Tu Viện Quảng Đức105 Lynch Rd, Fawkner, Vic 3060. Australia. Tel: 9357 3544. quangduc@quangduc.com* Viện Chủ: HT Tâm Phương, Trụ Trì: TT Nguyên Tạng   

24. The Meaning of Wesak

11/06/202008:59(Xem: 3269)
24. The Meaning of Wesak

duc phat dan sanh

THE MEANING OF WESAK

Venerable Sumangalo

The word Wesak is the shortened form of the name of a month, Vaisakha, in the ancient Indian calendar. However, when we Buddhists speak of Wesak we do not mean a month, but a day, and this day is the holiest of all holy days to us.

Most holidays and holy days are in honour of some one thing only, in each case. Sometimes it is someone’s birthday, or it may be in honour of a country’s independence, or perhaps it is the anniversary of a great military victory. But Wesak commemorates not just one event, but three. It is the triple anniversary of the greatest events in the life of our Lord Buddha.

This holy day is the Buddha’s birthday, the day on which He gained enlightenment, and is also the anniversary of His final passing away. Thus it is easy to see why it is that we Buddhists consider Wesak as being the very holiest of all holy days and why we have bigger celebrations on this day than on any other day.

Sometimes Wesak is called “the Flower Festival”, because Lord Buddha was born in a garden of flowers at Lumbini. Also there is a story that flowers fell out of heaven when He became enlightened under the Bodhi tree at Buddha Gaya, and again when He finally passed away at Kusinara. There are always offerings of flowers before the images of the Buddha on this day. Also it is very proper to offer fruits, joss sticks, water, rice, and any gift that will show love and respect for the Blessed One on His triple anniversary day.

Every Buddhist community ought to have special celebrations on this day, including public processions, illuminations of temples and shrines, displays of Buddhist flags, and all that will call public attention to the day and its meaning. If the Dharma school children take part in the procession that is a very good and pious act. It is not at all a good idea to wait until we are grown-ups to begin to do pious acts. The earlier in life we start, the better.

(Read the “Life Story of the Buddha” with this lesson)

 

HOLY DAY OF WESAK

Buddha, Lord we offer,
Oh Thy birthday fair,
Garlands of the brightest
Blossoms choice and rare.

Holy Day of Wesak,
Day of Buddha’s birth,
When the sun of wisdom
Shone upon the earth.

Incense too we offer
On this Festal Day,
For the things we cherish
All must pass away.

Through this holy symbol
We shall learn to see,
Things of priceless value
Hid in transiency.

And the deep going sounding
Bids us leave the self,
And in Buddha’s teaching
Find the truest wealth.

Lights upon the altar
Show to us the way,
From the realms of darkness
To Nirvana’s day.

                                                                                      -D. Hunt.

 

QUESTIONS

  1. Why is Wesak the holiest of all holy days to Buddhists?
  2. Where was Lord Buddha born?
  3. About how long ago was he born?
  4. Where did the Buddha gain enlightenment?
  5. What stories are there about flowers on the three most important occasions in the Buddha’s life?
  6. Why do we make offerings of flowers, joss sticks, water, fruits, etc. at Buddhist shrines?
  7. Is it a good idea to have big celebrations on Wesak Day?
  8. Do you think it proper for children to take part in these celebrations?
  9. What is a pious act?
  10. Are pious acts only for grown-ups?
Gửi ý kiến của bạn
Tắt
Telex
VNI
Tên của bạn
Email của bạn
29/10/2024(Xem: 211)
How to use your booked hard waste collection (Merri-Bek Council)
30/05/2024(Xem: 868)
Most Ven Dr. Bokunoruwe Devananda Thero will give a Dharma talk in Singapore: True happiness comes from within but not external
14/10/2023(Xem: 4885)
Our immense pleasure is to present to you this remarkable conference book – Buddhism: A Historical and Practical Vision. Inside these pages lies a stunning tapestry of wisdom created by the joint dedication and hard work of young Vietnamese Buddhist monks and nuns scholars who have explored the legacy of Buddhism in depth. From exploring the compatibility and integration of Mahāyāna Buddhism’s teachings with realistic political theory on leadership and the introduction Buddhist philosophy and the establishment and significance of Buddhist universities in the United States, each paper stands as a testament to the vibrant diversity and enduring relevance of Buddhist thought. Among the thought-provoking papers, you will discover insightful investigations into the practical theory of impermanence as a means to enhance one’s own living experience. Additionally, a critical interpretation of Nibbāna from Dr. Ambedkar’s perspective in the Indian Engaged Buddhist Movement sheds light
25/07/2023(Xem: 5383)
Dealing with the chosen work, I observe that a puggala has been present in the world because of dependent origination (paṭiccasamuppāda) or continuity of change (santāna). The five masses of elements (pañcakkhandhā), which constitute the puggala and the world around him, are without any substance (anattā), impermanent (anicca) and they are really causes of grief (dukkha)...
20/07/2023(Xem: 1884)
During his recent visit to Melbourne, Australia to attend the Conference on Sociology, at the Melbourne Convention Centre. Professor Dr. Ryushun Kiyofuji visited Quang Duc Monastery, 30 minutes from downtown Melbourne. On this occasion, I had the chance to interview him about the current situation of Buddhism in Japan.
12/06/2023(Xem: 3617)
“One person, mendicants, arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. What one person? The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. This is the one person, mendicants, who arises in the world for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” *
facebook youtube google-plus linkedin twitter blog
Nguyện đem công đức này, trang nghiêm Phật Tịnh Độ, trên đền bốn ơn nặng, dưới cứu khổ ba đường,
nếu có người thấy nghe, đều phát lòng Bồ Đề, hết một báo thân này, sinh qua cõi Cực Lạc.

May the Merit and virtue,accrued from this work, adorn the Buddhas pureland,
Repay the four great kindnesses above, andrelieve the suffering of those on the three paths below,
may those who see or hear of these efforts generates Bodhi Mind, spend their lives devoted to the Buddha Dharma,
the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Quang Duc Buddhist Welfare Association of Victoria
Tu Viện Quảng Đức | Quang Duc Monastery
Most Venerable Thich Tam Phuong | Senior Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang
Address: Quang Duc Monastery, 105 Lynch Road, Fawkner, Vic.3060 Australia
Tel: 61.03.9357 3544 ; Fax: 61.03.9357 3600
Website: http://www.quangduc.com
http://www.tuvienquangduc.com.au (old)
Xin gửi Xin gửi bài mới và ý kiến đóng góp đến Ban Biên Tập qua địa chỉ:
quangduc@quangduc.com