Indian Newslink April 15, 2016 Digital Edition

18 COMMUNITYLINK
April 15, 2016
Divinity and Grace inspire innate goodness
Divinity and Grace inspire innate goodness
A Correspondent
Buddhists and many
others will observe
‘Buddha Purnima’ on
May 21, 2016.
The festival commemorates
the birth anniversary of
Gautama Buddha, founder
of Buddhism and should
not be confused with ‘Guru
Purnima,’ an observance that
pays obeisance to the ‘Guru,’
usually to Sage Vyasa. This
event, celebrated throughout
the world by Hindus, will occur
this year on July 19 or 20.
Buddha Purnima is marked
during the Lunar month of
‘Vaishakha’ (corresponding to
May). Gautama Buddha, whose
birth name was Siddhartha
Gautama is worshipped by
followers of Buddhism, which
he established to promote
peace, harmony, goodwill and
understanding among human
beings throughout the world.
The time of Gautama
Buddha’s birth and death is
uncertain. However, most
historians date his lifetime
between 563-483 BC. Most
people consider Lumbini in
Nepal as the birth place of
Buddha.
He died at the age of 80 at
Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh in
India.
Bodh Gaya
For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is
the most important pilgrimage
site related to the life of
Gautama Buddha. The other
three important pilgrimage
The Statue of Gautama Buddha in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India
sites are Kushinagar, Lumbini,
and Sarnath. It is believed that
Gautama Buddha obtained
Enlightenment at Bodhagaya
and He first taught the Dharma
at Sarnath.
According to scripts, He
passed away soon after attaining
‘Nirvana,’ or Enlightenment.
Buddha Purnima is also
known as ‘Buddha Jayanti,’
‘Vesak,’ ‘Vaishaka’ and ‘Buddha’s
Birthday.’
In North India,Buddha
is considered as the Ninth
Incarnation and Lord Krishna as
the Eighth Incarnation of Lord
Vishnu. However, Buddha is not
considered so in South India.
In South India, Balarama
is considered as the Eighth
Incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Even Buddhists do not consider
Buddha as an incarnation of
Lord Vishnu.
Many Buddhists visit temples
on Vesak to listen to monks give
talks and recite ancient verses.
Devout Buddhists may spend all
day in one or more temples.
Some temples display a small
statue of Buddha as a baby. The
statue is placed in a basin filled
with water and decorated with
flowers. Visitors to the temple
pour water over the statue.
This symbolises a pure and new
beginning.
Buddha’s Teachings
Many Buddhists pay special
attention to Buddha’s teachings
during Vesak. They may
wear white robes and only
eat vegetarian food on and
around Vesak. Many people also
give money, food or goods to
organizations that help the poor,
the elderly and those who are
sick. Caged animals are bought
and set free to display care for
all living creatures, as preached
by Buddha.
Many Buddhists see Him as
the ‘Supreme Buddha.’
Festivals to honour Buddha
are held for many centuries.
The decision to celebrate
‘Vesak’ as Buddha’s Birthday
was formalised at the first conference
of the World Fellowship
of Buddhists held in Colombo,
Sri Lanka in May, 1950. The date
A large statue of Gautama Buddha adorns Fo Guang
Buddhist Temple in Botany, East Auckland
Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple in Auckland
Excerpts from website www.fbs.org.nz
Buddhism is a path or way of life to follow based on the teachings of Buddha.
It is a religion of wisdom where knowledge and intelligence predominate.
Buddhism is devoted to conditioning the mind through daily life which eventually will
lead to peace, happiness and freedom.
Buddhists trust in Buddha as a great Teacher and Exemplar. Dharma, namely Buddhist
teachings as a guide to enlightenment and essential truth.
The Sangha comprises the Buddhist community, particularly monastics, who teach
the Dharma and guide one along the path to enlightenment.
This ‘Triple Gem’ is central to Buddhist life.
Bodhisattva has immense meaning in Buddhism.
‘Bodhi’ means ‘Enlightenment’ and ‘Sattva’ means ‘sentimental being.’
A ‘Bodhisattva’ follows the path to enlightenment.
In doing so, a ‘Bodhisattva’ altruistically chooses to put off his or her own final stage of
Enlightenment to completely alleviate the suffering of others.
He or she practices the virtues of generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy,
patience, truthfulness, determination, loving-kindness, and even-mindedness to
perfection and without self-interest.
The number of ‘Bodhisattvas’ cannot be calculated in numbers.
Mahayana Buddhists emphasise on the importance of ‘Bodhisattva’ and the ‘Bodhisattva
Path’ as the way to realise one’s Buddha nature.
was fixed as the day of the Full
Moon in May.
Different Buddhist communities
celebrate ‘Vesak’ on
different dates when there are
two Full Moons in May. This
is because the Buddhist Lunar
calendar can be interpreted in
different ways.
The ‘Dharma Chakra,’ represents the
eight-fold of Buddhism
Dharma Chakra
The Dharma Chakra or
Dharma Wheel is a symbol often
seen during Vesak.
It is a wooden wheel with
eight spokes. The wheel
represents Buddha’s teaching on
the path to enlightenment. The
eight spokes symbolise the noble
eightfold path of Buddhism.