(Penang-18 May 2008)—Hundreds of devotees, with lighted LED-candle in their hands, thronged the Than Hsiang multi-purpose hall to usher in the 2552 B.E. and at the same time help to raise fund for the relocation of Phor Tay High School.

Than Hsiang temple in collaboration with Phor Tay High School and several Buddhist organizations in the Northern Region jointly organized the Bodhi Nite celebration at 7pm in the evening of 17 May 2008 at the Than Hsiang multi-purpose hall. The night witnessed the lighting of 2552 LED-candle to commemorate the year of 2552 of the Buddhist calendar. Ven. Wei Wu welcomed all Buddhists to join in the celebration of this memorable and joyous occasion. Students from Phor Tay High School also presented a few entertainment programmes for the night.

Buddha day marks the triple celebration of Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana . The ushering in of the Buddha year of 2552 with the flickering lights of 2552 LED candles is indeed a spectacular sight not to be missed.

Ven. Wei Wu explained that in Buddhism, everyone has the opportunity to become a Buddha and it is hope that one will ultimately attain such a noble goal by diligently indulging in wholesome deeds, practising generosity and purifying the mind. “It is with such a motive in mind that the night was named Bodhi Nite to remind us of the ideal of a Bodhisattva , while helping to raise fund for the relocation of Phor Tay High School”, he added.

Ven. Wei Wu donated a sum of RM 10,000- sponsorship fund to 100 needy students from twelve primary & secondary schools. During the night, Ven. Wei Wu also gave a Dharma talk and led in the blessing and lamp- lighting ceremony, praying for world peace , harmony and prosperity.

Prince Siddharta was born in 623 BC in Lumini Park (in present day Nepal). At the age of 29, he left the palace, giving up a life of royalty, in search of the way to end suffering. He finally attained the awakening after a 6-year quest and became the Sakhyamuni Buddha we know today. He tirelessly traveled farand widepreaching the Dharma until his Parinirvana at a ripe age of eighty in the year 542 BC, the year we compute the Buddhist calendar.

The Than Hsiang temple has lined up a series of activities to commemorate the 2552 Vesak day. A children drawing competition was held at 8.30 am and at 9.30am the parents were invited to attend a parenting talk by Mr. Tan Kerk Chee, a regular and renowned speaker on pre-school education.
The library and the old folk homes (Wan Chin Yuan) also held their open day respectively. Devotees made offering of lamps and collected pre-packed fragrant water for Buddha bathing at the great hall of compassion, ground floor.

The final event of the day was the participation by Than Hsiang members for the high- light of the evening---the Buddha float procession. Registered participants boarded four chartered buses at 4pm at Than Hsiang and returned to the temple at about 11pm.
Well, it is indeed a very busy and meaningful Buddha day for all to recollect.