Over 1000 visitors in Kechara Forest Retreat for Wesak 2019! | 2019年卫塞节吸引逾千名善信前来克切拉禅修林浴佛祈福
Over 1000 visitors from all over Malaysia descended on Kechara Forest Retreat for this year’s Wesak Day celebrations. With the theme “A Virtuous Day for Virtuous Deeds”, the all-day event featured a mixture of devotional practices for Buddhist merit-making and various spiritual lifestyle activities that were both fulfilling and fun. Both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike came to experience Wesak as it is celebrated in the Tibetan tradition.
Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia’s largest Tibetan Buddhist temple, was decked out to celebrate the day commemorating the birth, Enlightenment and parinirvana of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni.
来自马来西亚各地的一千余名善信在克切拉禅修林一起共沾法喜，庆祝卫塞节。今年的卫塞节主题是“发善心，行善举”。克切拉为善信安排了一整天的活动，让虔诚的善信们欢喜行善及累积功德。由于当日的庆典是以西藏传统的方式进行，除了善信前来之外，也吸引了非佛教徒前来体验卫塞节。
克切拉禅修林是马来西亚藏传佛教最大的寺院。为了这一殊胜的日子，克切拉上下特别精心布置场地，以庆祝释迦牟尼佛的诞生，成道以及涅盘。
Kechara Forest Retreat offers visitors a unique Tibetan Wesak celebration. Click on image to enlarge. | 克切拉禅修林让善信和访客们体验一次以西藏传统方式进行的卫塞节。点击图片放大。
Kechara’s Wesak Festival featured a mixture of devotional practices and spiritual lifestyle activities that were both fulfilling and fun. Click on image to enlarge. | 克切拉的卫塞节庆典为大家提供一整天不同的活动，让善信们欢喜行善。点击图片放大。
Buddhist merit-making activities lasted until night at Kechara Forest Retreat’s all-day Wesak Festival. Click on image to enlarge. | 克切拉禅修林为善信而办的佛事活动一整日不中断，就连夜里也不例外。点击图片放大。
Starting from 8 a.m. in the morning, 28 devotees began the day virtuously by taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts, committing themselves to a day or more of virtuous living by not killing, not stealing, abstaining from sexual intercourse and not taking any intoxicants; to being mindful and not telling lies; to being humble by not sleeping in high beds, not wearing perfume and not eating past noon. The Eight Mahayana Precepts is a popular and widespread Buddhist practice especially on auspicious days such as Wesak.
从早上8时开始，28名善信在这个殊胜的日子受持八关斋戒：持不杀生、不偷窃、不非梵行、不饮酒、不妄语；不坐卧大床、不香花曼庄严其身，亦不歌舞倡伎、不非时食。八关斋戒是佛教非常流行和广泛的修行之一，善信可在吉祥的日子受持这些戒条，尤其是卫塞节。
Devotees take the Eight Mahayana Precepts in Wisdom Hall at Kechara Forest Retreat. Click on image to enlarge. | 善信们在克切拉禅修林智慧殿里受持八关斋戒。点击图片放大。
Click on image to enlarge. | 点击图片放大。
Another common and popular Wesak Day activity is animal liberation. Saving animals from a life of captivity is given new meaning when the ceremony is held in the natural surroundings of Kechara Forest Retreat, surrounded by tropical forests and misty green hills.
放生也是卫塞节的例常活动之一。在克切拉禅修林这片被大自然环绕的土地放生拯救生命，让这个活动更具非凡意义。
Kechara’s Pastor Han Nee leads the animal liberation prayers. Click on image to enlarge. | 克切拉的林汉妮讲法师为善信主持放生仪式。点击图片放大。
Blowing mantras on the birds for blessings and Dharma imprints prior to their release. Click on image to enlarge. | 在释放小鸟之前，大家不忘持诵心咒加持鸟儿们。这么做是为了在鸟儿的心相续中种下成佛的种子。点击图片放大。
Hundreds of birds got a new lease of life at this year’s Wesak Day animal liberation ceremony. Click on image to enlarge. | 大家在今年的卫塞节一共放生了上百只小鸟。点击图片放大。
A unique aspect of Wesak Day in Kechara is the Children’s Baptism. The practice, which was started by Kechara’s founder and spiritual guide, H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche, allows babies and children under 18 to receive the blessings of the Three Jewels, to be under the protection of Buddha Shakyamuni, and to cultivate the wisdom of Manjushri to increase mental faculties. 24 lucky children were blessed in this year’s Children’s Baptism held at Wisdom Hall, the main prayer hall of Kechara Forest Retreat.
