Shared by S K MONOHA of Cambodia, a servant of Khmer 's culture, France
Visak Day aka Visak Festival celebrates three major events in the life of Lord Buddha: His birth, Enlightenment and passing away (achievement of Nibbana). Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhattha Gotama on a full moon day in the month of Wesak (in Indian which is month of May in present day calendar) in 623 BC. Siddhattha began his search for enlightenment at age 29 and after six years realized the eternal truth, thus becoming the Buddha - which means the Awakened One. This auspicious event took place at dawn in the month of Wesak in 588 BC, which was also a full moon day. Lord Buddha taught the truth for 45 years until his final passing away into Nibbana on a full moon day in 543 BC.
Thus, all the three major events in Lord Buddha's life happened on a full moon day in the month of Wesak. As such Buddhists of both the Theravada and Mahayana tradition throughout the world celebrate this thrice-blessed day.
Lord Buddha's Enlightenment is the central event in Buddhism, and Enlightenment is an ideal to which all Buddhists aspire. Wesak Day is therefore the most important festival of the year. This year, Wesak Day falls on 8th May which is today.
Vesak is celebrated as a religious and a cultural festival in Sri Lanka on the full moon of the month of May, for a duration of one week. During this week, the selling of alcohol and flesh is usually prohibited. Prisoners who are eligible for parole are often released. Celebrations include various religious and alms giving activities. Electrically lit pandols called toranas are erected in various locations in Colombo and elsewhere, most sponsored by donors, religious societies and welfare groups. Each pandol illustrates a story from the 550 Jataka Katha or the 550 Past Life Stories of the Buddha. In addition, colourful lanterns called Vesak koodu are hung along streets and in front of homes. They signify the light of the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha. Food stalls set up by Buddhist devotees called dansälas provide free food and drinks to passersby. Groups of people from various community organisations, businesses and government departments sing bhakti gee or Buddhist devotional songs. Colombo experiences a massive influx of public from all parts of the country during this week.
Vesak is an annual holiday observed traditionally by practicing Buddhists in many Asian countries like Myanmar, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Taiwan. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world.
Visak Day aka Visak Festival celebrates three major events in the life of Lord Buddha: His birth, Enlightenment and passing away (achievement of Nibbana). Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhattha Gotama on a full moon day in the month of Wesak (in Indian which is month of May in present day calendar) in 623 BC. Siddhattha began his search for enlightenment at age 29 and after six years realized the eternal truth, thus becoming the Buddha - which means the Awakened One. This auspicious event took place at dawn in the month of Wesak in 588 BC, which was also a full moon day. Lord Buddha taught the truth for 45 years until his final passing away into Nibbana on a full moon day in 543 BC.
Thus, all the three major events in Lord Buddha's life happened on a full moon day in the month of Wesak. As such Buddhists of both the Theravada and Mahayana tradition throughout the world celebrate this thrice-blessed day.
Lord Buddha's Enlightenment is the central event in Buddhism, and Enlightenment is an ideal to which all Buddhists aspire. Wesak Day is therefore the most important festival of the year. This year, Wesak Day falls on 8th May which is today.
Vesak is celebrated as a religious and a cultural festival in Sri Lanka on the full moon of the month of May, for a duration of one week. During this week, the selling of alcohol and flesh is usually prohibited. Prisoners who are eligible for parole are often released. Celebrations include various religious and alms giving activities. Electrically lit pandols called toranas are erected in various locations in Colombo and elsewhere, most sponsored by donors, religious societies and welfare groups. Each pandol illustrates a story from the 550 Jataka Katha or the 550 Past Life Stories of the Buddha. In addition, colourful lanterns called Vesak koodu are hung along streets and in front of homes. They signify the light of the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha. Food stalls set up by Buddhist devotees called dansälas provide free food and drinks to passersby. Groups of people from various community organisations, businesses and government departments sing bhakti gee or Buddhist devotional songs. Colombo experiences a massive influx of public from all parts of the country during this week.
Vesak is an annual holiday observed traditionally by practicing Buddhists in many Asian countries like Myanmar, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Taiwan. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world.
5 comments:
That is very interesting that Siddhatta was born on a full moon, got his enlightenment on full moon and passing away on full moon.
If I may share this interesting events of full moon episodes from a biblical perspective, though it is different from Buddha's experience and it has to do with the nation of Israel and the Jewish people - that is - it's a sign that foster the events that took place and will again be taken place in 2014-2015.
Israel became a nation again in 1948 after they been dispersed from their land known as Israel today. It was around two thousand yrs that they were kicked out from their land until they were brought back by their God, the God of Israel. After they became a nation, wars broke out with their surrounding neighbors and they won hands down. Israel has two feasts that they must celebrate. One in the Spring and one in the Fall. The spring Feast is Passover and the fall Feast is the feast of tabernacles. During the Spring Feast in 1948 and the Fall Feast, during these feast days which take place on full moons, the moons were turn blood red with an eclipses. And again the following year,1949, during Passover (full moon) and Feast of Tabernacles (full moon) the moons were blood red with eclipses. When there are four blood-moon like this back to back its call a Tetrad.
Another occurrence of the sign in the moon took place in 1967 & 1968. Again, Israel fought wars with their neighbors and won. These blood-moon all fall on Israel's Festival dates. That's two Tetrads.
The next time this will occur is in 2014 & 2015. Again, it will be on Israel's Feast dates, Passover and Tabernacles. Continue next post
Continue...
When the blood-moon comes around in 2014-2015, this will be the last sign in the moon. And this also will likely be the last signal that Israel will engage in wars with her surrounding neighbors, if not against the whole world. Base on past events, this will be a sure thing and she will prevail because God is on her side and more land will be gain as promised by their God. From there on the world will not be the same.
How do I know that these things are signs to the world that there is a God in Israel? Because it has been written long ago by a prophet name Joel and John. Joel probably was before Siddhatta was born and John would been after Siddhatta been born. Here are what they wrote down by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Joel 2:31 - The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Acts 2:20 - The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Rev 6:12 - And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sack-cloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Revelation was written by John, the apostle of Jesus Christ.
In summary: Keep your mind tune in if during the Passover feast in 2014 full moon and Feast of Tabernacles, full moon, if there will not be blood-moon on those festival dates and the following years in 2015.
The Spring Feasts (Passover) occur approximently around March-April and the Fall Feasts around Sept-October of the year.
Since red represent blood, the greatest war of the ages will be fought in the land of Israel.
It will affect everyone, not just the Middle East people. Jerusalem is a cup of trembling in the hands of the nations. Which side will you be on? I hope you will post my comments.
Thanks you dear lok bang S K MONOHA for sharing us this beautiful history of our Buddha 's birth day.
You are a real Khmer servant of Khmer 's culture. If Cambodia have a people like you,our country will be greatest in the world.
I love read your article all the time.
Khmer love Khmer.Cambodia
Orkun lok Pou S K MONOHA .
I never know about Buddha birth day.Thanks for young generation like me to learn more about buddhist.
Nary Khmer at U S A
Oh yes, this is a great article to read, thank bong SK Monoha, Love it... S.T, U S A
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