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."

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

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

3^rd 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 1^st 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


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