ETC LEDs bring peaceful light to Buddhist services in Taiwan

As one of the most influential Buddhist organizations in the world, Taiwan's Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) embraces environmental protection within its Buddhist practices. For two recent events - the second Global Followers Assembly and the annual Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service - DDM employed modern digital technology and LED lighting to conserve energy and reduce pollution, seamlessly integrating advanced science and art into their traditional ceremonies. ETC's Taiwanese dealer, Ming Li Engineering & Consultant Co., LTD., provided ColorSource® and Source Four® LED Series 2 luminaires and an Eos®-family control system to light up the two great events. 

Both the Global Assembly and the Dharma Service were held at the DDM World Center for Buddhist Education in Taiwan. Approximately 10,000 followers from around the world attended the 2015 Global Assembly, and afterward, the participants could attend the Dharma Service, which gave followers the opportunity to reverse bad fortune, worship gods, do charity and be liberated from suffering. In line with their green vision, DDM no longer permits the tradition of burnt offerings, and instead applied sophisticated multimedia technology - such as digital memorial tablets and projections of Buddha's image - to save resources.

DDM also put an emphasis on creating a modern artistic ambience. Anthony Wu, who has been the events' lighting designer since 2007, was able to accomplish that with an ETC LED lighting system. Wu believed the venue should be aesthetically pleasing to allow the attendees to rejoice in a heartwarming and solemn atmosphere. He installed 72 ColorSource PAR LED fixtures for houselighting. The luminaires were balanced properly for color, uniformity and intensity to work seamlessly with the stagelighting and brighten the 4,740-square-meter (51,021-square-foot) area.  "The ColorSource PAR's versatility and richness broaden lighting-design flexibility and innovation," says Wu. "You can use it at any intensity and enjoy a good color quality."

To make it more dynamic, eight Source Four LED Series 2 Daylight HD and Tungsten HD luminaires projected a gobo of Gandhanra, the god of music and fragrance, using four cue loops of color-temperature fades. "The luminaries' variable-white light can be faded quite smoothly and naturally, enriching the layers of the effect and creating a sacred mood," describes Wu.

Two Source Four spotlights were also used to illuminate a Western Trinity image on the stage backdrop. "The profiles light the three Buddhas, creating a 3-D visual effect for the audience," explains Wu. 

All of the fixtures were controlled by ETC Ion® and Element® lighting-control desks, with the programming done by C.H. Huang.  

Photos courtesy of Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM)