The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.111)

2019 • 06 40 Taiwan 2019.05.12 Buddha Bathing Ceremonies Across the Globe lobal News Reported by Tzu Chi Documenting Team Translated by Translating Team Photographs provided by Tzu Chi Taiwan Headquarters T o commemorate Buddha’s Day, Mother’s Day and Global Tzu Chi’s Day, a total of 535 Buddha Bathing Ceremonies and 59 ceremonies of filial gratitude were conducted in 42 countries or regions with Tzu Chi’s presence. Nearly 250,000 visitors attended the ceremonies to pay tribute to the Buddha and their parents with utmost reverence and piety. The series of Buddha Bathing Ceremonies in Taiwan was inaugurated by the Buddha Bathing Ceremony that took place in the Hualien Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall at 7 am. Over 3,000 members of the public participated in the Buddha bathing ritual. A creative installation made from more than 3,000 PET bottles and other recycled waste was displayed atop the Buddha bathing platform as a reminder of the importance of a harmonious co-existence among all beings on Earth. At another Buddha Bathing Ceremony held at the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, a replica of a Bodhi tree assembled from recycled plastics was installed at the venue, in addition to a sculpture of the Earth similarly modelled from recyclables. The Bodhi tree was chosen for its significance as being symbolic of the path to Enlightenment as attained by the Gautama Buddha. The tree sculpture was set against a backdrop of a starry sky depicting the vastness of the universe, whose enduring existence reflects that of the teachings of the Dharma. This year, Buddha Bathing Ceremonies were held in various countries across five continents, including Taiwan, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Jordan and Nepal inAsia; the UK, France, Germany, Serbia and Austria in Europe; the USA, Canada, Paraguay, Argentina, Saint Martin, Honduras, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Brazil and Ecuador in theAmericas; SouthAfrica, Eswatini and Mozambique in Africa; Australia and New Zealand in Oceania.