Lao New Year Festival 2009

Transcription

1 Lao New Year Festival 2009 Lao New Year Alms-Giving 2009 The Lao New Year day of offering Dana is a major occasion. It is an opportunity to express one s generosity. It is a Buddhist custom when a meal or robes are offered to monks to pour water onto a bowl while the monks recite words of blessings, in order to give expression to one's intention to dedicate this deed to other beings. The water is then poured onto the earth. The water symbolizes a river which fills the ocean, and even so a whol esome deed is so plentiful that it can also be shared with others. The commentary to the Without the Walls Sutta narrates that King Bimbisara offered a meal to the Buddha and omitted to dedicate his merits to other bei ngs. Ghosts, his relatives i n a former life, had hoped for this in vain, and because they were disappointed, in their despair they made a horrible screeching noise throughout the night. The Buddha explained to King Bimbisara why the ghosts had screeched. Then Ki ng Bimbisara made another offering and uttered the dedicati on, "Let this be for those relatives." The ghosts benefited from his gifts immediately; they had wholesome states of consciousness and their sufferings were allayed. Lotus-covered pools were generated for them in which they could bathe and drink, and they took on the color of gold. Heavenl y food, heavenly clothing and heavenl y palaces manifested spontaneously for their use. This stor y illustrates that one can share one's good deeds with departed ones. If one's departed relati ves are not able to recei ve the merit, other beings can. We may find it difficult to part with our possessions, but when we di e we cannot take them with us. Life is short: thus when we have an opportunity for generosity we should use it in order to combat selfishness. Each moment of generosity now will condition the arising of generosity in the future. We may do good deeds with the understandi ng of what wholesomeness is. 17

2 Sunday 12 April 2009 Lao New Year Program am Arrival of Official guests am Start Procession Hae Vor of Nang Sangkhane and Her Six Sisters am Welcome Aj ahn Thongsavanh and Sangha to be seated (near Bodhi Tree) am Start of Nang Sangkhane and Her si x Sisters pl acing Head near the Buddha s i mage. Pay respect to the Triple Gem. Bathi ng ceremony Distinguished guests join i n the ceremony 12.00pm Buffet Lunch for Distinguished Guests 12.45pm Official Welcome Addresses and Speeches: 1) Abbot Ajahn Thongsavanh Chanthathirath New Year s Blessing 2) President of Lao Buddhist Society of NSW Mr Champa Baramy * Wishing Dance 3) Mayor of Fairfield City Council The Hon. Nick Lalich * Dhamma Dedicati on C ertificate Presentation by Mr Voraveth Siackhasone * Sao Thai Cultural Presentation 4) Note of Gratitude R amphay Chittasy * Khana Xao Noume Pougning Lao (Dance by Young at Heart Lao Ladies) * Lao Ethnic Fashi on Parade proceed by Lamvong 1.30 pm End of Program Sab aidi Pimai Happ y New Year! 18

3 Lao New Year Festival 2009 at Bonnyrigg Town Centre Park. Lef t: The Mayor of Fairfield City Council Mr Nick Lalich Never say I can t! ) Masters of Ceremony for the day- Mr Somvilay Vongsouvanh & Miss Darlene Sodarak 2) Lao Classical dancers 3) Mrs Nina Long-vibrant translation 4) Ms Sengkeo Natasinh teacher 5) A gift for the Mayor Lalich 6) Boys got the full translation! 7) The new generation honoring Lao traditions 8) A Thai dancer. 9) Ms Amkhamavong

4 Lao New Year Blessings Mr Graeme Lyall AM taking part in water blessing 2. With Mayor Nick Lalich and Chief Inspector Gary Clark, Crime Manager Cabramatta Local Area Commander after the official presentation. 3. Nang Sangkhane and sisters giving respect to their father. 4. Local police chief taking part in the water blessing. 5. Beautiful Thai dancers giv ing their part. 6. Mrs Samly presenting gifts for Lesley Unsworth. 7. Dancers and performers with Mayor. 8. Mr Sodarak First Vice-President of LBS contributing a gift to the Buddhist Council of NSW -Rupert Su. 20

5 Celebrating Achievements & Outstanding Contributions 2009 The Mayor of Fairfield City Council Mr Nick Lalich congratulated the recipients for their Dhamma Dedication Award. 12 April 2009: Lao New Year Celebration Dhamma Dedication Awards Mr Voraveth Siackhasone announced his acknowledgement of indiv iduals who hav e contributed to Wat Phray ortkeo in the past - for their long service to the community. With the help of Ajahn Thongsavanh Chanthathirath there were f our distinctive indiv iduals that stood out. For many years now they have giv en and they have asked nothing in return. It is their exemplary volunteer spirit that grows from serving the Sangha and they hav e given quietly to the community with v ery little fuss. A big congratulations goes to all f our of them f or their Dhamma Dedication Awards. Mr Khamsing Pongphachansay He is a man who does not say much but he is there when the job needs to be done. Heavy or light work-you will see him volunteering his time and energy. He has lately taken on the service of providing transport f or the Sangha to different destinations around the local areas. There are many elders and f amilies who find it difficult to come to the temple because there is no transportation. Mr Khamsing has made sure that each week the Sangha can go to Alms-round in the local area and receive Dana from the locals. Mr Vong To He has volunteered f or many years now. He has worked hard behind the scene with his brother (below). He has many skills and no matter what the weather he will be in his working gear drilling outside in the scorching heat of 30 degrees or more. He will be there to pack up the chairs and heavy gear when everyone has gone home to sleep. He makes sure that all things are cleared up for he does not want the Ajanh to do the cleaning up. Mr Toui To He is as dedicated as his brother. They work side by side. Y ou will see him carrying the heavy sound system. No matter where y ou want the sound system, he will make sure everything is working for the special occasion. At many festivals, you will see Toua helping the Sangha to collect their heavy alms-round. He will go every where with the sangha to give his service. In times of emergency, he will be there. What would you call these two brothers our guardian angels? Mr Bounlap Seanphoumy He was there when the ground was barren. He was there when the temple and the hall was constructed. Little by little, he saw to it that he followed his dreamand that was to build a temple and a community hall. He is a skilled builder by prof ession. It seems that apart from the building and construction-he has given his time and service in the maintenance of Wat Phary ortkeo. His devotion is to construct and demolish-like putting up the tarpaulins and marquees. He is there at every festival to take leadership in the planning and construction. We are blessed to have him at the temple. 21

6 Hundreds of Volunteers and Supporters 2009 The ladies who give with all their hearts. Mr Khamsene Sychampanakhone-the man with multi-talented voices. Lef t to right:mrs Chone Mingsisouphanh always present at any ceremony and festivals. The dy namic team who work hard in providing the meal f or the Lao New Year. 22