Vesak 2019: Purifying the Inner Heart

As many as 70 religious leaders attended the Tzu Chi Vesak Day celebration on Sunday, May 12, 2019 in the 4th floor of Jing Si Hall, Tzu Chi Center, PIK, North Jakarta.

Tzu Chi has turned 53. Every year in the second week of May, Tzu Chi commemorates three mayor events at once, namely Vesak Day, International Mother’s Day and Tzu Chi Global Day. Attended by 4.935 participants and 400 volunteers from the committee, The Million People Prayer were held in two sessions (1^st session 10.00 – 11.30 and 2^nd session 14.30 – 16.00 WIB) at the 4^th floor Hall, Jiang Jing Tang, Tzu Chi Center, Pantai Indah Kapuk, Jakarta. In addition to Jakarta, Vesak Day Celebration also held on other Tzu Chi office in Indonesia, including: Medan, Tebing Tinggi, Pekanbaru, Batam, Tanjung Balai Karimun, Bandung, Surabaya, Singkawang, Makassar and Biak.

Tzu Chi Vesak Day participants take turns towards the altar with a quiet and grateful heart for the nobility of Buddha, parents and all beings.

Together, the participants of the Vesak Day celebrations were line up for Buddhist bathing procession solemnly. Led by Sangha members and religious leaders, Vesak participants took turns towards the altar with a quiet and grateful heart for the nobility of Buddha, Parents, and All Beings.

Building Noble Determination
The number of natural disasters that occurred lately, became a warning signal that made Tzu Chi take the theme of Environmental Conservation and Vegetarianism on Vesak Day this time with the hope that every human being together to do environmental preservation to save the earth which is now sick. In the midst of sincerity in carrying out the Buddha bathing procession, Tzu Chi also invited the participants to build noble determination to protect all creatures, become vegetarians, and turn the wheel of peace towards themselves, their families and the earth.

Chariman of Tzu Chi Indonesia, Liu Su Mei (middle) hopes that everyone will get their blessings and purify hearts.

Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation chairman, Liu Su Mei said, "If we don't do this now, our next generation will not get a good environment. The result is not only the sea, but the whole ecosystem will also be hurt. "

Veriyanto, a Tzu Chi volunteer who was present together with other 20 volunteers from Cikarang brought enthusiasm to the inner house at Pantai Indah Kapuk to celebrate the three major days. He claimed that in addition to the solemnity in Vesak celebrations, also strongly supported the theme this time. "Environmental preservation and vegetarianism are very good. Such vegetarianism is good for our health and can foster a great sense of love, "he said.

The volunteer who joined Tzu Chi since 2012 and was given the trust as Chairman of Xie Li Cikarang has also implemented environmental preservation in his area along with other Tzu Chi volunteers with waste sorting activities in two recycling depots.

Bhikku Dhammakaro (right) invites everyone to protect the surrounding environment, and also always live a frugal life, including saving water.

The celebration of Vesak Day 2563 Buddhist Era in 2019 was also attended by 70 religious leaders. One of them is Bhikku Dhammakaro, a member of the Sangha from Saddhapala Temple, Cengkareng, West Jakarta. For him who has for more than 20 years left this worldly life, the Vesak he attended at Tzu Chi gave a thick message of humanity. "Providing an understanding of togetherness, we as people of the world really need to live together, especially related to the development of love, peace and harmony with nature. This is a very good message to be sent to our community, that our earth is in need of the care from its inhabitants, that is us,"said Bhikku Dhammakaro.

Regarding environmental preservation which is echoed by Tzu Chi, Bhikku Dhammakaro appreciates and also says, "Let us as people of this world do not forget to always develop love between each other and all beings, by continuously protecting our surrounding environment, and also must always live in savings, including saving water and daily necessities." He also says that through a frugal lifestyle, we have actually inherited a better environment for future generations.

Praying for All Beings
The Million People Prayer this time not only packed the 4th floor hall but also Guo Yi Ting on the 3rd floor of the Jing Si Hall (session 2). Lie Tjui Djun (52) for example. He knew about the Vesak program from his fellow Tzu Chi volunteer, Vivi Wirawan. Ahun, how he is usually called, often gets information about Tzu Chi activities from Vivi, but has not had the opportunity to participate. But he often watches DAAI TV. From there Ahun then learned about Tzu Chi past and on-going activities.

In one of her lectures, Master Cheng Yen continued to urge her students to always take care of the environment to save the earth which has given warning signals to humans.

The Vesak celebration held on 12^th May 2019 at Tzu Chi was Ahun's first experience, and he visit Tzu Chi together with his mother, He Gue Tho (81). Before, Ahun and his mother usually attend the Vesak celebration at Mahavira Graha Center in Ancol, North Jakarta. He felt there was a difference in the celebration he had followed with Vesak at Tzu Chi. "In Tzu Chi, the focus is to direct people on how to carry out a better life in the scope of humanity," Ahun said.

Likewise, his mother got a special impression from joining the Vesak celebration at Tzu Chi. Even though she is old, He Gue Tho is still able to walk alone to the altar to pray. Hearing Master Cheng Yen's lecture, she was very impressed. "The words conveyed by her (Master Cheng Yen) are very soothing," she said. Ahun hopes that the celebration of Vesak at Tzu Chi can provide a better life for all beings

Liu Su Mei, Chairman of Tzu Chi Indonesia, also hopes that through today's activities, everyone will get their blessings and purify hearts. "Today we have so many people coming, also there are many Shifu (members of the Sangha), I believe our prayers will be heard by the Buddha."

Translated by Alwing Low (Tzu Chi School)