Go to the website of the Holy Vajrasana Temple & Retreat Center for more information and to view video of event.
Ven. Zhaxi Zhuoma Presenting the Holy Vajra Pill
After the congregation chanted homage to the Green Tara and the “Verses of the Eight Auspicious Ones” in English, Spanish, and Tibetan, Gesang Suolang Rinpoche provided a brief history of the Bodhi Tree.
Gesang Suolang
Bhikshu Gunaratana
Bhikshu Gunaratana then gave the traditional praise to the sacred Bodhi Tree in Pali followed by many making mandala offerings.
Vajra Poles at rehearsal for the Bodhighara Dedication Ceremony on May 10, 2014
The day prior to the ceremony, the Holy Vajra Poles shook violently giving their blessings to all present who were preparing for the ceremony. Many also saw a magnificent Buddha Light around the sun. Most auspicious signs for the event to take place the following day. The poles continued to vibrate after the ceremony. All present, young and old, monastic and lay, circumambulated the sacred tree, chanting and making water offerings. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III said that these acts of devotion were the same as making prostrations to the tree, a descendent of the tree under which Shakyamuni Buddha had sat and obtained enlightenment.
Others making water offerings at Bodhi Tree
Nuns making water offerings
Ruo Fan Shih, a nun from Hua Zang Si (a temple in San Francisco, California), pours water offering on the Bodhi Tree
Lay followers making water offerings to Bodhi Tree