(Still crowded, and
crowded at the pagoda platform whether it rained heavily or under the bad
weather.)
People visited to the Shwedagon Pagoda frequently. Paying
respect at the foot of the pagoda is one of the ways of Buddhist life. People
crowded at the Pagoda platform every time we visited. Practice meditation,
offering flowers, candles, incenses or colorful things, or walking on the
pagoda platform mostly as keeping the Shwedagon Pagoda at the right side, or praying,
etc that Buddhists usually do.
(Watering
stupa, and mythical symbol, at the birthday corner.)
When I was young, I went to the Shwedagon pagoda with my
friends the time final examination finished. We prayed, and wished for what we
wanted at the foot of the pagoda. Surely we were wishing to pass the
examination with distinction, or with credit.
(We wish everything
we want at the foot of the pagoda.)
Today, I was going to the Shwedagon Pagoda accompanying my
aunt and my cousin. My aunt bought candles, and incenses at the pagoda stall.
She said she had to offer some amount of incenses, and candles at one of the
corners of the pagoda. She believed her doing would have the better fortune for
her family. She also said that if one would meet bad luck told by the
astrologer, one should visit to the Shwedagon pagoda immediately, and offer
some amount of candles at the foot of the pagoda.
I recalled the memory of my younger days. When my grandma was
very ill, and hospitalized, we went to the Shwedagon pagoda, and offered 73
candles (it represented her recent age), and poured 73 cups of water at the
Buddha image at the Saturday corner (she was born on Saturday.). No need to ask
the astrologer! As I told you before, Buddhist usually went to the pagoda, and
believed that the act of good deed would lead us the better luck, and gain the
best fortune not only in the present but also in the future.
(‘Child Holding Brahma Image’ at the Wednesday corner.)
When we reached the Wednesday corner
of the Shwedagon pagoda, my cousin showed me one of the figures holding a child
at his bosom. She said if a woman longed for a child, she would visit there,
and wish for her longing at ‘Child holding Brahma Image’. I had never heard of
it before. If my grandma still alive, I wanted to share this information with
her. I missed her so much.
During my waiting my aunt and my cousin were praying at one
of the corners, I practiced meditation at the Thursday corner (I was born on
Thursday) for a little minutes, and I poured water at the Buddha image at the
Saturday corner (for my grandma), at the Tuesday corner (for my grandpa, and my
mother), at the Wednesday corner (for my father), and at the Thursday corner
(for us – my twin brother, and me), and offered flowers at the Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday for all my loved ones to have a happy, and
healthy life forever. I also put some coins or notes into the donation boxes
around the pagoda.
(Offering
candles, and incenses at the foot of the pagoda, and prayed for all my loved
ones be healthy, and happy.)
I saw people still crowded, and crowded at the pagoda
platform although it rained heavily or under the bad weather. No need to give reasons
for visiting the Shwedagon pagoda, we had so many good deeds to do there.
Comments
Post a Comment