HUNDREDS OF BUDDHISTS ATTEND BUDDHA'S 
BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES

The anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday is celebrated by bathing a image of the infant Buddha and symbolically cleansing our own self natures.

Mr. Duane Wells, Mendocino County Tax Assessor said, "I hope you will have more such celebrations and will invite the people in the area to join the festivities."

Hundreds of disciples and friends gather for a vegetarian feast at Great Compassion House, City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

Visitors from the Bay Area rode the charter bus up to the city and arrived in the morning to join in the day's activities and return in the late afternoon to San Francisco. The next celebration will be Kuan Yin Day and reservations for bus accommodations should be made early. (Contact Gold Mountain for information).


Ukiah area officials joined the festivities and voiced their support. Mr. Al Barbero, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, commented, "This is really America where people of all nationalities can join together to pursue their beliefs."

The Instilling Virtue Players performed two skits (in English with Chinese translation) in honor of the occasion. One was based on the analogy of the poor son in the Lotus Sutra and the other, a musical, told the story of Shariputra's Uncle.