Vesak - Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Buddha's Birthday - Vesak International recognition of Vesak holiday
Popularly known as Vesak, the Vesak holiday is a time for Buddhists from all over the world when they come together and celebrate the birth, enlightenment and passage into parinirvana of Gautama Buddha. Celebrations range from meditation and silent prayers to the giving of alms to monks in long, colorful processions. In Indonesia, similar events are held at the Borobudur Mahayana Temple, making it the most visited attraction in the country. Vesak is celebrated every year on the full moon in May or June.
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Buddhists hold candles around a Vesak Buddha statue at a temple in Nakhon Pathom province on the outskirts of Bangkok on May 17. This year marks the 2600th anniversary of Buddha's enlightenment. The photo was taken with a long exposure. (Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters)
2. Buddhist monks at a Vesak ceremony at Wat Dharmmakaya temple in Pathum Thani province on the outskirts of Bangkok. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)
3. An Indonesian Muslim woman and Buddhists release a lantern at the Borobudur temple in Wesak in Magelang on May 17. Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak every year at this temple, making it the most visited site in the country. The festival takes place on the full moon in May or June, and the main ceremonies are held at three Buddhist temples, which are visited by pilgrims from Mendut to Pawon. The route ends at Borobudur Temple. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
4. Buddhists meditate at Vesak at Wat Dharmmakaya in Pathum Thani province on the outskirts of Bangkok. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)
5. Buddhist monks pray at the Borobudur Temple in Magelang. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
6. A huge decoration in honor of Vesak at the annual Buddhist festival in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Lakruwan Wanniatachchi/AFP/Getty Images)
7. Buddhists meditating at the Borobudur Temple on Vesak – Buddha’s birthday. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
8. General view of the illuminated Borobudur temple, around which monks walk, on Vesak holiday. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
9. Buddhist monks joined the procession from Mendut Temple to Borobudur in Magelang. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
10. Buddhists light candles at the Borobudur Temple in Vesak. Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak every year on the full moon in May or June. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
11. Buddhists release lanterns at the Borobudur Temple. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
12. Buddhists arrived at the temple for a religious ceremony in Vesak. (Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters)
13. Buddhists with candles in the Wat Dharmmakaya temple to celebrate the birthday of Buddha Vesak. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)
14. Buddhist monks wash and shower a statue of a reclining Buddha at the Dhammadipa Arama Temple in Malang, East Java Province, Indonesia. (Aman Rochman/AFP/Getty Images)
15. A Buddhist monk with a radio gives instructions before prayers in honor of Vesak in the province of Pathum Thani near Bangkok. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)
16. An Indonesian woman gives alms to monks during a procession in honor of Wesak in Magelang. (Dwi Oblo/Reuters)
17. A street lantern vendor on the eve of the Vesak festival in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Countries with Buddhist religion celebrated Buddha's birthday, called Vesak. This is a thrice-blessed day for Buddhists, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and passage into parinirvana of the Buddha. On this day, lanterns made of bamboo sticks and colorful paper are hung outside houses and decorated on the streets. (Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images)
18. Buddhist monks at an alms-giving ceremony in a commercial area of Bangkok. 12,600 monks attended the ceremony in honor of Vesak, the annual celebration of the birth, enlightenment and passing into parinirvana of the great Buddha. This ceremony was organized in honor of the Buddha and to provide moral support to Buddhist monks and novices from Thailand's troubled southern provinces. This year marks the 2600th anniversary of Buddha's enlightenment. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)
19. Thousands of Buddhist monks pass by believers during an almsgiving ceremony in Bangkok. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)
20. A Buddhist monk praying at the Borobudur Temple during Vesak celebrations. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
21. Buddhists with candles walk around the Wat Dharmmakaya temple in Vesak in the province of Pathum Thani. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)24. A worshiper prays at a Buddhist temple during the Purnima (Vesak) festival in Chandigarh, India. (Ajay Verma/Reuters)27. Buddhists release lanterns during Vesak celebrations in Magelang town, Central Java province. Believed to have been built in the 8th century, the temple became a center for prayer and worship of Buddha on Vesak, the day of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passage into parinirvana, celebrated by Buddhists around the world. (Clara Prima/AFP/Getty Images)
On May 14, 2016, the festive event will be held in the School hall (Pravdy 24, p. 3). Gathering of participants until 15.30.On this day, it is customary to bring simple gifts: flowers, candles and incense sticks.
Time: 16.00 – 18.00.
VESAK (BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY) YÙ FÓ JIÉ
(浴佛節)
Buddha's Birthday is the unofficial name of the Vesak holiday; the holiday is dedicated to the birth, enlightenment and departure into parinirvana of Gautama Buddha. It is celebrated on the full moon of April-May in all Buddhist countries. The name "Vesak" comes from the name of the second month of the year in the Hindu calendar, which lasts from April 21 to May 20 in the Gregorian style. To celebrate Buddha's Birthday, people gather in temples before dawn to Buddhist flag raising ceremony. They also sing hymns to Triratna (the three sacred values of Buddhist doctrine - Buddha, Dharma (his teachings) and Sangha (his disciples). On this day, it is customary to bring simple gifts: flowers, candles and incense sticks. These symbolic gifts should remind people that life It passes quickly and everything eventually collapses.
