A Blessed Wesak Day...

The Last of Buddhist Culture and Arts Festival 2007

Following up with my first visit, I was at the BCAF07 everyday but at different time and boy I was glad cos each day I tend to experience something different.

8 June 2007

Sand Mandala of the Medicine Buddha is completed but it was cordoned off.



Part of HE Gelek Rinpoche and monks chanting.



Attended a performance by i.gemz. Managed to caught a couple of songs before my boiboi start fidgeting. Oh my, they sang so well!



I've also got to witness the colourful send off of the Buddha's relics for safe keeping before they return the next morning. See the two part video.






9 June 2007

Woohoo today can see the mandala up close and the whole Buddha's Feet area which was partly filled on Thursday is full of lotus flowers.




10 June 2007

On the last day of the exhibition is a flurry of activities. Lots of packing and cleaning after 8pm. Somehow when we got there to collect the sand from the mandala, we ended up witnessing the "destroying" of the mandala. They were supposed to have done it earlier but apparently, some VIPs were late for some ceremony, DUH! They have to wait till they completed their rounds before the puja ceremony can be started.

As the mandala represents the universe, an extensive puja was done prior to destroying it marking the impermanence of everything. The puja was led by HE Gelek Rinpoche where he used the vajra to draw lines leading into the centre of the mandala cutting it up 8 parts. (Part 1 & 2) Like anything sacred, a khata (silk scarf) was used to sweep the sand mandala where a brass spoon was later used to scoop & pack the sand into small plastic bags for distribution (Part 3). Devotees were encouraged to donate a small sum of RM20 to defray the cost of holding the exhibition in return for a bag of the sand.

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Also the final send off of the Buddha's relics to Sri Lanka.

My Visit to Buddhist Culture and Arts Festival 2007

Last night I had to "fong fei kei" (fly aeroplane in Cantonese, a popular expression to describe last minute cancellation) a dinner I promised to attend for this visit to the Buddhist Culture and Arts Festival 2007. I'm so sorry to the Baker and his guests for doing this the very last minute. I was really disappointed cos the Baker is cooking but then duty calls.

Hubby received a request from his guru to help man their booth on the night before. Look out for him at Kechara Paradise booth (A38 & A39) tonight, tomorrow evening and Sunday (most likely whole day). A small fraction of the items you see here can be found at Kechara Paradise booth and you can ask the staff/volunteers for whatever you want to know about their dharma center plus anything you wished to know about Buddhism. I should be there with my boiboi tonight.

I went a few rounds to check out the happenings. Took quite a number of photos but they didn't turn out great cos I just point and shoot since I wasn't very sure if anyone would mind it. Check them out on my Flickr BCAF07 album with the descriptions.



Uploaded a couple of videos too:

Traditional Giant Lantern




Sand Mandala Creation



Do drop by when you're free. This exhibition is on till this Sunday (10th June). It is held at the Mines convention centre which is located next to Mines Shopping complex. Best to park on the complex on your right as the exhibition is just above it. Otherwise, park on the left which is the shopping mall itself.

For more details click here. The daily events are listed on the main page otherwise, grab a copy of The Star dated 6th June. The listing is there too.

See ya there!

Do something for others

Death is no cause for sorrow, but it would be sorrow if one dies without having done something for oneself and for the world.

~ Ven. Dr. Kirinde. Sri Dhammananda

Part 2: The Last of Buddhist Culture and Arts Festival 2007

Buddhist Arts and Culture Festival 2007

Just a plug to promote this year's Buddhist Arts and Culture Festival which will be held from 6th – 10th June 2007 at Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC). I heard there will be some monks on hand to create a Sand Mandala which is something that cannot be missed. CY Leow captured some beautiful scenes of Sand Mandala Creation accompanied by some write-up about it when he was in Auckland, New Zealand. Other than this, check out other highlights of the event here.

BCAF 2007 is jointly organized by fifty Buddhist organisations representing all Buddhist traditions – Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana Schools, in conjunction with the 50th Merdeka Celebration and as a contribution to Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

BCAF2007 is the largest such event ever held in the history of Malaysian Buddhism. The main objective of BCAF2007 is to bring Dharma closer to the public by showcasing the rich heritage, culture, and teachings of Buddhism. It also reveals Buddhism’s contribution and relevance to world peace and harmony.

Theme: With Dharma We Purify the Mind, Through Arts We Move the World

Date: 6th – 10th June 2007 (Wed - Sun)

Time: Opens Daily : 10.00 am – 10.00 pm

Venue: Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC)
Jalan Dulang, Mines Resort City, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
Map & Direction

Admission is free and all are welcome.