and the emerging warm airƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of the Spring, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the sun smiling on the devotees until it was time to depart with expectations of a wider participation and a larger gathering next year.

Saadhu saadhu saadhu!