克切拉在卫塞节举办另一个独特的活动，就是儿童佛化洗礼仪式。儿童佛化洗礼仪式的传统，是由克切拉的创办人——尊贵的第廿五世詹杜固仁波切创办。透过这项佛化洗礼仪式，18岁以下的婴儿、小孩和少年将能受到佛、法、僧的加持，并且得以培养文殊菩萨的智慧增强学习、增长智慧。今年，一共有24名幸运的孩子在克切拉禅修林智慧殿接受儿童佛化洗礼。
Other highlights inside Wisdom Hall were Buddha Bathing, offering gold leaf to the Fasting Buddha, sutra writing, mantra recitation and pastor blessings. Two special Wesak pujas were also held in Wisdom Hall – a Lama Chopa puja in the morning and in the afternoon, a Sixteen Arhats puja. Both pujas honour the qualities and deeds of the Buddha and other enlightened beings, praising them and invoking their blessings to cleanse us of impurities and guide us towards life in eternal paradise.
智慧殿里的其他活动包括浴佛、为佛陀像贴金箔、抄经、心咒念诵及讲法师加持。两场特别的法会也在智慧殿中进行：上午的上师荟供法会，以及下午的十六罗汉法会。这两场法会赞颂佛菩萨圆满的品质及修行，祈请诸佛菩萨加持我们、净化我们的恶业，并引导我们走向佛净土。
佛教徒相信抄经可以累积大量的功德。点击图片放大。
克切拉讲法师主持汽车加持仪式。点击图片放大。
Outside Wisdom Hall, canopies were erected and decorated with colourful Tibetan prayer flags. Lending a festive atmosphere to the day, the outdoor car park was transformed into a mini festival ground that had a bazaar, air-conditioned lounge, centre for blood donation and a vegetarian food festival.
From local Bentong entrepreneurs selling homegrown and homemade goods to hipster artisans with art & craft wares, tree-hugging folk with eco-friendly products, and international brands such as Mary Kay and Tiger Balm, these were some of the 58 vendors that made this year’s inaugural Wesak Bazaar a hit with visitors.
智慧殿外搭起的帐篷都挂满了美丽的五彩西藏经幡。为了增加喜庆气氛，户外停车场被改造为小型的市集。除此，市集中还有配备空调的休息室、捐血运动和素食美食节。
今年首次举办的卫塞节市集共有58个单位的商家参与。市集的各个摊位都备受善信和访客们的欢迎。这些商家其中包括文冬当地销售土特产和自制商品的商家，也有售卖时尚手工艺术品、环保产品的商家。国际品牌如玫琳凯（Mary Kay）和虎标万金油也前来摆摊。
The biggest and most popular section of the outdoor festival area was the Vegetarian Food Festival. Held for the first time, visitors to Wesak 2019 at Kechara Forest Retreat were spoilt for choice with an outdoor food gallery featuring vendors serving an assortment of meals, snacks and desserts to keep bellies full and energy levels replenished for the entire day’s activities. The crowd especially loved the complimentary vegetarian nasi lemak courtesy of Kechara Oasis vegetarian restaurant and the two food trucks, Llaollao and GB Vegetarian Burger. Llaollao’s food truck was completely sold out of their famous frozen yoghurt by three o’clock in the afternoon while GB Vegetarian Burger’s food truck had long queues lining up for their on-the-spot freshly cooked burgers.
当天最大和最受欢迎的户外活动非素食美食节莫属。由克切拉禅修林举办的首届卫塞节市集有一个户外的美食区，由商贩们提供各式各样的美食、小吃和甜品，以确保善信和访客们吃饱喝足，精力充沛的参与一整天的活动。大家都特别喜欢由克切拉如意轩免费提供的素椰浆饭、以及Llaollaod的冷冻酸奶和GB的素汉堡。知名品牌Llaollao的冷冻酸奶在下午3时前已售罄。至于GB的摊位，善信和访客们必须排队等候才能买到新鲜烹饪出炉的素汉堡。
The kids had a great day out too! Kechara’s Dharma School teachers set up a Children’s Corner for kids to have fun at being virtuous. Activities for kids at Wesak 2019 included games, colouring, tsa tsa painting, and walking tours to Kechara Forest Retreat’s popular aviary.
在这殊胜的日子，小孩们也度过了美好又难忘的一天！克切拉佛法班的老师们为孩子们设立了儿童天地，好让他们快乐地享受有意义的一天。儿童天地的活动包括游戏、填色、彩绘擦擦和参观克切拉禅修林的鸟舍。
With kind support from Bentong Hospital, Kechara organised its first Blood Donation Drive in Kechara Forest Retreat. In an air-conditioned marquee, staff from Bentong Hospital’s blood bank department set up their equipment and counters to screen and collect blood from selfless donors who came to give of themselves to save the lives of others. Bentong’s District Health Office also supported our Wesak event by providing free health screening for Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, blood sugar, health counselling and referrals. There was even a mobile clinic on site.
