(MY) bird releasing ritual

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Buddhists forgo bird-releasing ritual - New Straits Times

11 May 2006

Wilson Henry

 

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KUALA LUMPUR: One of the enduring sights of Wesak Day is worshippers

at Buddhist temples releasing caged birds in the hope of overcoming

the sorrows of life with an act of compassion — a rite as old as

Buddhism itself.

 

Yet for the past five years no birds have been released at the

Buddhist Maha Vihara on Jalan Berhala, Brickfields. The practice was

stopped because of growing commercialism and cruelty to the birds.

 

Devotees instead light lamps to invoke blessings and listen to sermons

and talks.

 

Many birds are injured after being released and recaptured for sale

again, and many are so traumatised, they refuse to fly.

 

The Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda, Theravada Buddhist chief high

priest of Malaysia and Singapore, explains: " People began to catch

birds as a business to sell them to meet the demands of Wesak Day. And

what was meant to be a compassionate act in Buddhist teaching became

otherwise.

 

" Some of the birds brought to the temple were injured. We found birds

with broken wings, broken legs, and some were dead. The birds were

sometimes in a state of shock and refused to fly when set free. It

didn't make sense to release birds if this was the consequence, " he

said.

 

" We advise people to set birds free at other times instead. "

 

Though no birds have been tested, there have been no local reports of

bird flu linked to this Buddhist ritual.

 

Buddhists such as Chow Heng Soon of the Kepong-based Vajrayana

Buddhist Council of Malaysia, however, still release caged birds on

Wesak Day.

 

" We don't release just birds, we go to the market and buy live animals

and fish and set them free after reciting blessings and chanting

prayers. "