Politicians gathered yesterday outside the Presidential Office to celebrate the 2,552nd anniversary of the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha.
The sunny weather attracted thousands of people including diplomats, religious leaders and politicians across party lines to the gathering on Ketagalan Boulevard.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday the birthday was an important day for the Buddha and all mothers. If it were not for Buddha’s mother, Queen Maya, who gave birth to Prince Siddartha, the Buddha’s teachings would not have enlightened the world and benefited mankind, he said.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, AP
Ma said he was “touched” by how Taiwanese Buddhist groups had endeavored to promote Buddhism to families at home and abroad over the past 60 years, giving “Taiwanese culture” a new definition.
“It is touching to see once again the Taiwanese demonstrate their longstanding tradition of tolerance and respect,” he said.
Ma said he was happy to see religious groups from all around the world come together on this day. It symbolized that “the Republic of China is a country with religious freedom and is a nation that is open and diverse.”
“Over China’s long history, there was never a war caused by religious conflict,” he said. “It is a remarkable contribution to world culture.”
As it was also the Bathing Buddha Festival, Ma said he hoped the public would cultivate kindness, benevolence, respect and righteousness.
Before his speech, Ma performed the “bathing Buddha” ritual. He was followed by politicians, including Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Po-hsiung (吳伯雄), who also serves as honorary president of the Buddha’s Light International Association, the event organizer.
Holding a wooden ladle, Ma poured water over a small statue of the Buddha three times while reciting: “May I eliminate all evil thoughts” on the first wash, “May I cultivate good deeds” on the second and “May I help save all living beings” on the third.
Bathing a statue of Buddha symbolizes a fresh start in life and the care given to newborn babies. Many other countries celebrate Buddha’s birthday on May 2.
Legend has it that when Prince Siddhartha was born, there were auspicious signs heralding his birth.
They describe the sky as blue and clear on his birth, with dragons spurting purified water to bathe him. Since then, Buddhists have celebrated his birthday by using fragrant water to bathe the image of Buddha.
With the Democratic Progressive Party set to stage a march and sit-in protest on Ketagalan Boulevard next Sunday, Wu said yesterday the venue had been the origin of many demonstrations.
The KMT chairman said yesterday’s gathering showed public support for the Ma administration’s efforts to improve the economy, which he said showed signs of recovery.
“What we need right now is unity, not hullabaloo,” he said. “Both the ruling and opposition parties should make a joint effort to improve the economy and make this land a better place.”
‘ANGRY’: Forgetting the humiliations and sacrifices of ‘the people of the Republic of China’ experienced disqualified Lai from being president, Ma Ying-jeou said Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday criticized President William Lai (賴清德) over what he called “phrasing that downplayed Japan’s atrocities” against China during World War II. Ma made the remarks in a post on Facebook on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Ma said he was “angry and disappointed” that Lai described the anniversary as the end of World War II instead of a “victory in the war of resistance” — a reference to the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). The eight-year war was a part of World War II, in which Japan and the other Axis
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
‘OFFSHORE OPERATIONS’: Also in Dallas, Texas, the Ministry of Economic Affairs inaugurated its third Taiwan Trade and Investment Center to foster closer cooperation The 2025 Taiwan Expo USA opened on Thursday in Dallas, Texas, featuring 150 Taiwanese companies showcasing their latest technologies in the fields of drones, smart manufacturing and healthcare. The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the event’s organizer, said the exhibitors this year include Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (Foxconn), the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer; AUO; PC brand Asustek Computer; and drone maker Thunder Tiger. In his opening speech, TAITRA chairman James Huang (黃志芳) said he expected Texas to become a world-class center for innovation and manufacturing as US technology companies from Silicon Valley and Taiwanese manufacturers form an industrial cluster
A 20-year-old man yesterday evening was electrocuted and fell to his death after he climbed a seven-story-high electricity tower to photograph the sunset, causing a wildfire on Datong Mountain (大同山) in New Taipei City’s Shulin District (樹林), the Taoyuan Police Department said today. The man, surnamed Hsieh (謝), was accompanied on an evening walk by a 20-year-old woman surnamed Shang (尚) who remained on the ground and witnessed the incident, capturing a final photograph of her friend sitting atop the tower before his death, an initial investigation showed. Shang then sought higher ground to call for help, police said. The New Taipei
RSS