Friday, May 4, 2012

Wesak Day - 5th of May 2012


Tomorrow is Wesak Day  and the occasion celebrates the enlightenment of the Buddha.  Buddha did not become GOD on this day but he managed to break through and achieved total wisdom and understanding of what causes suffering and how to avoid suffering. He became a Great Teacher and he spread his knowledge far and wide. Finally, Buddhism became one of the major religions in the world.

How we get to pray to Buddha as a GOD is the evolution through generations where many great teachers have found enlightenment after following the teaching of the Buddha. All the ceremony and establishment of the Buddhist order is done by his followers who have wanted to remember Buddha as a  great teacher.  When we pray to Buddha , we bow our head three times and this is a mark of respect  ie first for his great teachings, second for his wisdom  and third for great compassion and loving kindness. It is not like the wishes which we seek from GOD.

The truth is that Buddhism is not a religion but it is a way of life.  A way to avoid sufferings and to gain great wisdom. His philosophy of  life cycle ie birth, age, sickness and death is very real and practical and nobody can avoid this cycle of life.

Another great teachings from Buddha is  the 4 noble truth and the 8 fold path which teach us to avoid suffering  and what to live our lives through right speech, right thoughts and right action, etc. In his teaching, he preaches the law of Karma  and in simple terms, it get what you sow.  Good deeds bring good fortunes  and evil deeds bring destructions through time and space.

Buddha believes that through meditation , we can tame our mind and give us great wisdom and understanding.  All human beings are inter-connected , so we should practice great compassion and loving kindness to all our fellow human beings. What we gave, it comes back in many folds.

Through the law of karma, the re-birth concept comes in as a total evolution. The cycle repeat through many re-births and death and the good and bad deeds  moves in cycles through generations and generations until one gets enlightenment and spin out of this vicious circle of life , suffering and death.

So, to all  fellow human beings , please celebrate the Wesak Day in Great Compassion and Loving Kindness.

Namaste.

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