The United Nations Association of Australia (Victorian Branch) will conduct a multicultural celebration of the Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment and Passing, along with Sangha Dana, Vesak Procession & Commemorations in Melbourne on Saturday 27 May, 2017
At Vesak Buddhists commemorate the birth of the Buddha-to-be, Siddhattha Gautama, his Enlightenment at the age of 35 when he became the Buddha and his final ‘passing’ into Nirvana at the age of 80, no more to be reborn. Buddhist scriptures relate that each of these three significant events occurred on a full moon of the Indian lunar month of Vesakha.
Traditionally, his birth is supposed to have been in 623 BC but the Buddhist calendar is counted from his final passing, eighty years later. The older tradition of Vesak is to celebrate all three events but there are some more recent Buddhist schools and groups that celebrate just the birth and others only the Enlightenment.
Vesak Program
* Sangha Dana Lunch Offering:
10am, St Peters Eastern Hill Anglican Church Hall, 15 Gisborne Street,
East Melbourne.
* Vesak Procession & Friendship Walk
In the Heart of Melbourne with Traditional Drummers, Buddha Floats, Flags,
Lanterns, the colours of Victoria’s Buddhist Community.
Starts at 1pm – Parliament Gardens Reserve (assemble from 12.15pm)
Corner of Nicholson Street Extension (diagonally opposite Her Majesty’s
Theatre) & Albert Streets, East Melbourne.
Procession proceeds along Spring St and Collins St
to the Melbourne Town Hall. Corner of Swanston & Collins.
Public and metro car parking nearby, Parliament Station opposite.
Free vegetarian lunch packs available.
* Vesak Official Commemoration
Between 1.30 for 1.45pm Start to 3.30pm
Melbourne Town Hall. (corner Swanston & Collins Streets)
* Veneration of the Buddha Relics.
* Chanting & Blessing from the Buddhist Traditions.
– in the Pali, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tibetan, and
English languages.
* The Kariyana Metta Sutta, the Buddha’s Discourse on Loving Kindness.
* One Community Guided Meditation.
* Interfaith Messages
Event Details
Program: Sangha Dana, Vesak Procession & Commemorations
Where: Commences at St Peters Eastern Hill Anglican Church Hall, 15 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne.
When: Saturday 27 May
Time: 10am – 3.30pm,
Cost: Free Event – All Welcome
More Information: Victorian United Nations Day of Vesak
