A guest contributor has written about recent Buddha Day celebrations in Southside Community Centre.
On 18 May 2025 Buddha Day was celebrated by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Edinburgh Branch, in Southside Community Centre. Li-nan McClellan and her team, decorated tables in Room 1 with flowers, lights and other beatuful paraphernalia representing the life and mission of the founder of Tzu Chi – the Taiwanese Buddhist nun, Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
Tzu Chi is Mandarin for Compassion – Relief.
Participants learnt about the foundation of this branch of Buddhism through film, took part in a ritual ceremony; remembered our mothers, as this day also forms part of Mother’s Day celebrations in many Asian societies; and chanted the Tzu Chi Prayer, the words of which are:
In my heart, I feel deep gratefulness,
All my heart is filled with sincere prayer
From all corners of the world,
Let us join our hearts and pray
For a world of harmony and peace.
In my heart, I feel deep gratefulness,
May all the Buddhas hear my prayer,
All united with one heart,
Let us end our hate with love,
May there be no suffering year after year.
From my heart, I pray
May we pass on to all beings the light
Of true wisdom deep and bright
Of pure endless great love
That will guide us in our life.
From my heart, I pray
May we join our hands, our hearts as one,
Spread the seeds of Great love,
Nurture wisdom evermore,
Let us fill the world with hope.
In my heart, I feel deep gratefulness,
May all the Buddhas know my prayer,
All united with one heart,
Let us end our hate with love.
May there be no suffering year after year.
Finally, naturally, the ceremony closed with everyone tucking into some delicious homemade Chinese snacks while we chatted and got to know each other a bit, thus building community.
Do please check out https://global.tzuchi.org/ to learn more about the work and mission of the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation.
