Muted celebrations of Buddha's birthday in Nepal, with prayers turned to those lost in quake

[bananas]

Source: Associated Press

Celebrations of Buddha's birthday in Nepal were muted on Monday, as the faithful turned their prayers to loved ones lost in the country's massive earthquake and worries that the tragedy might be the start of a much larger reckoning.

According to Buddhist scripture, when the land becomes burdened — by pollution, overpopulation or simply too much evil — a cleansing may be in order. First there is an earthquake and then fire. Next, a storm and possibly a tsunami.

"This is just the beginning," said Premaya Lama, caretaker of the Nedyon Unphong Thapchyo Monastery, a half-built prayer house festooned with sun-faded prayer flags flapping in a gentle breeze on the banks of the Trishuli River in Nepal's central Nuwokot district.

"It is written, and so it shall come," she said. Yet she told the faithful gathered at the monastery Monday not to worry — just pray, and be with your families. "No one is immortal. No one is safe."

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Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/04/muted-celebrations-buddha-birthday-in-nepal-with-prayers-turned-to-those-lost/

[bananas]

1. PM Modi to be chief guest at 'International Buddha Poornima Diwas celebrations'

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pm-modi-to-be-chief-guest-at-international-buddha-poornima-diwas-celebrations-2082975

PM Modi to be chief guest at 'International Buddha Poornima Diwas celebrations'
Monday, 4 May 2015 - 10:00am IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at the 'International Buddha Poornima Diwas celebrations', which is to be held in the national capital on Monday.

A special prayer will also be offered on the occasion to express solidarity with the people of quake-hit Nepal which is the birth place of Buddha.

Buddha's birthday or Vesak Day (or Wesak) is celebrated on various dates in spring throughout the world and each Buddhist culture has its own traditions for the day. It is usually observed during the first full moon in the month of May.

Buddhists celebrate Buddha's three most important life stages on Vesak: birth, enlightenment and death, which traditionally are said to have happened on the same day.

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[bananas]

2. Orlando Florida: Buddhists celebrate birth of faith's founder

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-buddhas-big-birthday-sunday-20150504-story.html

Buddhists celebrate birth of faith's founder
By Jeff Kunerth Orlando Sentinel
May 4, 2015

Dressed in pale pink, Elaine Wang walked slowly, solemnly down the center aisle of the Guang Ming Temple in Orlando. She carried in her hands delicate purple and white flowers, a gift to Buddha in a Sunday celebration of his birth.

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The Guang Ming Temple's birthday celebration and Asian food festival are the largest event of the year for the largest Chinese Buddhist temple in Florida. The temple has about 300 members. This year's birthday celebration was expected to attract 4,000 people.

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Nguyen said the annual Buddha birthday party is also an open invitation to the general public to tour the temple, meet the volunteers, sample authentic Asian food and learn more about Buddhism.

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A prayer was recited for those who lost their lives in the Nepal earthquake: "Great and compassionate Buddha, we pray for your blessings. May the survivors quickly recover their good health. May the deceased be reborn in the Pureland."

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[bananas]

3. Nepal earthquake death toll rises to 7,276

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/u-s-world/nepal-earthquake-deat-toll-rises-to-7276

Nepal earthquake death toll rises to 7,276
6:52 AM, May 4, 2015

KATMANDU - The government says the death toll from the April 25 earthquake in Nepal has climbed to 7,276, including six foreigners and 45 Nepalese found over the weekend on a popular trekking route.

Nepal's Tourist Police reported that a total of 57 foreigners have been killed in the quake, and 109 are still missing, including 12 Russians and nine Americans.

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Hundreds of people have visited Buddhists shrines and monasteries in Nepal's quake-wracked Kathmandu to mark the birthday of Gautama Buddha and to pray for the country.

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Nepal's information minister says the country will need immense international support as it begins turning its attention toward post-quake reconstruction in coming weeks.

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[bananas]

4. Nepal earthquake: Government needs international support for reconstruction

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/nepal-earthquake-government-needs-international-support-for-reconstruction-1.3059652

Nepal earthquake: Government needs international support for reconstruction

Information minister says rescue workers still welcome; denies asking them to go home

The Associated Press May 04, 2015

Nepal's government will need immense international support as the Himalayan nation begins turning its attention toward reconstruction in the coming weeks, in the wake of the devastating April earthquake, a top official said Monday.

Nepal is one of the world's poorest nations, and its economy, largely based on tourism, has been crippled by the earthquake, which left more than 7,300 people dead. While there are no clear estimates yet of how much it will cost to rebuild, it will certainly be enormously expensive.

"In two to three weeks a serious reconstruction package needs to be developed, where we'll need enormous help from the international community," said Information Minister Minendra Rijal. "There's a huge, huge funding gap."

He also said foreign rescue workers were welcome in Nepal, saying they could remain as long as they are needed. He had earlier said that the need for their services was diminishing, but later denied that he wanted them to leave the country.

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5. Thank you bananas, for posting.