A Prayer for Buddha's Birthday

by Venerable Master Hsing Yun

O Great, compassionate Buddha,

We are here to worship with sincerity and respect

Your birth into this world.

When all the flowers bloomed

During the warmth of spring,

Exotic flowers were contending In beauty and

fascination in Lumbini garden;

Everyone in Kapilavatthu was rejoicing,

Gentle breezes spread the fragrance,

All birds sang in unison;

From that moment on,

There was promise in the human world,

From that moment on,

There were Buddha teachings in the human world.

You, with one hand pointed to the sky

And the other pointed to the earth,

Issued the declaration of being

The uniquely honored one in the world.

You took seven steps –

Clusters of lotus flowers appeared –

And used the pure and clean Buddha-truth,

Like water, To wash away the stains of earthly illusion.

Immediately –

Muddy mountain streams became crystal clear,

Burned-out torches flourished,

The heavens played wonderful music,

The earth displayed rare, auspicious signs;

All these signs were welcoming

your arrival To this world.

Oh Great, compassionate Buddha,

Because of your birth in this mundane world

Your forty-nine years of teaching the Dharma

Will have influence for far more than countless kalpas!

The three-hundred-plus meetings

To discuss the sutras

Will benefit far more than countless sentient beings!

Oh Great, compassionate Buddha,

It was you Who broke the caste system,

Who preached the doctrine Of conditional causation

And the equality of all beings,

Who opened all beings’ minds

To the Buddha wisdom and views,

Who awakened all sentient beings Out of ignorance.

Oh Great, compassionate Buddha,

In order to receive the joyous occasion

Of your birth to the mundane world

With respect,

In some places, full of joyful atmosphere,

People decorate with lanterns and colored hangings;

In some places, people parade,

And the sound of gongs

And drums shakes the sky;

Monasteries hold the ceremony of bathing

The image of the Buddha,

Devotees and their families

Celebrate the Buddha's birthday.

This is how your followers commemorate

Your gracious kindness!

This is how your followers remember

Your blessings and protection with gratitude!

Oh Great, compassionate Buddha,

Please pity my hopelessness and lack of virtue

With compassion;

I can only chant your great,

sacred name Mindfully,

as though remembering

My own kind mother.

Oh Great, compassionate Buddha,

I am kneeling in front of you,

I am passing my hands over your golden body,

I am offering my sincere devotion,

I pray and hope that your Buddha-virtue

Brightens the world

And that you always preach the Buddha-truth.

Please allow me to act in response to

Your Buddha eye

And clearly see and understand

The suffering of all beings.

Please allow me to act in response to

Your Buddha mouth

And delight in saying

Wonderful and kind words;

Please allow me to act in response to

Your Buddha body and often be a friend

Willing to help;

Please allow me to act in response to

Your Buddha mind

And do more deeds to benefit all beings.

Oh Great, compassionate Buddha,

We are willing to use our entire life

To expound and propagate the truth;

We are willing to devote our life

To liberate all sentient beings.

Oh Great, compassionate Buddha,

Please accept my sincere prayers;

Please accept my sincere prayers!