Enlightenment with lamps

World
Europe

‍Hundreds of Buddhists have gathered at an ancient temple in northwest China's Shaanxi Province to mark the 30th anniversary of the recovery of the Buddha finger relics. The sarira had been kept in the underground sanctum of Famen Temple since 874 before it was taken out in 1987. The lamp transmission ceremony is part of the celebration activities.

Monks from Famen Temple at the Lamp Transmission Ceremony. /CGTN Photo

A long-standing Buddhist tradition

The lamps are transmitted from revered monks to all others present, symbolizing a faith that burns brightly. People pray for a life that's happy, a more prosperous country, and world at peace.

The lamp transmission ceremony is a highly symbolic Buddhist ritual to keep the faith alive. Buddhists believe that everyone has a light in their heart that needs to be lit. In Buddhism, the lamp represents the qualities of wisdom, brightness, kindness, honesty and equality.

The grand lamp transmission ceremony at Famen Temple. CGTN Photo

Lighting the lamps of enlightenment

To ordinary monks, lamp transmission can help cultivate their Buddhist virtues. It is also the encouragement of the masters of the sacred mission to transmit the Buddhist spirit from one generation to the next. For ordinary people, the ceremony gives them a chance to learn about the Buddhist culture, to touch upon Buddhist belief, and feel the power of Buddhism.

A lotus emerges: The symbol of rising above and blooming above the mud.

The lamps burn for this night only, but for true believers, the light is on forever.