eVesak: Coming Together in Kindness for the Buddha’s Birthday
The birth of the Buddha, commemorated at Vesak, has inspired followers through the ages as Buddhism travelled to different cultures. Each Buddhist community has a rich, ancient cultural tradition around Vesak, usually a local event. This year will mark a new kind of celebration—Coming Together in Kindness online.
In a time when we cannot gather together at one location, our hope is to create togetherness online by sharing our traditions through recordings and live engagement.
Join us as we make history, Coming Together in Kindness for eVesak 2020, on Mother’s Day to signify the birth of hope and light in the world.
This was livestreamed on Sunday 10 May 2020 from 4 PM (AEST).
We thank all contributors and ask supporters and temples to kindly offer some financial support for this event (which currently runs at a deficit) via our GoFundMe link.
“Against the challenging backdrop of COVID-19 Buddhist temples from around Australia have come together to produce an online Vesak celebration. I recommend tuning in for all or part of the program for blessings on the occasion of the Buddha’s Birthday” —Michael Wells (Chairperson of the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils).
Presented by the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils, the Buddhist Council of New South Wales, the Buddhist Council of Victoria, the Buddhist Council of Western Australia, the Australian Sangha Association and Nan Tien Institute.
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Time |
Presentation |
Presenter |
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4:00pm |
Welcome |
Masters of Ceremonies: Tina Ng (Metta Centre, NSW) & Simon Kearney (VIC) |
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Acknowledgement of Country |
Aboriginal Elder from Dja Dja Wurrung |
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Message from Hon Scott Morrison MP, the Prime Minister of Australia |
Read by Mr. Michael Wells, Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils (FABC) |
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Message from Hon Alan Tudge MP, Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs |
Read by Gawaine Powell Davies, Buddhist Council of NSW (BCNSW) |
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4:10pm |
Opening ceremony |
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Theravada tradition - Invitation of Devas |
Dhamma Sarana Vihara, VIC |
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Mahayana tradition - Bathing the Baby Buddha |
Ven Ban Ruo Shi Prajna Monastery, NSW |
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Vajrayana tradition - Recitation of Heart Sutra |
Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, VIC |
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Chanting of the Great Compassion Dharani |
Ven. Bom Hyon Sunim, Chair of the Australian Sangha Association (ASA) |
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Speech from Chair of the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils (FABC) |
Mr. Michael Wells, VIC |
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4:30pm
5:00pm |
Offer of Prayers & Reflections |
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Speech from Chair of the Buddhist Council of NSW (BCNSW) |
Mr. Gawaine Powell Davies, NSW |
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Covid-19 Prayer and Transfer of Merits from the Chinese Mahayana tradition |
Nan Tien Temple, NSW |
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Speech from Chair of the Buddhist Council of VIC (BCV) |
Ven. Phuoc Tan, VIC |
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Verses for the Buddha’s Birthday from the Vietnamese Mahayana tradition |
Quang Minh Temple, VIC |
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Shin-Shin-Rai' Triple Gems Chant in Japanese |
Reverend Shigenobu Watanabe Hongwanji Buddhist Mission, NSW |
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Recitation of the Heart Sutra from the Korean Mahayana tradition |
Ven. Chi Kwang, VIC |
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BCWA speech |
Cecilia Mitra |
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Vesak message from the Sakya lineage of the Vajrayana tradition |
Lama Choedak Rinpoche, ACT Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra |
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Reading of the Recollection of the Twelve Deeds from the Gelupa lineage of Vajrayana tradition |
Gen Thubten Dondrub Buddha House, SA |
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Blessings from the Theravada tradition |
Ven. Dhammika, Amawatura Buddhist Centre, NSW |
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Speech from Buddhist Council of WA (BCWA) |
Mr. Boon Tan |
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Taking Refuges & Offering of the Five Precepts |
Ajahn Brahm Bodhinyana Monastery, WA |
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The Story and Chanting of the Ratana Sutta |
Bhante Sujato & Bhante Akaliko Lokanta Vihara, NSW |
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Chanting of the Metta Sutta in English |
Ajahn Dhammasiha Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, QLD |
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5:30pm |
Guided Meditation on Novel KarunaVirus |
Ven. Juewei Nan Tien Institute, NSW |
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Caring for your Mental Health during Covid-19 |
Dr. Chien Hong Gooi, NSW |
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Dhamma talk |
Khentrul Rinpoche Jamphel Lodrö Tibetan Buddhist Rimé Institute, VIC |
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Reflections on Vesak |
Dr. Joyce Man Australian Association of Buddhist Counsellors and Psychotherapists (AABCAP) |
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United through Loving Kindness Performance |
Alise Kha & Angelica Casado MITRA Youth Network, NSW |
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Offer of prayers by other faiths |
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Christian Prayer |
Reverend Deborah Bird, Anglican Church Toowoomba, QLD |
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Islamic Prayer |
Ibrahim Karaisli, Amity College Illawarra, NSW |
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Hindu Prayer |
Vijai Singhal, Hindu Council of Australia |
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Talks and Meditation |
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Dhamma Reflections |
Ven. Jitrindriya Santi Forest Monastery, NSW |
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6:00pm |
Vajra Speech of Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo: The Blessed Prayer Known as “Liberating Sakya from Disease” followed by Guided Meditation |
Ven. Thubten Chokyi Chenrezig Institute, QLD |
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Vesak & Mother’s Day Message |
Ven. Mahinda Aloka Meditation Centre, NSW |
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Dedication of Merits to Mothers |
Brother Thich Phap Hai Plum Village/ Mountain Spring Monastery, NSW |
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Dedication of Merits to all beings |
Dr. Susan Murphy Roshi Zen Open Circle, NSW |
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Live performance - Heart Mantra |
Sin Sin Yulianto Lukito, NSW |
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Concluding Remarks |
Masters of Ceremonies |
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6:30pm |
Program conclusion |
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Supported by