On Buddha's Birthday, a statue of the Baby Buddha and a bowl of water are placed in the temple. Anyone can come and spray the statue. This is a symbolic act of purifying bad karma. In addition, on this day, monks wash Buddha statues. Buddha's birthday (Vesak) is also a time of charity events - people visit the elderly, sick and disabled; They give them money and gifts.
Buddha's birthday– the unofficial name of the Vesak holiday, which is dedicated to the birth, enlightenment and physical death of Gautam Buddha. It is celebrated on the full moon of April-May in all Buddhist countries. This festival is also called Vaishakha Purnima or Buddha Purnima.
Name " Vesak" comes from Vaishakha - the name of the second month of the year in the Hindu calendar, which lasts from April 21 to May 20 according to the Gregorian style. The celebration of Buddha's birthday on Vesak Day was officially established only in 1950 at the World Brotherhood of Buddhists conference in.
How to celebrate
On this day Buddhists gather in temples before dawn for the Buddhist flag raising ceremony. They also sing hymns to Triratna (the three sacred values of Buddhist doctrine - Buddha, Dharma (his teachings) and Sangha (his disciples). Believers can bring simple gifts to temples: flowers, candles and incense sticks. These symbolic gifts should remind people that life It passes quickly and everything eventually collapses.
On this day they also try to abstain from acts of killing of any kind - that is, at a minimum, not eating meat. In Sri Lanka, for example, on two days of Buddha's birthday, all slaughterhouses and liquor stores are closed.
Usually on Buddha's birthday released insects, birds and animals. This so-called “symbolic act of freedom” is a reminder of those who are imprisoned, imprisoned or subjected to torture of any kind.
Some especially zealous Buddhists dress very simply on this day and spend the whole day in temples.
Most temples have a statue of the Baby Buddha and a bowl of water. Anyone can come and spray the statue. This is a symbolic act of purifying bad karma. Moreover, on this day the monks washing Buddha statues standing in the open air (for example, on Lantau Island).
Monks in temples mentor people how to live in peace and harmony with the government and other people.
Buddha's birthday (Vesak) is also the time charity events– people visit the elderly, sick and disabled; give them money and gifts
When is Buddha's Birthday celebrated?
In China, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, namely:
In 2012 – April 28
In 2013 – May 17
In 2014 – May 6
In 2015 – May 25
In 2016 – May 14
In other countries, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated according to local lunar calendars, but it always falls on the full moon.
Buddha's birthday in other countries
Since Buddhism has spread far beyond India, different countries and communities celebrate it in a little special way: in India they dress in white and eat rice porridge, in Japan they wash a Buddha statue with a special drink and decorate it with flowers, in South Korea they give out free food, and in In Sri Lanka, houses and streets are decorated with lanterns. In Hong Kong, on the island of Chung Chau, the famous festival is usually held on this day.
Name in Chinese:
佛诞 (fo2 dan4 / fo dan)
Name in Cantonese:
(Tib., Mong. - Saga Dawa, Donchod Khural) - one of the main Buddhist holidays. Translated from Tibetan it means “Festival of a Thousand Offerings”.
This pan-Buddhist holiday is celebrated on the day of the full moon of the first summer month of the lunar calendar, which falls at the end of May - beginning of June of the Gregorian calendar. The Indian name for this month is Skt. Visakha, Pali Vesak - is also attached to this holiday.
It is believed that on this day, three greatest events occurred in different years: the birth (Jayanti) of the Buddha, his achievement of complete Enlightenment (Bodhi) at the age of 35, and his departure to Parinirvana at the age of 80.
In South Asian Buddhist countries, all three events are celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Vesak. In 2015, this day falls on June 1st.
In northern Tibeto-Mongolian and Russian Buddhism, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated on the ninth day of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar, and Enlightenment and Parinirvana are celebrated on the night of the 15th day of the same month. The Tibetans call this holiday Saga Dawa, and the Mongols and traditional Buddhists of Russia call it Donchod Khural.
In accordance with the resolution of the UN General Assembly of February 8, 2000, this day is celebrated annually by the UN in recognition of the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made over two and a half millennia and continues to make today to the spiritual development of mankind.
Vesak is considered the most important of all Buddhist holidays and lasts for a week. On the eve of the holiday, believers send greeting cards to their friends and relatives, which, as a rule, depict memorable events from the life of Buddha.
It is believed that on the full moon of the fourth lunar month, merit increases millions of times, so on this day Buddhists are especially diligent in their spiritual practice. On the day of Khural, solemn prayers are held in all monasteries, processions and processions are organized. Temples are decorated with garlands of flowers and paper lanterns - they symbolize the enlightenment that came to the world with the teachings of Buddha. Oil lamps are placed around sacred trees and stupas on the temple grounds. The monks read prayers all night and tell believers stories from the life of the Buddha and his disciples (darshans).
