Buddha Purnima

Held on Monday, 16 May 2022

Gautama Buddha was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. According to Hinduism he is described as an avatar of the god Vishnu. Gautama Buddha's original name was Siddhartha Gautama who was a prince in the kingdom of Kapilvastu. He attained Supreme Enlighten or Buddha hood, beneath the Bodhi-tree at Boddha Gaya. As Gautama became enlightened he came to be known as "Buddha" which means "Awakened One" or "The Enlightened One". At the age of eighty, he finally passed away in Parinivana at Kushinagar. He realized the Four Noble Truths and the secret to true peace and happiness. These Truths were also known as "Dharmachakra" meaning "Wheel of Dharma" or "Wheel of Law".

These Four Noble Truths are:

1. The Noble Truth of Suffering.
2. The Noble Truth of The Arising of Suffering.
3. The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering.
4. The Noble Truth of The Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering.

Buddha's teachings inspire humanity towards the path to free themselves from the suffering of birth and death, thus attaining eternal happiness. Buddha's message travelled far and wide and captured the hearts and minds of billions of people all over the world especially the Asian Countries. According to Buddhism, human beings should learn to be self-reliant and to have faith in their own ability. Buddhist philosophy is Anthropocentric in its outlook and practical implementation, placing man at the centre of its metaphysical and ethical systems. It is a religion that insists primarily on man's own effort and perseverance to achieve his goals, be they material or spiritual, rather than prayer or wishful thinking. It is considered as the most scientific of all religions. Its teachings are logical and its methods are compatible with scientific methods.

History

Siddhartha was born in Lumbini and raised in the small kingdom or principality of Kapilvastu, both of which are in modern day Nepal. The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE however some of the scholars gave dates within 20 years either side of 400 BCE for the Buddha's death, with others supporting earlier or later dates. Buddha's father was King Suddhodana, the leader of Shakya clan, whose capital was Kapilavastu. His mother, Queen Maha Maya was a Koliyan princess. On the night Siddhartha was conceived, Queen Maya dreamt that a white elephant with six white tusks entered her right side and ten months later Siddhartha was born. When his mother Queen Maya became pregnant, she left Kapilvastu for her father's kingdom to give birth which was a Shakya tradition during those times. However, she gave birth on the way, at Lumbini, in a garden beneath a sal tree.

The day of the Buddha's birth is widely celebrated in Theravada (oldest surviving Buddhist school) countries as Vesak. Suddhodana held a naming ceremony on the fifth day, and invited eight brahmin scholars to read the future. All gave a dual prediction that the baby would either become a great king or a great holy man. Suddhodana as a father could not bear the thought of a tough life for his one and only son. He took extraordinary precautions to avoid every situation which would provoke such thoughts in his son's mind. As a result Siddhartha grew without ever knowing what misery or sorrow was.

When Siddhartha reached the age of 16, his father arranged his marriage to Yasodhara, a cousin of the same age. She gave birth to a son, Rahula. Siddhartha spent 29 years as a Prince in Kapilavastu. Although his father ensured that Siddhartha was provided with everything he could want or need, Siddhartha felt that material wealth was not the ultimate goal of life. At the age of 29, one day Siddhartha wanted to see the city. The King ordered that the city should look cheerful and grand so that everywhere his son would go he would only see pleasing sights. However, an old and crippled man by the roadside happened to catch Siddhartha's eye. He has never seen such a sight and was prompted to ask the charioteer named Chenna, as to what had happened to him. Chenna told that he that the man has become old. Upon subsequent visits Siddhartha realised that all Humans are prone to sickness, ageing and ultimately death.

Siddhartha was full of questions about life, miseries, death and the purpose of life itself. To seek his answers he escaped his palace leaving behind royal pleasures and luxuries. This event is traditionally known as "The Great Departure". Siddhartha initially went to Rajagaha and began his ascetic life by begging for alms in the street. Later he left Rajagaha and practised under two hermit teachers. He gained experience in various aspects of spirituality but was never satisfied. He even practised self-mortification by denying worldly goods, including food. After asceticism and concentrating on meditation  and Anapana-sati (awareness of breathing in and out), Siddhartha discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way - a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence  and self-mortification. Then one day sitting under a pipal tree, now known as the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, he vowed never to arise until he had found the Truth. After 49 days meditating, at the age of 35, he attained Enlightenment; according to some traditions, this occurred approximately in the fifth lunar month, and according to others in the twelfth. He realized complete awakening and insight into the nature and cause of human suffering which was ignorance, along with steps necessary to eliminate it. He and his disciples set forth to various places to distribute the wisdom to the world for the greater benefit of Humanity.

The decision to agree to celebrate Vesakha as the Buddha’s birthday was formalized at the first Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950, although festivals at this time in the Buddhist world are a centuries-old tradition. On Vesakha Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha.

Events

• Buddha Poornima falls on the full moon night in the month of Vaisakha (either in April or May). Vaisaka Purnima day is fixed by the full-moon day of the month Vaisaka, which falls in May. Like all other Buddhist festivals it falls according to the Lunar year. The Festival commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism. Pilgrims from all over the world congregate at Bodh Gaya to attend the Buddha Poornima celebrations.

• Vaisaka is an occasion for rejoicing but Buddhists don't encourage hectic gaiety and abandon. The happiness that the Buddhists feel when they are celebrating it is a tranquil, peaceful joy. The day is marked with prayer meets, sermons on the life of Gautama Buddha, religious discourses, continuous recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions, worship of the statue of Buddha. Monks recite verses uttered by the Buddha twenty-five centuries ago, to invoke peace and happiness in the world.

• However, in most of the Buddhist countries the villages, roads, streets, temples and houses are brightly illuminated with coloured Lanterns, electric lights and colourful decorations. The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya in Bihar wears a festive look and is decorated with colourful flags and flowers.

• The principal annual ceremony for all the Buddhist is the Vaisaka Purnima known in Sri Lanka as Wesak Festival. Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Japan and quite a number of western Buddhists participate 'Vaisaka' Purnima Day religious activities in a festive mood. Sarnath the capital of Buddhism too celebrates Vaisaka Purnima day in a grand way.

• Some Buddhists distribute gifts in cash and kind to various charities. In Sri Lanka, two days are set aside for the celebration of Vesakha and all liquor shops and slaughter houses are closed by government decree.

• Birds, insects and animals are released by the thousands in what is known as a 'symbolic act to liberation'; of giving freedom to those who are in captivity, imprisoned, or tortured against their will.

Alternate Names - Buddha Poornima, Buddha Jayanti, Vesakha, Vesak, Wesak, Visakah Puja, Vaishaka, Visakha Bucha, Wesak Festival and Saga Dawa.

Holiday Status - It is Public Holiday.