Buddha’s birthday is a special day for every Buddhists. Tzu Chi volunteers marked the day with solemn rituals commemorating the birth of the Enlightened One. Known as Buddha Bathing – or Cleansing - the ritual is a way for participants to cleanse away the impurities in their hearts, and pray for a better world.

Vegetarian food was served throughout the four ceremonies to encourage the public to honor the special day with a meatless diet.

Participants were advised to cleanse their hands as a precautionary measure against the prevailing A/H1N1 flu.

Chinese national Xu Feng receiving her first bamboo piggybank. She vowed to dedicate her time as her housemate Guo Yu, who is already a Tzu Chi volunteer, and also save up money for charity.

Volunteers circumambulating the hall in the morning ceremony.

Mr. Xu (right) performing the cleansing rituals with his two sons.

The purpose of bathing the Buddha is to cleanse our bodily actions, speech and mind while praying for  world peace, harmony and prosperity.

Though with ailing health, Sister Chang (left) insisted on going on stage to bathe the Buddha with her family.

The volunteers gave their blessings to Sister Chang by singing the heartwarming “One Family”.

Many turned in their bamboo piggybanks filled with daily savings during the event.

For Tzu Chi volunteers across the world, May is the Tzu Chi month - and a time to be filial piety. On Sunday (May 10), Tzu Chi held celebrations in 29 countries around the world for three events - Buddha's Birthday, Mother's Day and Global Tzu Chi Day.

Four Buddha Bathing sessions were held in the Singapore Chapter, with 1,400 participants coming together to worship the Buddha and pay tribute to parents and all living beings.

To better receive the big crowd, which is double of last year’s, a total of ten chartered buses were hired to escort residents from various districts. 600 volunteers were mobilized to support respective functions, including the vegetarian luncheon which aimed at encouraging the public to take meatless diet.

Although local authority has lowered the alert level on A/H1N1 flu from orange to yellow, the branch took extra precautions in line with the Health Ministry’s guidelines by specially prepared alcohol-based hand sanitizers for the arriving guests and had reception volunteers to advise cleansing at the entrance.

Seeds germinated from Sichuan

Arriving home from work at the wee hour of 2am and after a brief sleep, 28-year-old Guo Yu rise rose again to get changed and out to catch the chartered bus to Jing Si Hall at Pasir Ris. The Sichuanese who lives in the Southeast district knew nothing about Tzu Chi before last year’s devastating earthquake in her hometown Chengdu. When she saw Tzu Chi volunteers busying themselves with relief and consoling work at the disaster sites, she felt the urge to help. After she put on the volunteer vest, the rest was history - she was happy to be part of the cooking, home visits, and entertaining groups for over two months.

A month ago, Guo left her country and landed a job in Singapore. Not long after arriving, the grey-uniform volunteer quickly contacted the local Tzu Chi branch to resume her “connection” with the organization. She managed to catch up with the 43rd Anniversary Exhibition at Jurong Medical Centre and was even invited for an impromptu sharing of her volunteering experience in the quake-hit areas with the volunteers and general public.

“I have changed a lot because of Tzu Chi and I have since found the purpose in my life,” said Guo. The volunteer shared with the audience about the Tzu Chi song 《大地和风》, which always gets her teary, and how it reminds her of the wonderful time working with the Tzu Chi brothers and sisters back in Sichuan.

Coming with Guo Yu to the Buddha Bathing ceremony was her colleague-roommate Xu Feng. Xu hailed from northeast China’s Jilin province and has been working in Singapore for a year. Thinking back on the televised images of the quake damage and victim’s despair in Sichuan which shocked her deeply, Xu confessed she did not expect to meet Guo Yu in Singapore and learn firsthand stories about an NGO’s relief effort in the quake areas. The bimonthly Tzu Chi magazine Guo Yu brought home incurred her curiosity even more to know more about the organization.

So, here they are, admiring and enjoying their first Buddha Bathing ceremony, which was especially solemn and peaceful. The day also reminded Xu Feng of her parents in China. She said the fact as year passed and being far away from home made her felt much obliged to repay her parents’ kindness. Xu then seized the occasion to register as Tzu Chi member and took in a bamboo piggybank to store up daily kindness.  

