Paris: At the invitation of Vietnamese Pagoda in suburban Paris, Representative Tashi Phuntsok of the Bureau du Tibet, Paris attended at the grand Vesak celebration organised by the Pagoda last Sunday.
Vietnamese from across France had gathered to celebrate Vesak – the day of the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha – the most auspicious Buddhist day and a significant event in the annual calendar of the Parisian Vietnamese.
The venue was abuzz with heavy congregation of yellow-robed monks and multitude of Vietnamese in their colourful traditional dresses in an air of religious solemnity and festive ambience.
The Grand Master Ven. Thich Tanh Thiet, Abbot of the congregation, had specially come from Lyon from South France. The ceremony was overseen by Ven. Thich Quan Dao, the Master of the Pagoda. Ven. Dagpo Rinpoche also attended the ceremony. Many representatives from Buddhist congregations across Europe and France were present.
Among the guests was Sri Lankan Ambassador Mr. B.K Athauda.
With his participation, Representative Phuntsok had reconnected with the congregation. Over 20 years ago he had visited the pagoda at the time of the late Abbot Thich Tam Mam and attended every Vesak during his earlier posting in France from 2001-2005. Then it was held in a rented hall in Paris before the current pagoda was built and inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2008.
The ceremony started with the gathering of the Buddhist Masters, the Sangha and the guests at the main hall of Pagoda. Led by Ven. Thich Tanh Thiet, the Venerable, the Sangha and the guests climbed up on the temple in the upper floor, chanting Buddhist prayers accompanied by sounding of gongs.
In his short address, Mr Phuntsok expressed his profound happiness to reconnect with the congregation with his participation in the Visak. He recalled his special relation with the Late Abbot with whom he had worked together. During their time the new Pagoda was built and also the preparation of the Pagoda being inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama has also begun.
He appreciated the closer relations between Tibetan and Vietnamese communities had grown over the years. He exhorted everyone to imbibe the teachings of the Buddha – love, compassion, tolerance – in their personal, community and national – lives.
After his speech prayers were offered in various languages, including Tibetans, led by Tibetan Community President Ven. Tenzin Penpa. Once again the congregation retraced steps from the temple, everyone of the Venerable and the guests, performing ablution of small statuette of the Buddha enroute.
The main programme consisted of a reading of messages and two speeches one by the Grand Master and the other by Representative Phuntsok. Every seat in the temple had been taken up by devotees, both old and young. Once the congregation was seated, a group of young Vietnamese girls in their traditional light- blue attire sang a prayer, followed by South Vietnamese Anthem.
Representative Phuntsok’s interview was live-streamed for the benefit of the young Buddhists in Vietnam. Some Vietnamese in France were aghast at the Vesak celebration in Vietnam. The ablution of the statue of Ho Chi Minh was being done along with that of the Buddha.
The afternoon was set for cultural performances. Tibetan community cultural group too arrived at the pagoda in strength to performed few items.
-Filed by Bureau du Tibet, Paris
