On 12 May 2024, the Tzu Chi 58th Anniversary Celebration and Buddha Bathing Ceremony was held at the lush green Bukit Gombak Stadium. (Photo by Bong Kian Hin)
May is a rainy and hot month in Singapore. The rain felt like refreshing dew, while the sweat signified the tacit understanding among the volunteers as they prepared, and the tears reflected the deep emotions of the congregation's devotion. On the night of 12 May 2024, more than 3,000 lotus lamps were lit simultaneously at Bukit Gombak Stadium, resembling thousands of tiny fireflies glowing with warmth. Everyone tended to their own mind, hoping that the minds of people around the world would be purified.
"Bow to the Buddha's feet, vow sincerely, receive the Dharma fragrance, and receive blessing."
Under the guidance of Venerable Masters and Dharma Masters, the public was led into offering lamps and candles, fragrant soup and Dharma incense, everyone took turn to “bathe the Buddha” in an orderly manner. At the scene, there were 128 crystal clear, pure and untainted lucite Buddha statues called "the Great Enlightened One of the Universe" reaching out to touch the earth, caring for and cherishing all sentient beings. The Buddha has become enlightened of the truth of the universe and is able to enlighten others through educating others.
"Bow to the Buddha's feet, vow sincerely, receive the Dharma fragrance, and receive blessing." Congregation members taking turns to pay respect to the Buddha piously. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
On the second Sunday of May each year, Tzu Chi worldwide celebrates Buddha Day, Mother's Day, and Global Tzu Chi Day. This year, Tzu Chi Merit (Singapore) organised the Tzu Chi 58th Anniversary and Buddha Day Celebration event at the lush green Bukit Gombak Stadium, a venue chosen for the third time.
The volunteers formed a large concentric circle with the word "TC58" and two Bodhi leaves. Underneath, two long, straight Buddha bathing altars were set up to demonstrate the spiritual concept of the "Straight Bodhi Path." Reflecting on Tzu Chi's 58 years of journey, it has been paved with love by human Bodhisattvas, and this Bodhi path cannot be travelled without you, me, and others.
Formation volunteers formed the words “TC58” and two Bodhi leaves on the field. (Image captured by drone)
People from different religions come together to pray for world peace
A total of 53 Dharma Masters participated in the Buddha Bathing Ceremony today. Representatives of six major local religions—Buddhism, Taoism, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism, and Baha'i—led the members of congregation in a one-minute silent prayer for world peace, praying for the purification of the minds, a harmonious society, and a world free from disasters.
Representatives from six major religions in Singapore led the congregation into a one-minute silent prayer to pray for world peace. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
In his speech, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Mr Teo Chee Hean, who was invited for the fifth time to be the Guest of Honour for the Buddha Bathing Ceremony, said that Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious society, and that unity and harmony are hard-earned and should be cherished by the people of the country, not taken for granted.
Mr Teo also said that community and religious organisations play an important role in fostering mutual understanding and respect among communities, as well as combating influences that can divide society. A harmonious and united society can create a better life for everyone.
Mr Teo commended Tzu Chi for its continuous contribution to strengthening social cohesion and for providing various kinds of assistance to the needy over the past years. He said, "I hope that Tzu Chi will continue to shine and contribute to building a compassionate and tolerant society, and build a better future for its people."
Other dignitaries in attendance included Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Ms Low Yen Ling, Member of Parliament for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Ms Hany Soh Hui Bin, Member of Parliament for Bukit Panjang SMC, Mr Liang Eng Hwa, and Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore, Mr Tung Chen Yuan.
Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Mr Teo Chee Hean (fourth from left), together with honoured guests, pay respect to the Buddha and pray for the prosperity and the well-being of the nation. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
Dharma is like water, washing away impurities
"Dharma is like water, washing away the dust of ignorance and removing greed and hatred from the mind. The Tzu Chi Buddha Bathing Ceremony is not only about 'bathing' the Buddha, but also about initiating goodness and bringing the congregation into contact with Tzu Chi."
Speaking of tonight's bathing ceremony, Venerable Master Chi Kwong (Abbot of Qing Liang Vihara), who led the Buddha bathing ritual, said that the bathing ceremony gives everyone the opportunity to develop respect and admiration for the Buddha in a peaceful and calm atmosphere, which in turn inspires a desire to learn Buddha’s teachings.
Venerable Master Chi Kwong said, "Through listening to the captivating songs played at the scene, it inspires good thoughts and guides everyone to recognize the Buddha's teachings, ushering the congregation to join Tzu Chi as volunteers to nurture their compassion through systematic Dharma education."
Venerable Master Chi Kwong mentioned that Tzu Chi enhances people’s character through practical actions taken in doing charitable activities and through studying the Buddha's teachings. He reminded everyone to reflect on themselves, improve their speech and behaviour, and then display it in the way they carry themselves, all of which are ways in which they can influence others.
Venerable Master Chi Kwong hoped that through taking part in the Buddha bathing ceremony, the power of goodness will be perpetuated in everyone's mind, and that they will always be aware of and take care of their minds in their daily lives.
