[:en]Vesak Service[:zh]卫塞节庆典[:id]Hari Waisak 2018[:]

[:en] 

Last Monday, June 4, 2018 the sky was clear and the sun shone brightly. Buddhist students of Sekolah Harapan Bangsa Preschool Modernland celebrated one of the biggest Buddhist ceremonies called Vesak. On Vesak Day, Buddhists from all over the world commemorate the birth, the enlightment and the death of Gotama Buddha. Preschool students accompanied by some teachers went to SHB Gymnasium to have Vesak service together with Primary students, in which they read paritta prayer and listened to Dhamma by Bhikku Sangha. It was one sacred day.

After the service, Preschool Buddhist students returned to Preschool building. They prepared and brought food and drinks from home. We did the Pindapatta meaning food offering for Bhikku Sangha. Students and parents who were willing to give the food stood in a long line and wait for the monks. After a short minute of waiting, the monks arrived at the Preschool lobby. Holding their patta or bowl, the monks walked along the lines of the students accepting the offering.

In Buddhist, we also have a ceremony called Fangshen in which we release the animals free.  At this very special day, the students set hundreds of birds free. Led by the monks, the students and some teachers gathered at the lobby praying for the birds before finally setting them free. The students were very excited and happy!

Lastly, we said thank you to Bhikku sangha and they prayed for us and gave us their blessing. The students learnt a lot on that day. They became aware about the monks and how they live. They also learnt to practice their love towards animals. What a great experience!

 [:zh]

于2018年6月4日（星期一），在阳光明媚下，民望现代城民望学校幼儿园部举办了卫塞节的法会。这一天，是为了纪念释迦牟尼佛诞生、成道、入灭（涅槃）的节日。幼儿园的学生在老师的陪同下，在民望学校的体育馆一起参加卫塞节的法会。他们一起念佛经，并聆听Sangha比丘的讲道。果然充满神圣的日子。

卫塞节法会结束后，佛教徒的学生返回幼儿园校楼。准备把饮食带回家。我们也为比丘举办了赈济活动，提供饮食给他们。那些想参加赈济活动的学生和家长们排长队地捐赠饮食给比丘们。等了一段时间，比丘们终于到达幼儿园校楼的大堂。比丘们拿着碗子一边走路一边接受学生和家长们的捐赠。

在佛教里，也有放生的仪式。放生仪式的定义是要让所有的生物感受到自由。在如此特别的日子里，学生们释放了数百只鸟。释放它们之前，在比丘们的引导下，学生和老师们集合在大堂为数百只的鸟祷告。所有的学生都很兴奋及开心。

最后，我们一起向比丘们表示谢意，他们也为我们祈祷并祝福我们。当天，学生们学了很多事情。他们终于了解了比丘们的生活。也学习了如何爱护动物。果然难以忘怀的经历。

 [:id]Hari Senin lalu, tanggal 4 Juni 2018, langit begitu cerah dan matahari bersinar terang. Siswa TK Sekolah Harapan Bangsa, Modernland yang beragama Buddha memperingati salah satu dari hari besar agama Buddha yaitu Waisak. Pada hari Waisak, umat Buddha dari seluruh dunia memperingati kelahiran, pencapaian penerangan sempurna, dan wafatnya Sang Budhha Gotama. Ditemani oleh beberapa guru, siswa-siswi TK menuju ke ruang olahraga SHB untuk mengadakan puja bakti Waisak bersama dengan para siwa-siswi SD., dimana mereka membacakan parita-parita suci dan mendengarkan ajaran Dhamma dari Bhikku Sangha. Sungguh hari yang suci.

Setelah puja bakti, para siswa kembali ke gedung TK. Para siswa telah mempersiapkan dan membawa makanan dan minuman dari rumah untuk melaksanakan Pindapatta atau dana makanan untuk Bhikku Sangha. Para siswa dan orangtua yang hendak berdana berdiri berjajar menunggu para Bhikku. Tak lama kemudian, para Bhikku tiba di lobby TK. Sambil memegang patta atau mangkuk makanan, para Bhikku Sangha berjalan menerima dana makan.

Dalam agama Buddha, kami juga mengenal upacara yang disebut Fangshen dimana kami melepaskan dan membebaskan hewan. Di hari special ini, siswa-siswi melepaskan ratusan burung. Dipimpin oleh Bhikku Sangha, anak-anak dan beberapa orang guru berkumpul di lobby TK berdoa sebelum membebaskan burung-burung tersebut. Anank-anak senang sekali!

Terakhir, kami mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Bhikku Sangha dan mereka pun mendoakan dan memberkati kami. Anak-anak telah belajar banyak hal hari itu. Mereka kini tahu lebih banyak tentang Bhikku dan cara hidup mereka. Mereka juga belajar untuk lebih menyayangi hewan. Sungguh pengalaman yang luar biasa.[:]