Sunday, May 15, 2011

Bodhi Tree Planting & Buddha Bathing Ceremonies in the Philippines

The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne, will lead TODAY, May 15, 2011,  the planting of a sapling of the original bodhi tree of enlightenment of the Buddha, which he will personally bring.

Site of the Bodhi tree planting? New Manila, Quezon City. Supposedly, there are only three countries in the world where the original Bodhi tree is found: India, Sri Lanka, & France, and the Philippines will become the 4th. Should be a blessing???

Some Buddhist history of the Bodhi tree:

Plant biologists, i.e., botanists, know the Bodhi tree as Ficus religiosa (holy fig). Belonging to the  Moraceae family, the leaves of this fig tree are rather unusual in shape, which is cordate and has pronouncedly extended/ caudate tip.

More about the Bodhi Tree:

The Bodhi Tree ("Tree of Awakening," also known as the Bo Tree) in Bodhgaya is a direct descendent of the tree under which Siddharta Gautama is attained enlightenment.

After 49 days of meditation, it was here that Siddharta Guatama became the Buddha, the "Enlightened One."


Here's the program:



The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of the Philippines
The Universal Wisdom Foundation, Inc.

Cordially Invite You to the

Vesak Day Celebration on May 15, 2011 at 9:00am

PART I: BODHI TREE PLANTING AT WISDOM PARK
3rd Street corner Broadway Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City, Philippines


PROGRAMME


09:30

Invocation

:

Ven. Vincent Taguinod , Ven. Kelanchiye Ratnasiri Thero, and Ven. Kehelptha Maithree Thero

09:35

Welcome Remarks

:

Madame Mary Hartigan-Go
President, Universal Wisdom Foundation

09:40

Brief History and Significance of the Bodhi Tree

:

Dr. Carlos Aureus
Chairman, Universal Wisdom Foundation

09:50

Keynote Address

:

Introduction of

His Excellency
Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

By H.E. Ambassador N. Bennet Cooray

10:00

Planting of the Bodhi Tree Sapling

:

His Excellency
Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
Assisted by the Venerable Dharma Masters, Their Excellencies and Officers of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Guests and Visitors

10:30

Stone-Laying

:

Dr. Mariano Yupitun
Founder, Universal Wisdom Foundation

10:45

Closing Remarks

:

Dr. Mark Anson Yupitun
Vice-President, Universal Wisdom Foundation
Madame Uendie Yupitun
Master of Ceremonies



PART II: BUDDHA BATHING CEREMONIES
Universal Wisdom Foundation, Inc.
4F Gilmore I. T. Center Bldg., 8 Gilmore Avenue corner 1st Street,
New Manila, Quezon City, Philippines


PROGRAMME


11:00

Video Presentation: The Significance of Vesak and How to Do Buddha Bathing

:

Dr. Carlos Aureus
Chairman, Universal Wisdom Foundation, Inc.

11:10

Buddha Bathing Ceremony

:

Initiated By:

His Excellency
Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

And

His Excellency
N. Bennet Cooray
Ambassador of Sri Lanka

11:20

Awarding of Appreciation

:

Dr. Mariano Yupitun
Founder, Universal Wisdom Foundation

11:30

Closing Remarks

:

Mr. Mark Kenrich Yupitun
Treasurer, Universal Wisdom Foundation


Madame Uendie Yupitun
Master of Ceremonies


___________


For inquiries, contact the coordinator at (02)7241157



The Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Temple, India

__________


Photo credits:

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/india/bodhgaya-bodhi-tree


Licencia de Creative Commons Reposts are licensed to the respective authors. Otherwise, posts by Jesusa Bernardo are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Philippines.

2 comments:

Spiral Ginger said...

Prim Minister plant trees. This Great news. Thank you very much.

Trees Planet said...

Not only Prim Minister everyone should plant trees. We should do this for ourselves.

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