Buddha's Birthday and Baby Naming Ceremony

This Buddha's Birthday and Baby Naming Ceremony is a family-friendly Zen Buddhist gathering at the Sydney Zen Centre in Annandale, New South Wales. It is held when Zen sanghas around the world celebrate the birth of Siddhartha Gautama. Children are named and welcomed into the sangha, everyone pays respects to the baby Buddha, and the morning ends with a shared meal in the garden. Gillian Coote, roshi, opens the ceremony.

What to Expect

The morning begins in the garden with a gentle, hands-on activity. Shauna and her daughters Marisol and Saoirse show everyone how to fold origami paper cranes and colour in mandalas and flowers. These are offerings for the Baby Buddha, and children and adults alike can take part.

The ceremony begins at 11am with introductory words from Gillian Coote, roshi. Each child then comes to the altar with their parents to be welcomed into the sangha. Parents who would like their child or baby named, welcomed, or both are invited to say so ahead of time.

Next comes the central ritual of the day. While the Enmei Jikku Kannon Gyo is chanted, each person comes to the altar, pours water over the statue of the baby Buddha and offers him a flower. Songs and stories follow. The gathering also leaves room to reflect on what the birth of the Buddha in India means to each person.

From noon, everyone shares a potluck lunch in the garden, weather permitting. The event closes at 2pm, so there is time to eat slowly and talk with other families and members of the sangha.

The Setting

The Sydney Zen Centre in Annandale is the home of the sangha, and much of the day happens outdoors in its garden, from the craft activity to the lunch. The altar, where the ceremony takes place, is part of the centre's regular practice space.

Before You Go

No experience with Zen practice is needed. The day is open to children, parents and newcomers to the sangha, and it suits all levels.

Please bring flowers and food to share. The flowers are used for the offering at the altar, and the food makes up the potluck lunch. The origami and mandala activity and the ceremony itself are part of the day, so there is nothing else to prepare.

It helps the hosts to know who is coming. Let them know if you plan to attend, and tell them if you would like your child or baby named and/or welcomed into the sangha. If you have questions, the organizers are glad to answer them before the day.