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Xá lợi Phật được trưng bày ở
Hồng Kông
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Rước xá lợi Phật (ảnh của AP) |
Trong tuần tới, lần đầu tiên ở Hồng Kông, một ngón tay của
Phật Thích Ca—là một trong những xá lợi linh thiêng nhất của Phật giáo được
trưng bày trước công chúng.
Thiền sư Sheng Hui, viện phó điều hành Giáo hội Phật giáo
Trung Hoa lục địa đă phát biểu ở một cuộc họp báo mục đích của việc cho trưng
bày này là nhằm để “truyền ḷng tự hào và yêu nước”
cho dân chúng Hồng Kông.
Thiền sư Sheng cho biết Phật giáo
Hồng Kông là một chi nhánh thuộc nước lớn. Ông ghi nhận
mối quan hệ giữa Phật giáo lục địa và Hồng Kông luôn mật thiết. Ồng cho rằng:
“Cuộc trưng bày này đă được chính quyền trung ương chấp thuận, biểu hiện
sự quan tâm của chính qưyền đối với dân chúng Hồng Kông”.
Xá lợi Phật, hiện đang được thờ phụng rộng khắp trên thế giới,
mà giới Phật giáo cho rằng đó là một phần nhục thể của
Phật c̣n lưu lại sau khi hoả táng và nhập niết bàn.
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Xá lợi Phật (ảnh AP) |
Xá lợi này được phát hiện ở ngôi chùa Phật giáo Famen ở tỉnh
Shanxi ở vùng Tây Bắc Trung quốc vào năm 1987 sau 1000 năm không ai biết đến.
Ước tính sẽ có khoảng hàng trăm ngh́n dân chúng Hồng Kông sẽ
đến viếng xá lợi Phật này. Theo ông Kok Kwong, chủ tịch hiệp hội Phật giáo Hồng
Kông phát biểu vào đầu tuần rồi cho rằng đây là một cơ hội hiếm cho phật tử và
những người không theo đạo Phật trên toàn thế giới được Phật độ tŕ, và ông hy
vọng rằng cuộc trưng bày xá lợi thiêng liêng này sẽ có tác động đến phong trào
hoà b́nh, yêu nước và v́ sự thống nhất quốc gia tại Hồng Kông. Ông cũng cho biết
thêm rằng bản thân ông và nhiều tổ chức khác sẽ bằng mọi cách để bảo vệ
cho
xá
lợi được an toàn. Cùng
thời điểm này, hai mươi tài sản quốc gia quư giá khác
cũng được trưng bày.
Vào năm 2002, xá lợi Phật này đă được trưng bày ở Đài loan,
và đă thu hút được đến 4 triệu du khách đến viếng.
Tin Trung Hoa Nhật báo -21/05/04
Thanh Sơn chuyển Việt
Nguồn và các bản tin khác:
Relic of Buddha to Be Displayed in
HK
For the first time ever in Hong Kong, a finger bone of the
Sakyamuni Buddha -- one of the most sacred relics in Buddhism -- will be
displayed next week.
Master Sheng Hui, executive deputy director of the mainland's
Buddhist Association, said at a Thursday press conference that the display is
expected to "inject pride and patriotism" into the people of Hong Kong.
Sheng described Hong Kong Buddhism as a branch of the
religion on the mainland. He noted that the bond between the mainland and Hong
Kong Buddhist associations has always been close.
"This showcase event is approved by the central government,
which shows it cares about the Hong Kong people," he said.
The relic, worshipped worldwide, is believed to be part of
the Buddha's remains preserved after he achieved nirvana and before his
cremation.
It was discovered at the Famen Buddhist Temple in northwest
China's Shaanxi Province in 1987 after lying in obscurity for more than 1,000
years.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected go to view the
relic in Hong Kong.
Kok Kwong, chairman of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association,
said earlier this week that it is a rare opportunity for both the faithful and
non-Buddhists all over the world to experience the Buddha's blessing, and that
he hoped the exhibition of the holy relic would encourage peace, patriotic
compassion and national unity in Hong Kong.
He said his association and several other departments would
do their utmost to ensure the safety of the relic. Twenty other national
treasures will also be displayed.