Lay people also meditate in the temple and listen to the instructions of the monks throughout the night, thereby emphasizing their loyalty to the teachings of the Buddha (Dharma). During the holiday, the ban on agricultural work and other activities that could cause harm to any living beings is observed with special care.
During Khural, lamas read sacred sutras from Ganjur (the sacred book of Buddhism) - “Worship and Offering to the Buddha”, “The Coming of the Buddha from the Heavens of Tushita Paradise”. The main day of the Donchod Khural is celebrated as the World Day of Peace and Meditation in all Buddhist countries.
After the end of the festive prayer service, the laity arrange a rich meal for the members of the monastic community and present them with gifts (dana), thereby demonstrating their loyalty to the Buddha’s instructions to honor the monastic community (Sangha) as one of the Three Jewels.
A characteristic ritual of the holiday is washing Buddha statues with sweetened water (or tea) and showering them with flowers.
On this day, it is customary to make a goroo - a circular walk around a sacred place (datsan or stupa) clockwise. This is considered one of the best cleansing practices. The number of goroos is 3, 7, 21, 108 or however old you are.
There is a tradition to abstain from eating meat and alcohol during the holy Buddhist month. In the event that it is not possible to maintain vegetarianism throughout the month, Buddhists, as a rule, give up meat in the first 15 days of the month.
Many people take a vow of silence for seven days, which symbolizes the importance of abstinence in Buddhist practice and at the same time remembering the Buddha.
Buddhists in East and Southeast Asia have a widespread tradition of offering lamps in paper lanterns on this holiday. The Mongolian peoples had not previously practiced such a ritual. In 2008, a prayer service for offering lamps was held for the first time in Mongolia: over ten thousand believers gathered at the largest stadium in Ulaanbaatar, and 3.5 thousand lamps were launched into the sky.
In Buryatia, the first prayer service for offering lamps was held in 2009.
(Additional
Vesak- a traditional Buddhist holiday in honor of the birth, enlightenment and passage into parinirvana of Gautama Buddha.
Vesak is held during May full moon, so the date is determined by the lunar calendar and changes every year. If we draw an analogy with Christians, then for Buddhists Vesak is about the same as for Christians Christmas and Trinity combined.
There is a legend according to which Buddha, or as he was called at birth, Siddhartha Gautama, was born in Nepal, in a city called Lumbini, in 543 BC. His mother was Queen Mahamaya. Buddha's enlightenment occurred much later, as obviously did the transition to Nirvana. But, according to established religious canons, it is supposed to celebrate all these events on one day.
Officially, this day began to be celebrated in Buddhist countries in 1950. In the winter of 1999, UNESCO recognized this day as World Heritage Day.
For Buddhist believers Vesak is primarily prayers and meditations, in which they spend the entire holiday day, from dawn to sunset. . On this day, everyone comes to churches, both old people and children, to listen stories of clerics about the life of Buddha. It is believed that on this day one should give alms to the poor, and make offerings to the monks. On this day, people belonging to the Buddhist faith try to follow precepts that are very similar to Muslim and Christian ones.
Late in the evening, festive processions begin and are carried out with particular pomp. Processions are held around temples, accompanied by special religious rituals. The program of the festive ceremony includes Buddha statue worship s, religious chants, smoking various incense, walking around the temple with lit candles and garlands of flowers.
Made from bamboo and colored paper and then hung in homes flashlights are one of the symbols of Vesak holiday. In ancient times, lamps were placed in these lanterns, but now candles or light bulbs are used instead.
According to tradition, during Vesak celebrations, Buddhists give each other special gifts. postcards.
Vesak holiday is the best day for meditation and transition to a state of blissful kindness and love. And on this day it is recommended to cleanse not only your soul, but also your body, for which you should eat plant foods.
People associate extremely specific and clearly defined ideas, and also see in it the great gift provided to humanity opportunity:
Firstly, Holiday connects the past with the present in a way that has never been done before no other holiday associated with any of the world's religions. It expresses a living truth and a new perspective for today. This connection is realized by Buddha and Christ in their common service to the race . They bring East and West closer and unite into a single whole the Christian tradition, the Buddhist and Hindu faiths, and the aspirations of all believers in the modern world, orthodox and unorthodox. Religious differences disappear.
Secondly, Holiday means the highest point of spiritual blessing in the world. This time extraordinary outflow of life and spiritual stimulation, and it is intended to give new energy to the aspirations of all mankind.
Third, during the Festival, thanks to the combined efforts of Christ and Buddha working in close cooperation, a channel of communication opens between humanity and God, through which the love and wisdom of God himself are poured out to a thirsty and needy world. During the full moon of Taurus, it seems to open “ door to heaven” (to speak with even greater symbolism), and then one can come into contact with those even greater Lives who are our planetary Hierarchy what the Hierarchy is for humanity. Once this is realized, it will be possible to develop the Science of Convergence by bringing into it the deeper truths and forces of life that still remain hidden behind the veil. This will be revealed by the New Age. And this is part of the actually emerging method of achieving the Path and spiritual progress.
