Buddha’s Birthday Celebration at CMC in New York
On May 19, 2019, Chan Meditation Center (CMC) in Queens, New York held a Buddha’s Birthday Celebration.
Venerable Changhwa, Director of CMC, gave a talk entitled The Buddha and the Queen Māyādevī. According to the Venerable, the relationship between a child and parents is closely intertwined by karma.
While many of us complain about being born into our families, we should understand that our birth is not a random event but based on our intersecting karma. So too was the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha to Queen Māyādevī , a very highly advanced practitioner able to teach others, manifest supernatural powers, and give birth to the Buddha in a miraculous and extraordinary way.
It is said that after the queen’s death, Shakyamuni Buddha went to Tusita heaven where the queen was reborn to teach the Dharma. Queen Māyādevī vowed to be a mother of all Buddhas, including the future Buddha, Maitreya.
There were musical performances of the pipa or Chinese lute, a song from the Chinese opera, A Fairy Maiden Scatters Flowers, and a magic show. Participants also chanted the and copied the sutra in Chinese on fine writing paper to create a card.
Attendees enjoyed a vegetarian feast and gifts.