In 2002, the relic was displayed in Taiwan, where it drew
more than 4 million visitors.
(China Daily May 21, 2004)
Buddha's finger
arrives in HK
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Posted: 3:28 AM EDT (0728 GMT)
HONG KONG, China (AP) -- Beijing is
lending Hong Kong one of the Buddha's fingers for public display, but critics
have belittled the move as a political gesture to soothe anger over China's
recent decision ruling out full democracy in Hong Kong.
"This is part of China's propaganda
exercise," said pro-democracy lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan.
"Beijing is trying to get close to Hong
Kong people and cool the heated political atmosphere."
The relic, held in a bulletproof glass
box, was flown in Tuesday afternoon -- just in time for the Buddha's birthday
celebrations here Wednesday. It will be shown for 10 days in this largely
Buddhist territory.
Lee compared the event to the visit last
year by China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, which was seen by many as a
heavy-handed public relations campaign to bolster Hong Kong's lukewarm
nationalism.
Many in Hong Kong are furious because
China's top legislative committee ruled last month that the territory cannot
elect its next leader in 2007, and all its lawmakers in 2008.
The former British colony returned to
Chinese rule in 1997 with a guarantee of a high degree of autonomy, but
opposition politicians say Beijing has broken its promises.
Saffron-robed monks escorted the finger
off an airplane that brought it from Xianyang in Shaanxi province. It was
transferred onto a truck decorated in gold paneling and lotus flowers as a band
played welcoming music.
Senior monks prayed and sounded horns
before the finger was driven to an exhibition venue.
Buddha died about 483 B.C. After his
cremation, some historians believe his bones were saved by Indian monks and that
a few pieces were brought to China later.
The finger bone to be displayed in Hong
Kong was among Buddhist relics discovered in an underground shelter at Famen
Temple near the ancient capital of Xian in central China in 1987.
A senior Communist Party official, Liu
Yandong, was set to officiate at an opening ceremony for the finger's display
from Wednesday through June 4. The relic is believed to bring peace and luck.
While critics believe Beijing is playing
politics with the religious artifact, it may not have any political effect.
"People will simply treat it as a
religious display and they won't relate it to politics," said political
scientist Ma Ngok, who teaches at Hong Kong's University of Science and
Technology.
No official statistics are available,
but academics say the majority of Hong Kong's 6.8 million Chinese believe in
some form of Buddhism, Taoism, Chinese folk religion or a combination of those
faiths.
BBC NEWS:
China flies Buddha's finger to HK
China is lending Hong Kong one of its most important relics,
to mark the anniversary of the Buddha's birthday.
A relic purported to be the Buddha's finger has been flown to
the territory in time for the celebrations on Wednesday.
But critics have dismissed the move as a political gesture to
appease the people of Hong Kong, many of whom are angry after China refused to
let the territory directly elect its next leader in 2007.
The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997,
and opposition leaders claim Beijing has not honoured a promise to give it a
high degree of autonomy.
"Beijing is trying to get close to Hong Kong people and cool
the heated political atmosphere," Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan
said of the finger's loan.
"This is part of China's propaganda exercise," he told the
Associated Press news agency.
Lee Cheuk-yan compared the event to last year's visit by
China's first astronaut Yang Liwei, which critics saw as an attempt to foster a
sense of Chinese nationalism in Hong Kong.
Whatever the motive for the loan, the transfer of the
Buddha's finger was accorded full pomp and ceremony.
Before it left China's western province of Shaanxi, more than
1,000 people attended a ceremony at the Famen Temple where it is usually
displayed.
On its arrival in Hong Kong, saffron-robed monks escorted the
finger from the aeroplane to a truck decorated with lotus flowers.
The finger was found among a number of other Buddhist relics
discovered in an underground shelter at Famen Temple in 1987. It is believed to
bring peace and luck.
Several other relics thought to be parts of the Buddha's body
- including a number of teeth - are preserved in various monasteries in Asia.
The finger may be getting a reputation for its links with
political diplomacy.
In 2002 it was loaned to Taiwan, which China is keen to woo
away from pro-independence voices on the island.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/3745349.stm
Published: 2004/05/25 09:11:08 GMT
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