在获得彭亨州文冬医院的支持之下，克切拉禅修林举办首次的捐血运动。文冬医院血库工作人员在设有空调的大帐篷内安置医疗设备和柜台，以便检查及收集由无私奉献捐血者的血液。为表支持克切拉举办的卫塞节庆典，文冬卫生局为大家提供免费的健康检查服务，其中就包括检测身体质量指数（BMI）、血压、血糖和其他健康咨询。除此，现场也有流动医疗服务。
In the afternoon, Kechara’s Pastor Seng Piow and Pastor Niral gave insightful Dharma talks in Chinese and English respectively. The well-received talks had large groups of people listening attentively to the knowledge imparted by the two experienced pastors.
下午的佛法开示是由克切拉的罗胜彪讲法师以中文讲解，而尼拉讲法师则以英文讲解。大家都很专注的在聆听这两位经验丰富的讲法师分享佛法。
Towards the end of the day’s activities, a vegetarian vow ceremony was held in Wisdom Hall where a group of 33 people gathered to commit to a duration of eating no meat. This is a deed that is not only virtuous but also promotes healthy and sustainable living. Living healthily and sustainably via vegetarianism is one of the leading life philosophies held by the community living and working in Kechara Forest Retreat.
随着活动逐渐接近尾声，33位善信集合在智慧殿，一起受持持素戒。这个善举不仅带来无量功德，甚至可以促进健康及可持续性的生活模式。透过吃素来保持健康及可持续性的生活模式更是克切拉禅修林社群的生活理念之一。
Wesak 2019 at Kechara Forest Retreat also saw a Special Wesak Raffle Draw where 58 lucky people walked away with a variety of prizes including hampers, branded skin care, electrical appliances, blessed pendants and a Tibetan Wealth Vase. One extremely lucky winner went home with the grand prize – a 6D5N all expenses paid pilgrimage trip to Kathmandu, Nepal!
当天一共有58名善信在幸运抽奖环节中获得各式各样的礼物，其中包括礼篮、护肤品、电器、佛牌及西藏聚宝瓶。幸运抽奖的一名大赢家还赢取大奖：免费参与6天5夜尼泊尔加德满都朝圣团之旅。
A grand procession of light ended the festivities. A large crowd of visitors paid homage to the various beautiful holy sites in Kechara Forest Retreat and circumambulated the Buddhas to receive blessings. This year’s Wesak event was the first time a holy walk was held at night, and visitors enjoyed the magical walk amidst cool forest breezes.
燃灯绕佛是今年卫塞节的压轴活动。善信们在这美丽和殊胜的克切拉禅修林绕佛、祈求佛菩萨加持。今年的卫塞节让善信们首次体会在夜里燃灯绕佛，享受山林间凉爽的微风。
This year’s Wesak celebration was a huge success, thanks to all the staff and many volunteers who put in so much of their time and energy to provide all visitors and guests to Kechara Forest Retreat a truly virtuous day for virtuous deeds.
今年的卫塞节庆典取得巨大的成功。诚挚感谢所有工作人员及志工们的无私付出及奉献，让前来克切拉禅修林的善信和访客们得以欢喜行善，累积功德。
VIDEO: Wesak Day 2019 at Kechara Forest Retreat
克切拉禅修林2019年卫塞节庆典
PRESS COVERAGE: China Press | 媒体报道：《中国报》
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Album Name: Wesak Day 2019 | 2019 卫塞节
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This event is really out of my expectation as previous way the Buddhist celebrate their Wesak is just only praying and parade on the street. This event brought a lot of knowledge and fun to buddhists and visitors, especially to the children. I believed that they have learnt the Buddhist knowledge deeply as Kechara promoted Buddhist in such way!
It’s a blessed day that Kechara organised an spiritual event during Wesak Day at Kechara Forest Retreat. The event starting as early as 8am for devotees to take Eight Mahayana Precepts and continue with animal liberation and many more activities inside and outside Wisdom Hall. many people also visited the holy places to circumambulation, recite mantra, making offering and taking picture. Many people participate in the activities on this auspicious day where Kechara provide the opportunity for the public to collect merits during this special occasion at Bentong, Pahang. This a great moment for creating the opportunity to benefit many people and get the people closer to the Buddha’s teaching and practice. Great appreciation to H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche for creating Kechara Forest Retreat this wonderful place to benefit many people.
We should be grateful we have a wonderful ‘job’ at Kechara benefitting so many beings. And we will grow to benefit more. No outside job can equal the merits, bliss, happiness and benefits of what we do here. We are lucky to be working in the dharma. We should always work in the dharma and treasure it. Never lose this opportunity as dharma’s benefits are great in this and future lives.
Tsem Rinpoche
the above statement was shared by Rinpoche few months ago and I find this statement very true, we may have higher pay job out there, we may live very comfortably out there, we may get to travel very often, but then what do we gained out of it? I have seen many people who are wealthy but yet, it did not eliminate their suffering, some even feel lost in their life, they find their life very empty and with no meaning.