Venerable Master Chi Kwong (front row, right), who led the congregation, explained that the Buddha Bathing Ceremony gives everyone the opportunity to develop respect and admiration for the Buddha in a peaceful and calm atmosphere, which in turn inspires a desire to learn the Buddha’s teaching. (Photo by Bong Kian Hin)
More than 70 devotees from Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple, dressed in all-white and clean attire, were invited by the temple abbot to the event site. M.P. Koralegedara, one of the devotees, has been working as a domestic helper in Singapore for 15 years. As a devout Buddhist, she has long been involved in volunteering work at local Sri Lankan temples, and this was her first time participating in Tzu Chi's Buddha Bathing Ceremony.
At the temple, Koralegedara had heard about Tzu Chi from the Dharma Master and learned that Tzu Chi had helped Sri Lanka during the tsunami in South Asia, leaving a strong impression on her. Today was her first direct encounter with Tzu Chi. From the moment she stepped off the bus, she felt the warmth of the Tzu Chi volunteers' hospitality. What surprised her most was that despite the large number of people at the site, everything was orderly, which she described as "a perfect score of one hundred points."
Koralegedara exclaimed that she was "so lucky" on this day. Not only did she have the opportunity to witness the unique Buddha bathing ceremony, but she also participated in the ritual alongside so many people. The joy in her heart was beyond words.
Koralegedara said that she is "too lucky" today, as she not only had the opportunity to witness the unique Buddha bathing ceremony, but also take part in the Buddha bathing ritual together with so many people. (Photo by Chan May Ching)
Making it a point to “bathe” the Buddha together once a year to cleanse one’s mind
More than 1,000 volunteers transformed Bukit Gombak Stadium into the "Vulture’s Peak" Dharma assembly in two days of hard work, with the volunteers who formed the group formation being instrumental in the effort.
Joanne Lim, who is in her sixties, participated as a formation volunteer for the third time this year. She recalled her first participation in the formation in 2019 after being invited by a Tzu Chi staff who is also a volunteer, and said, "Although the weather was stifling during the rehearsal, when the Buddha Bathing Ceremony began, the atmosphere at the site had a magnetic field, like a shock to the heart."
During the walking meditation, along with the Tzu Chi song "Buddha in the Vulture’s Peak", step by step, Joanne inexplicably began to shed tears that could not be stopped. After that Buddha bathing ceremony, Joanne decided to pass on this touching feeling she had. She then started to invite her middle school female friends to take part in the group formation together since last year and successfully invited four old classmates to join in the celebration this year.
Amid the song “Buddha in the Vulture’s Peak”, group formation volunteers conduct a walking meditation. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
Jannet Yeo, one of Joanne’s old classmates and the only Christian, participated in the event for the second time today. She had joined last year with the intention of "taking a look", but when she quietly sang "Our Earnest Prayer" at the end of the ceremony, she felt as if she was calling out to the Buddha and pouring out her heart, much like how she prays to God on weekdays.
Jannet believes that all religious beliefs are the same, as they all teach people to be kind. She was happy to see so many leaders of different religions participating in this spectacular Buddha bathing ceremony. She also rejoiced to see that many of the participants were young people, believing that if they could find their religious affiliation at a young age, they would not be lost on the path of life.
Participating in the formation has touched Joanne (first from the right) who later invited Jannet (first from the left) and four other middle school friends to participate in the event this year. (Photo by Donn Tan)
Attending the ceremony together as a family to express love and gratitude to parents
Makeup Artist Jeffrey Linus Lee were at the event to participate in the formation today with his father, mother, sister, auntie, niece, and his sister’s friend, making a total of seven people spanning three generations. Jeffrey had assisted with makeup for the "Dharma as Water" Sutra Adaptation in 2013 and the adaptation of the “Sutra of Profound Gratitude towards Parents” in 2014, before becoming a Tzu Chi volunteer. He has been participating in the formation with his loved ones almost every year since 2014.
Jeffrey said that every year on Mother's Day, he would take part in the group formation as a gift of thanks and blessings to his mother. The event is also a cozy family gathering for them. He said, “The purpose of 'bathing' the Buddha is to practice Buddha's teaching to be content and grateful to our parents and all living beings. The Buddha Dharma also eradicates our distracting thoughts and illuminates our wisdom.”
Tzu Chi's Buddha Bathing Ceremony, which brings together leaders from different religions to pray for interfaith blessings, is particularly meaningful to Jeffrey: “With the frequent wars in the world in recent years, it is particularly meaningful to pray for world peace with family members, especially as Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious country, where harmony is of paramount importance.”
On Mother's Day, congregant Jeffrey Linus Lee (far right) comes with his loved ones to participate in the formation almost every year. (Photo by Fong Kwai Kin)
On Mother's Day, Tan Gek Kheng, a member of the congregation who lives in Boon Keng, took advantage of not having to work on Sunday and travelled an hour and a half to bring her mother, who is in her nineties and suffers from dementia, along with her Burmese housemaid, to attend the ceremony.
“My mother used to help out at Buddhist temples before she become demented. This time, I wanted to bring her along to the Buddha Bathing Ceremony on Mother's Day to bring her closer to the Buddha and share the solemnity of the ceremony with her.”
Although it was a long journey to reach the event site, she was glad that her mother was happy throughout the ceremony, and the maid also saw such a spectacular Buddha bathing ceremony for the first time, which opened her eyes.
(Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
“We pray for all living beings, the third vow is to pray for all minds be purified”
The Buddha Bathing Ceremony came to a successful end with the lingering sound of prayers. May everyone cleanse the Buddha in their hearts every day. If we remain pure and untainted at all times, we can all bring about peace and tranquility to the earth.
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