On 17th April 2021, Fo Guang shan (FGS) Temple South Island hosted its 2021 Buddha’s Birthday Multicultural Festival for World Peace activity attracting the participation of 800 VIP and the public. On the same day, a Baby Blessing Ceremony was held at the Temple courtyard. More than 70 children accompanied by their parents and family members came to receive the blessings. The Baby Blessing Ceremony was led by FGS New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin who led the congregation of more than 200 parents and babies in chanting the Sutra and in praying in front of the Buddha.
Parents of different ethnicity from Christchurch brought their babies and children to participate in the ceremony and to feel the joy of Buddha’s blessings. The babies in the arms of their parents, closed their eyes, put their palms together and looked forward to receiving blessings from Abbess Manshin. The scene was warm and touching. The children who attended the ceremony received blessed apples and Buddha’s Birthday biscuits from the Temple and sought blessings from Buddha for good health and bright futures. They could not wait to taste the apple and Buddha’s Birthday biscuits, displaying their simple and lovely natural selves.
On that day, apart from the Baby Blessing Ceremony, the children and parents also participated in a series of other wonderful activities, including bathing of the Buddha to purify the soul; visiting the Little Prince Exhibition; learning about the life of the Buddha and the meaning of Buddhism through lively video presentations; Scriptures transcription; and making of wishes in front of the Buddha. These activities really filled the children and the parents with joy and they thanked FGS South Island for their painstaking efforts in arranging these activities.
Some parents had signed up for the 2020 Baby Blessing Ceremony but were unable to participate because of the cancellation of the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After learning about this year’s event, these parents were elated and immediately signed up for their children. Some parents had signed up for their two children last year, and this year they signed up for an additional baby, making a total of three. Even though some children had exceeded the registration age this year, their parents still hoped that the over-aged children could receive blessings. Feeling the meaningfulness of the activity, some parents invited friends to participate in the activity besides signing up for their own children. Some parents only knew about the event after witnessing the blessing ceremonies performed on other children. They immediately signed up for their own children. Whereas, other parents regretted that they could not participate in the Baby Blessing Ceremony because they had to go to work or to attend to other matters.
Young mother Tania Matthews, who learned about the Baby Blessing Ceremony at the 2021 Light and Art Show earlier this year, signed her four young children up for the event. Cathie Schofiled, who was also informed about the event at the 2021 light and art Show, brought her two children to participate. Her son Tyler, who had followed his school to the Temple two years ago to participate in the 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing activity, had been deeply impressed by the Temple. Cathie confessed that she had forgotten about the Blessing Ceremony. Instead, she was reminded by her eight-year-old daughter Samantha about it and quickly brought her children to the Temple, in time for the Ceremony.
Marilyn, who only knew of the Blessing Ceremony when she attended the Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony in the morning, felt that the Blessing Activity was very meaningful and enrolled her two infant children for the Activity. Pippa, a long-term customer of Water Drop Café, had been diagnosed during her early pregnancy with having an intellectually handicapped baby with a defective heart. She was asked by her Doctor to decide whether she still wanted the baby. Pippa felt that the baby was a gift from God and decided to continue with the pregnancy. After the birth of her baby Isabella, Pippa often carried the intubated baby to the Temple in a cradle , and sincerely prayed to Buddha to let Isabella live a normal and healthy life as soon as possible. Not long after that, when Pippa again brought Isabella to the Temple, Isabella was able to go without the cannula, and Pippa was able to hold the lively baby in her arms. Pippa credited this miracle to the Buddha’s blessings. This time around, Pippa was very happy and deeply moved because Isabella was now able to participate in the Blessing Ceremony as a healthy baby.
