Via Cora Wen

on May 26, 2010

Happy Birthday Buddha-ful!

Full Moon of May

The Moon in May is Buddha’s Day.

Growing up in a traditional Chinese household, we had many cultural celebrations and paid respect to ancestors by lighting lanterns and candles, offerings flowers, incense and fruit throughout the year. In the Buddhist tradition, one of the most auspicious  and significant celebration happens every May on the night of the  first full moon, with people all over the world celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. It is known as Buddha Day or Buddhas Birthday.

In 2010 the first full moon day in May is the twenty-seventh.

I’ve always thought Buddhists are quite efficient in the way we celebrate Buddha’s Birthday. We only have to remember one day a year and it encompasses the triple gem of the Buddhas journey, encompassing the birth, enlightenment-Nirvana and ascent-Parinirvana of Gautama Buddha.

This celebration is called Vesak for the month name in the Indian calendar.  Vesak, Visakha or Wesak Puja is a sacred day of rededication to Dhamma and the Eightfold Path. Vesākha/Vaiśākha वैशाख is celebrated in Nepal, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangledesh, Indonesia and India. The Tibetan Buddhist equivalent of  Vesak Puja is Saga Dawa Duchen – ས་ག་ཟླ་བ། Saga Dawa sa ga zla ba dus chen

Buddha’s Enlightenment Day

Buddha Day celebrates the three days that Siddhartha Gautama sat under the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India and attained enlightenment over 2,500 years ago. On the third day of sitting, Gautama awoke and saw the world and began sharing with others. He became Buddha, the awakened one.

How to Calculate Buddha’s Birthday

The birthday of Buddha is celebrated on different dates by various schools of Buddhism. In most of Asia it is the first full moon date of fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar – typically full moon in May. It can fall a month earlier or later, dependent on country or school of Buddhism.

Our formula for determining that date is as fluid as other things in Asia, so it can get very confusing. I just dedicate my practice the whole moon cycle!

Calculate the first full moon day of sixth month of the Buddhist lunar calendar, which is fourth month of the Chinese Lunar calendar, except leap years, when it falls in the seventh month. Some years it starts a week earlier, and this year Myanmar and Cambodia celebrated on April 28, 2010.  Korea has a week-long observance a week earlier. For Tibetans it can fall a month later, and in Japan, Buddha’s Birthday is Hana Matsuri, or “Flower Festival” and always on April 8.

However you determine the date, Buddhas Birthday is a good time to plant emotional, mental and spiritual intentions as seeds. We can nurture and reap these blessings in years ahead. Celebrate by giving thanks to the earth and a wish for all beings living in harmony.

All our actions, our karma and merit obtained for good deed or practices is multiplied one million times every day.  Intention is very important, and this is a “multiplication day” so actions are multiplied 10 million times this day!

It may be a good time to take time to meditate or practice stillness.

Lantern Dedication

Lotus Lantern Lighting is a tradition which symbolises renewed commitment to help ourselves and others, to gain spiritual strength, and for peace and happiness of all beings past, present and future.  A dedication is written on a piece of paper which is attached to a lantern or candle.

Dedicate the light to loved ones, partner, family, yourself, or to deceased, ill or those suffering. Dedicate light and ease to those who live in hatred or to helping all needy and poor. Express gratitude, goodwill, prayers and good wishes of love and care to all. Reconcile, forgive or send hope with words of kindness and compassion. Remember those who have helped and inspired you on your journey and send them thanks and love. Open your heart wide and celebrate living. Make a dedication prayer  and offer “My mind is Buddha”.

Lantern Dedication

Be lamps unto yourselves.
Be refuges unto yourselves.
Take yourself no external refuge.
Hold fast to the truth as a lamp.
Hold fast to the truth as a refuge.
Look not for a refuge in anyone besides yourselves.

Happy Buddha Day!

Do no harm.
Work toward the benefit of all.
Maintain a pure outlook on all things.

All beings are potential Buddhas, all sounds are sacred as Mantra, all thoughts as clear as wisdom, and all phenomena as whole and full as the Buddha field…

OM MANI PADME HUM

All of the Buddha’s teachings are contained within this mantra

CORA WEN grew up in a traditional Chinese family in Asia and the West, and took refuge in the Buddha as a teen. An international childhood growing up in Hong Kong and Indonesia, Switzerland, Australia and the US, has instilled the spirit of a travelling adventurer. After sowing wild oats in New York City in the 70s with rockers Deborah Harry and Patti Smith, she had careers in fashion and banking. Since 1994, Cora has taught Yoga, mentored by America’s most influential Yoga lineage. She has been dedicated since 2002 in support of indigenous culture for exiled Tibetan people and land mine victims. Find her at www.corawen.com.