Im very fortunate to be working in Kechara for the past 10 years, I never regretted coming in to a temple to work as I find this is the most meaningful job I have ever worked in my entire life.
Thank you Rinpoche for giving us this opportunity to do something so meaningful and beneficial in our life, and thank you the Wesak event committee who has been working so hard for days to make this event so happening, Im very fortunate to be part if this and seeing so many coming in to Kechara Forest Retreat to get blessing by the 3 Jewels, it really lighted my heart, although the whole day event is really tiring, but I felt contented and satisfying because I know I have done something good in my life.
Just like what Steve Jobs has said:
Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me
I rejoice for Kechara and the people who had been to Kechara Forest Retreat to make offerings to the 3 Jewels on this auspicious day. It takes Rinpoche and many Kecharians’ hard work to bring Kechara to where it is today. Kechara Forest Retreat is a perfect place for people to collect merits and purify negative karmas. In fact, these are the reasons Kechara Forest Retreat is built.
I remember reading the history of Kechara Organisation, Rinpoche started from giving teachings in students’ houses to 20-30 people until today, thousands of people can gather together to do meritorious activities. This is not easy, only with dedication and great compassion can one achieve this. As a Buddhist monastery, public fund is very much needed to maintain this holy place and to benefit ourselves and other people. Therefore, if we can, we should support Kechara financially. It can be by making regular offerings or monetary donations.
Wow, a wonderful day to remember has it was my first experiencing to participate on a Wesak Day. I felt very proud and lucky in participating in the most important festival in the largest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Malaysia. I did not want to miss the opportunity to experience the joy of the religious ceremony.
Overall, Wesak Day at Kechara was very peaceful, smooth with overwhelming visitors of multi races. A day full of spiritual events and activities with both fulfilling, fun and joy.. I was so much fascinated to witness such a beautiful spiritual ceremony, full of tradition and rituals which shows the Buddhist faith and belief.
I enjoyed my day there with friends and family members and hoping to participate in the future Wesak Days.
It was such a memorable Wesak as we celebrated with so many merits making activities. Truly heartwarming to see so many people from different walks of life and from different parts of this region and overseas, coming to Kechara Forest Retreat to celebrate this holy day. The unique part about Kechara’s Wesak is the Children Baptism where young babies, kids and teens were blessed and placed under the care of The Three Jewels.
Must say that this was my BEST Wesak ever!
Wesak Day is a Holy Day for Buddhists. In fact, it is considered the holiest day in the Buddhist Calendar. Wesak Day, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment , and death of Gautama Buddha. Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions. Buddhists began to visit temples nationwide early in the morning to carry out religious rituals and pay homage to the Buddha.
Here at Kechara Forest Retreat ,is no exception this year the Wesak celebration offers visitors a unique Tibetan way. A lively yet modest atmosphere filled the air when they to visit Kechara Forest Retreat at Bentong. Many visitors spend the whole sacred day, meditating, chanting prayers, offerings , blood donation drive, Sutra writing, animal liberation , and many other meritorious activities. Great to see many turn up for this auspicious day about thousands. A very good response this year. Many of them both young and old took the opportunity queued patiently to take turns to bathe the Buddha statue, which is a special ritual that represents the purification and cleansing of one’s soul.
Thank you Rinpoche for this great sharing of Wesak day celebrations at Kechara Forest retreat.
Thank you so much for this article. Kechara Forest Retreat which is the Malaysia’s largest Tibetan Buddhist temple, was decked out to celebrate Wesak Day. This article is mainly about what happened on that celebrations in details.
What attracted me on the Wesak Day in Kechara is the Children’s Baptism. The practice, allows babies and children under 18 to receive the blessings of the Three Jewels. Thank you.
It was so wonderful to see so many people filling this holy land of the Buddhas with spiritual activities, in celebration of Buddha’s enlightenment. There are also many other activities to fill the day. Children love to visit our spacious aviary where the birds greet you with their calls. Plenty of food stalls to try from, some household, garden and kitchen items for sale, and of course, plenty of prizes to be won.
Thank you Rinpoche for creating a special place with so much blessings and the team for managing the successful event.
It was indeed an interesting Wesak Day in Kechara Forest Retreat this year. We celebrated the holy and virtuous day with lots of activities, dharma sharing and fun . It was also a great experience to participate as a volunteer and share the happiness with the kids in the children’s corner. May everyone be blessed on the auspicious day and hope they will bring their family and friends to visit Kechara Forest Retreat more often.
So auspicious and rejoice to see so many people in KFR on Wesak Day!????. Hope few more thousands of people will visit KFR again for next year’s Wesak Day! Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this wonderful update?☘️????