A Celebration of Lotuses
The expression of the lotus
in art, literature, music,
and the practice of Buddhism.
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Prelude: Chinese Music from the T'ang, Sung, Yuan and Ming Dynasties
Kansho Bell Calling us to Listen! Welcome Opening Meditation (silent listening, moment of silence) Readings by the Sangha Reading: From The Center Within by Rev.Gyomay M. Kubose and The Teaching of Buddha, by Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai Chair: The Buddha said, "All things are in constant change; nothing is permanent." All: This means that life is a process, a continuous becoming. Chair: In a relative sense, today is a continuation of yesterday. All: In reality, we live a new life every moment. We should make this new life the most beautiful and most meaningful. Chair: To be able to control one's own mind is to be able to live each day as a new day. All: This is what non-attachment means. This is the basis for the fresh, creative life. Chair: The Buddha always referred to the lotus flower. It grows and blooms in a muddy pond, but the lotus is never soiled by the mud. All: When the sun comes, the lotus opens its leaves and buds and fully appreciates the sunshine. Chair: The pure and fragrant lotus flower grows from the mud of a swamp, not the clean loam of an upland field. All: So from the muck of worldly entanglement springs the pure Enlightenment of the Buddha. Chair: There are many kinds of people. All: Some are wise, some are foolish; some possess pure minds, some have defiled minds. These differences are negligible when it comes to the attainment of Enlightenment. Chair: Humanity is like a lotus pond. All: There are blossoms of many different tints. Some are white, some pink, some yellow. Some grow under water, some spread their leaves on the water, and some raise their leaves above the water. Incense Offering All: Incense comes in varied colors and shapes. But when we burn incense together, we are mindful that when it burns, it transcends its individual shape and color, and becomes one in the smoke . . . It signals the transcending of individual selfishness or ego, to become one with all others . . . to become one with the Oneness of Life. Chanting SELECTIONS FROM THE LOTUS SUTRA Dharma Talk Guided Meditation Meditation on Claude Monet's painting Water Lilies; and a Flowering Lotus Meditation Postlude "WATER LILY," performed by Yang Sze-chak on the ch'in Closing bell and moment of silence |
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