Tribute to parents, Buddha and all living beings

“May the mind be tranquil and clear; the vow, vast as the endless void; such will, unwavering for countless eons of time...” Together with the solemn music, the volunteer congregation circumambulated the Dharma Hall with synchronized steps.

Volunteer Chua Ee Hua has not been taking part in any Tzu Chi activities since his leg was fractured in a fall a month ago. He was happy when fellow volunteer Lim Keng Heng offered to drive him to Jing Si Hall for the Buddha Bathing ceremony. Though not being able to do the circumambulation with the brothers and sisters, Chua, who entered the Dharma Hall with his walker, felt a deep emotion. He mused, “This is the second time I’m attending this and it feels very different this time. I can relate better to the saying that “Precious it is to attain human life” and also the agony of the disabled.” “When I was up there cleansing the Buddha, I was full of thanks. I’m grateful I still have a fit body and I can continue to give of myself after I recover.”

Besides serving the green purpose of reducing carbon emission, the community chartered bus service was also an expedient arrangement for residents living far away from Jing Si Hall. Mr. Xu Jia Rong and his two sons were among the keen attendants who enjoyed the service. Xu’s sons in their wheelchairs suffer from muscular dystrophy and it is not easy to take care of them. “All because of Tzu Chi we’re able to come today. My eldest is already 16 and he is quite heavy. It is quite a challenge to bring them out,” said Xu.

But nothing deters a parent’s will to provide comfort and peace for their children. Mr. Xu was no exception. He told the volunteers of his prayer during the cleansing rituals, “I do feel saddened seeing my boys suffer. I hope with my prayer they’ll get better.”

The affectionate father kept his eyes on his two sons throughout the visit. The sight of his two obedient boys following him in the rituals was especially heartwarming.

Cleansing the mind with sincere piety

“This is an important day and I make sure I come every year during this time,” said 67-year-old long-time volunteer Chang Cheng Jzu who is battling with end-stage cancer.  Due to ailing health, she came in a wheelchair but she still looked sharp and alert.  She was as pious and strong-willed as she has always been, insisted on attending the annual event with her husband, her two adult children, son-in-law and grandson and performed the rituals on stage.

Surprised to see sister Chang in the afternoon ceremony, the volunteers warmly embraced her and gave her their blessings.

When the ceremony was almost drawing to an end, the brothers and sisters, who were reluctant to part with sister Chang, stood around her and sang to her the well-known Tzu Chi tune “One Family”.  Sister Chang’s family was deeply touched and silent tears rolled down her son’s cheeks while holding his mother’s hands.

“I know mum likes Tzu Chi a lot. I can see she finds joy volunteering here,” said the 35-year-old son. Though not sure what his mum did exactly for the organization, he could sense her happiness whenever she came back home from Tzu Chi and “she always has the stamina to go for volunteer work regardless of how her physical condition was”. He felt proud of his mother seeing her being loved and respected by so many friends in Tzu Chi.

“We’ve never attended a Buddha Bathing Ceremony with mum. This is our first and it is definitely a memorable Mother’s Day for us,” said sister Chang’s daughter, trying to hold her tears. “Mum is really brave; especially after she met Tzu Chi, she’s much courage to face her illness.”

Sister Chang’s biggest wish is to get better and return for volunteering in Tzu Chi. The devoted senior vows to follow Master Cheng Yen’s footstep and devote her life to Tzu Chi.  

Her husband, with tears welled up in his eyes and choked with emotions, had to pause several times while recalling his wife’s decade-long suffering since she was diagnosed with cancer. “I know we can do nothing about it,” he sighed, “we have to accept that everyone has his own fate.” He went on to thank the brothers and sisters for arranging for their family photo-taking in Jing Si Hall in the midst of their busy affairs and for their warm blessings to his wife.

Sister Chang has had several major operations throughout the past ten years. She used to tell her Tzu Chi peers, “Before I met Tzu Chi, I was full of fear every time I’m wheeled into the surgery room. But since I met Tzu Chi and have learnt Master’s teachings, I’m able to face it calmly.” During her therapy and her recuperating period, sister Chang did not idle her time away; instead, she returned for Tzu Chi work whenever she can, which helped her forget the pain and be at ease.

The Buddha Bathing Ceremony may seem to be a simple ritual but it has deeper meaning where through this ritual it is hoped that participants leave the event with a renewed contentment of their fortunes and abundance, and the value of gratitude and compassion.