Bodhi Day
| Bodhi Day | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Bodhi Day Rōhatsu(Tịch bát) Shaka-Jōdō-e(釈 già thành đạo hội) Jōdō-e(Thành đạo hội) Alaw ng Bodhi |
| Observed by | Mahayana Buddhists |
| Type | Buddhist |
| Significance | The enlightenment ofGautama Buddha |
| Date | December 8 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Laba Festival(in China) Rohatsu(in Japan) Other related festivals: Vesak(in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos) |
Bodhi Dayis theBuddhist holidaythat commemorates the day thatGautama Buddha(Shakyamuni) is said to have attainedenlightenment,[1]also known asbodhiinSanskritandPali.According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under apeepaltree, also known as a Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), and simply meditate until he found the root of suffering, and how to liberate oneself from it.[2]
Shakyamuni's awakening
[edit]Traditions vary on what happened. Some say Siddhartha made a great vow to Nirvana and Earth to find the root of suffering, or die trying. In other traditions, while meditating he was harassed and tempted by the godMara(literally, "Killer" inSanskrit),demonof illusion.[2][3]Other traditions simply state that he entered deeper and deeper states of meditation, confronting the nature of the self.[citation needed]
In thePali Canon,there are several discourses said to be by the Buddha himself, related to the story. In the Longer Discourse to Saccaka (MN 36),[4]the Buddha describes his Enlightenment in three stages:
- During the first watch of the night, the Buddha discovered all of his past lives in thecycle of rebirth,realizing that he had been born and reborn countless times before.
- During the second watch, the Buddha discovered the Law ofKarma,and the importance of living by theNoble Eightfold Path.
- During the third watch, the Buddha discovered theFour Noble Truths,finally reachingNirvana.
In his words:
My heart, thus knowing, thus seeing, was released from the fermentation of sensuality, released from the fermentation of becoming, released from the fermentation of ignorance. With release, there was the knowledge, 'Released.' I discerned that 'Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for this world.'[4]
All traditions agree that in the third watch of the night, Siddhartha finally found the answers he sought and became Enlightened, and experiencedNirvana.[5]Having done so, Siddhartha now became aBuddhaor "Awakened One".[2][5]
Festivals celebrating the Buddha's enlightenment
[edit]The enlightenment of the Buddha is yearly celebrated in many Buddhist countries.
Bodhi Day
[edit]Bodhi Day is observed in many mainstreamMahayanatraditions including the traditionalZenandPure Landschools of China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.[6]
Services and traditions vary amongst Buddhist sects, but all such services commemorate the Buddha's achievement of Nirvana, and what this means forBuddhismtoday.[7][8]Individuals may choose to commemorate the event through additional meditation,[8]study of the Dharma,[8]chanting of Buddhist texts (sutras), or performing kind acts towards other beings. Some Buddhists celebrate with a traditional meal of tea, cake and readings.[7]
Rōhatsu
[edit]In Japanese Zen, it is known asRōhatsuorRōhachi(Tịch bát).[9]In Japanese, the word literally means 8th day of the 12th month. It is typical for Zen monks and layperson followers to stay up the entire night beforeRōhatsupracticing meditation, and the holiday is often preceded by an intensivesesshin.It is observed on the Gregorian date of December 8 as a result of the Westernization of Japan during theMeiji Restoration(1862–1869).[10]InTendaiand other Japanese sects, it is called eitherShaka-Jōdō-e(釈 già thành đạo hội)or simplyJōdō-e(Thành đạo hội).[citation needed]
Laba
[edit]The Chinese version of this festival is calledLaba( tịch bát ) which means the Eighth Day of the La (or the Twelfth) Month of theChinese Lunar Calendar.It is most often observed in the first half of January, but it may happen on a date between theWinter Solstice(December 22) and theChinese New Year(between January 22 and February 21).[citation needed]
Vesak Day
[edit]Bodhi Day is not as popularly celebrated asVesak Day,on which the birth, enlightenment (Nirvāna), and passing away (Parinirvāna) ofGautama Buddhaare celebrated.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Buddhist Holidays".Archived fromthe originalon 2017-12-06.Retrieved2010-10-17.
- ^abc"Life of Buddha".Archivedfrom the original on 2011-11-26.Retrieved2010-10-17.
- ^"Following the Buddha's Footsteps".Archivedfrom the original on 2012-08-29.Retrieved2010-10-17.
- ^ab"Maha-Saccaka Sutta: The Longer Discourse to Saccaka".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-08-01.Retrieved2008-12-08.
- ^abThe Life of the BuddhaArchived2013-12-07 at theWayback MachineatAbout.com
- ^"Bodhi Day: Buddhist Holiday".8 December 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-08-11.Retrieved2010-10-17.
- ^ab"How To Celebrate Bodhi Day".Archivedfrom the original on 2023-06-06.Retrieved2010-10-17.
- ^abc"Celebrating the Buddha's Awakening".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-11-27.Retrieved2010-10-17.
- ^"Tịch bát (ろうはち)とは".Nhật bổn quốc ngữ đại từ điển(in Japanese). Kotobank.Archivedfrom the original on 9 December 2018.Retrieved9 December2018.
- ^RohatsuArchived2011-06-15 at theWayback MachineatAbout.com
- ^"Visakha Puja".Archivedfrom the original on 2012-03-04.Retrieved2011-12-09.
