PhramahaSurasak Suramedhi
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01 ก.ย. 2006, 6:36 am |
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An Essay on Visakha Puja Day
By Phramaha Surasak Suramedhi (Chamaram)
4th Year Student of Humanities Faculty, Majoring in English
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Nakhonratchasima campus
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Of any Buddhist Holy Days, (Makha Puja Day,Visakha Puja, Alsalha Puja Day, Rains-Entry Day, Lent Ending Day, etc
),Visakha Puja is considered as the most important day. It is the day that the Buddha was born, founded the true nature of all living beings or attained enlightenment, and passed away. Visakha Puja Day is also called the Buddhas Day because it directly concerned with the Buddha life.
The meaning of Visakha Puja Day
Visakha Puja Day falls on the full moon day of May (the sixth lunar month) in each year. The word Visakha Puja comes from the word Visakhapunnamipuja in Pali which means Worshiping on the full moon day of the sixth month. It marks the three important events, occurred in the Buddhas life, namely; His Birth, His Enlightenment, and His Passing away (Parinibbana).
Historical Background
On the full moon day of May (the sixth lunar month), known as Visakha Puja Day, before 623 B.C. there was born a young prince, named Siddhattha at Lumbini park between the borders of Kabilavatthu City and Thevathaha City. His fathers name was King Suddhodana, who was the king of Kabilaphattu City. His mothers name was Queen Sirimahamaya who lived in Thevathaha City. She passed away seven days after her sons birth.The son was later taken care by Pajabodi (her younger sister). Later on when he grew up at the age of 7 years, he was sent to study with Visavamit who was a famous and well-known teacher during that time.
When he grow up at the age of 16 years, he got married to a very beautiful Princess named Yasodhara or Bimba. Thirteen years after their marriage, they had one son whose name was Rahula. One day while traveling to a Royal Garden, he saw four sights, he saw an old man, a sick man, a dead body, and a monk (a Brahmin monk). These made him realize that only a luxurious life could not let him reach the real happiness of life.
When he was 29 years old, he renounced a worldly life to be a homeless monk at the bank of Anoma river. After being a homeless monk, he wandered from place to place to seek for the real happiness of life.
When he was 35 years old, on the full moon day of May (the sixth lunar month), he attained enlightenment which means he had founded the real happiness of life. At that time, he was called as the Buddha which means the Awakened One or the Enlightened One. Not soon after his enlightenment, he started to deliver his teachings for the welfare of mankind. He delivered his first teaching to the Panjavakkiya (the Group of Five Monks), Kondhanna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama, and Assaji. His first teaching was the Dhammacakkappavattanasutta (the setting into the motion of the wheel of Dhamma). After his preaching, Kondhanna, the head of the group, attained the eyes of Dhamma and later asked for the ordination from the Buddha. The Buddha ordained him as the first monk in Buddhism. After that he wandered to preach his teachings for fourty- five years without stopping.
When he was 80 years old, on the full moon day of May (the sixth lunar month), after he had firmly established his teachings to his Orders, then he passed away under the two Sala trees in Kusinara, Malla state.
These three events (His Birth, His Enlightenment, and His Passing away (Parinibbana)) took place on the same day and month, but difference in year.
The importance of Visakha Puja Day
As mentioned that Visakha Puja Day is the Day of the Buddha. When considering in this point, we have seen clearly that the Birth of the Buddha was also the Origin of Buddhism. Because the Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and then established Buddhism. So the Birth of the Buddha and the Origin of Buddhism were very important in the history of humankind. The Birth of the Buddha, the Enlightenment of the Buddha, and the Passing away of the Buddha are meaningful as;
The Birth of the Buddha
The Birth of the Buddha is the proclaiming of Human freedom as his words when he was born at Limbini Park I am chief of the world, Eldest am I in the world, Foremost am I in the world. This is the last birth. There is now no more coming to be. He refused any beliefs at that time that human being was not able to develop themselves, because their lives were concerned in the power of Gods. So his birth absolutely refused those beliefs. He believed that human beings had the abilities of developing themselves by their own effort.
The Enlightenment of the Buddha
The Enlightenment of the Buddha is the Expounding of the Dhamma (Natural Truths). He realized natural truths first and then he expounded those to any people in order to help them be free from sufferings.The first teaching he expounded was the Four Noble Truths, consisting of Suffering (Dhukka),the Cause of Suffering(Samudaya), the End of Suffering(Nirodha), and the path leading to the End of Suffering(Magga).
The Passing away of the Buddha
The Passing away of the Buddha is the commemoration that human being should not be in the way of negligence. In this case, all living beings have to die, even the Buddha who fully attained enlightenment and free from Sufferings likewise. The Buddha told that human being should make any kinds of merits before they die. Because these merit making would lead them to a good birth place.
Dhamma to be observed on Visakha Puja Day
On Visakha Puja Day the Buddha realized the Dhamma called the Four Noble Truths which are the natural truths.
The first truth is Suffering (Dhukka) means all problems such as Birth, Death, Pain, Sickness, Sorrow, Sadness and so on.
The second truth is the Cause of Suffering (Samudaya) means the cause of any problems, for example, we want a new car, but we do not have enough money to buy it. What do we feel if we do not get what we want? Sure! We are  . So our desire of a new car is the cause of Suffering. In summaries, there are three causes of Suffering named Craving (Tanha), Craving for sensual pleasures(Kama-Tanha), Craving for existence (Bhava -Tanha), and Craving for non-existence (Vibbava-Tanha)
The third truth is the the End of Suffering (Nirodha) means to end problems. To end problems is to end Craving(Tanha) which is the cause of Sufferings or problems. Just like a fire die when no fuel is added. When Craving(Tanha) is ended, there will be no more Sufferings or problems.
And the last truth is the path leading to the End of Suffering or the Eightfold Path(Magga) means the right way to solve Sufferings or problems. They are eight, namely; Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
Activities to be observed on Visakha Puja Day
When Visakha Puja Day comes around in each year, Buddhists all over the world celebrate the great day in commemorating of His great loving-kindness and compassion to the world. These are some aspects of the activities they observe, namely;
- Offering foods to the monks and novices.
- Listening to the Dhamma preaching.
- Observing the Five Precepts or the Eight Precepts (depending on which ones they observe).
- Practicing Meditation.
- Attending the Candle Light Procession around the Buddhas Shrines.
- Etc
In Conclusion
Visakha Puja Day, which is called the Buddhas Day, is one of the most important Buddhist Holy Days. It falls on the full moon day of May (the sixth lunar month) in each year. The word Visakha Puja or Visakhapunnamipuja means Worshiping on the full moon day of the sixth month. It marks the three important events in the Buddhas life, namely; His Birth, His Enlightenment, and His Passing away (Parinibbana). The Birth of the Buddha is the proclaiming of Human freedom, the Enlightenment of the Buddha is the Expounding of the Dhamma (Natural Truths), and the Passing away of the Buddha is the commemoration that human being should not be in the way of negligence.
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References
- Jing Yin W. Y. Ho. Buddhism Key Staged 2. Taipei, Taiwan: Buddhist
Education Foundation (UK), 2002
- Phra Dhammapataka(P.A.Payutto). Dictionary of Buddhism. Bangkok:
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University press, 2003
- Sunthorn Plaminr. Basic Buddhism. Bangkok : Sahadhammika Co.,Ltd.,1986
- Thanapol Chadchaidee. Essays on Thailand. Bangkok : Thaichareunkanpem,
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