Sunday 12th April

This is a family-friendly event when the birth of Siddhartha Gautama is celebrated in Zen sanghas around the world. Bring flowers and food to share for our potluck lunch, which we’ll enjoy in the garden, weather permitting, from noon. Before the ceremony, at 10.30am in the garden, Shauna and her daughters Marisol an Saoirse will show us how to make origami paper cranes and colour in mandalas and flowers to give the Baby Buddha.

The ceremony begins at 11am with Gillian Coote, roshi’s introductory words, with each child coming to the altar with their parents to be welcomed into our sangha. Then, while chanting the Enmei Jikku Kannon Gyo each of us comes to the altar and pours water over our statue of the baby Buddha offering him a flower, then sharing songs and stories. It’s helpful to know who is coming so do let us know, and whether you would like your child or baby named and/or welcomed to our sangha. We also reflect on what the birth of the Buddha in India over 4,500 years ago means to us.

Please let Shauna shauna.murray@uts.edu.au know if you intend to come, and whether you would like your child named and/or welcomed to our sangha, or if you have any questions.   See you there!