Happy Buddha Purnima

Buddhists all around the world observe Buddha Purnima, commonly referred to as Vesak or Buddha Jayanti, as an annual festival. It is a significant day in the Buddhist calendar because it honours Buddhism's founder, Gautama Buddha, on the occasions of his birth, enlightenment, and demise. On the day of the full moon in the Hindu month of Vaishakha, which typically occurs in April or May. 

How Buddha Purnima Began:

The Buddha was born and acquired enlightenment in ancient India, which is where Buddha Purnima has its origins. The celebration is thought to have begun about 2,500 years ago when Emperor Ashoka, a strongman in Indian politics, embraced Buddhism and spread it over his hegemony. He proclaimed Buddha Purnima a public holiday and enjoined his people to observe it with great fervour. Since then, Buddhists all around the world have observed the event.

The Buddha Purnima Celebration's Importance

Because it commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Gautama Buddha, Buddha Purnima is a very important holiday for Buddhists. The four noble truths—the fact of suffering, the truth of the origin of suffering, the truth of the cessation of suffering, and the truth of the route leading to the cessation of suffering—are at the centre of the Buddha's teachings, which are to be reflected upon and introspectively considered on this day.

Buddhists go to temples and monasteries on this day to pray and make sacrifices to Buddha. To honour the life and teachings of Buddha, they also participate in processions and rituals. On this day, many Buddhists also observe fasting and refrain from eating meat, drinking alcohol, and engaging in other vices.

Festivals marking Buddha Purnima:

While there are regional variations in how Buddha Purnima is observed, all celebrations centre on the Buddha's teachings. Temples and monasteries are adorned with flowers and vibrant banners throughout much of Asia, and special prayers and chanting are done to honour the Buddha.

Buddhists commemorate the day with processions and parades in certain nations, including Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar, showcasing the region's rich cultural legacy. People in these nations parade through the streets dressed in traditional attire, carrying Buddha images on ornate floats while monks shout blessings and chants.

The celebration is referred to as Hanamatsuri, or the flower festival, in Japan. On this day, flowers are placed on Buddhist altars, and sweet tea is poured over Buddha statues. The holiday is known as Fo Guang Shan in China, and it is observed by lighting candles and letting lanterns fly.

Teachings of Buddha:

Four Noble Truths: suffering is a characteristic of life, and adhering to the Four Noble Truths is the only way to put an end to suffering. These include the truth about pain, the truth about what causes suffering, the truth about how to stop suffering, and the truth about the way to stop suffering.

The Noble Eightfold Path: This is the route that ends suffering. It entails the following eight steps: proper perception, appropriate purpose, appropriate speech, appropriate action, appropriate livelihood, proper effort, proper awareness, and proper concentration.

Karma: According to Buddha, every action we take has a result, and that result determines our experiences in the future. The law of karma is responsible for this.

Reincarnation: According to Buddha, a person's soul is reborn into a new body after they pass away. One's deeds in this life determine the standard of the subsequent existence.

The ultimate state of enlightenment and liberation from suffering is known as nirvana, and it is the focus of Buddhism. Buddha said that attaining Nirvana requires increasing wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness while adhering to the Eightfold Path.

Middle Way: Buddha advocated for the Middle Way, which is the route between extremes. He thought that one should establish a balance between the two and avoid both self-indulgence and self-mortification.

Buddha asserted that everything in life is transient and subject to change. This encompasses both tangible things and our own ideas and feelings.

Non-attachment: According to the Buddha, suffering results from attachment to things, people, and concepts. He advocated for practising non-attachment in order to liberate oneself from pain and find inner peace.

Conclusion:

Buddhists ponder on the Buddha's teachings and commemorate his life and legacy on Buddha Purnima. It is a time for reflection and self-improvement and serves as a reminder of the value of non-violence, compassion, and wisdom in our daily lives. We are reminded of the impact that love and compassion can have on the world when we observe Buddha Purnima, and we are motivated to follow in the Buddha's footsteps by leading a life of peace and harmony with both ourselves and others.