What is Wesak.docx

Buddhism & Wesak
“A Path”

By Amie Bedgood MSN, RN

This religion has four noble truths:

 Existence is suffering
Birth, old age, sickness and death are universal to existence.
According to Buddhist, the purpose of life is to end all
suffering and find happiness and peace.

 Suffering has a cause

Craving is the major cause of suffering in that one craves the
things of the flesh (sensual pleasures, wealth, power, etc.)

 There is cessation of suffering (Nirvana)
o Cessation of all things (suffering, old age, decay, death)

 There is a path to the cessation of suffering (“eightfold path”)
o Right views
o Right resolve
o Right speech
o Right action
o Right livelihood
o Right effort
o Right mindfulness
o Right concentration
(Mahinda, 2012)

What is Wesak?

Wesak is the most important Buddhist holiday or festival. This
festival is celebrated to honor Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and
death. A full moon in May is a necessary backdrop for this
celebration. This holiday is celebrated May 4-6. (BBC, 2014)

Where is Wesak Celebrated?
 Thailand

o Special Wesak lanterns are made from wood and paper

 Caged birds are often released

 China
o Dancing dragons are integrated

 Indonesia
o Wesak lanterns from paper and wood

 Anywhere else a Buddhist may live!

How is Wesak Celebrated?
Wesak is a very happy and colorful event. Buddhists will prepare
their homes by cleaning them and decorating them with colorful
flowers and candles. Followers will also spend time in the
Buddhist temple for worship, chanting, and praying. Buddhist
monks will often receive gifts from those participating in the
celebrations. These gifts may include food, candles, and flowers.

A candle procession is the highlight of the event in Malaysia.
Many Buddhists will celebrate by giving food and donations to the
needy. In Malaysia, this is holiday is a public holiday that

believers observe through prayer, burning of incense and
meditation (Crystal).

There is often a “Bathing Buddha” ceremony included in the
Wesak Celebrations. During this ritual, water is poured over the
Buddha as a symbol of purification and a reminder to purify one’s
own mind from greed, hatred, and ignorance. This ceremony is
performed as a demonstration of respect and appreciation to
Buddha for his life example and teachings (BBC, 2014).

This ceremony may be performed in different ways in different
countries, however the meaning is universal and points back to an

ancient story. The story is as follows:

“According to the ancient stories, the Buddha was born in a
very peculiar fashion. Since his mother, was standing up – or
more accurately, leaning against a sara tree – when she
gave birth, the baby sprang from her side, landing right on
the ground. He was born clean and radiant. The Prince could
already walk, and walk the four points of the cardinal
directions he did. Wherever he set his feet lotuses sprang up
and blossomed. His right forefinger pointed up to the sky and
his left down to the grass. Finally, he spoke, although by this
time his mother probably had reckoned that she’d seen
everything and wasn’t as surprised as she thought she
would be” (Lam, 2012)

According to this story, sacred water fell from the sky over him
from the gods and divine serpents. This is where the bathing
Buddha ritual originated.

Wesak Cuisine

Buddhist cuisine is vegetarian or vegan because the emphasis
with this religion is one of peace and nonviolence. A typical
Wesak menu will include a meal of vegetables. Some examples
include vegetable paratha, eight treasure rice, and Buddhist
pudding.

Avoidance of alcohol and drugs is critical because of their effects
on the mind and interference with awareness and peace.

References

Crystal. (n.d.). Malaysian Food. Retrieved from Weebly.com:
http://allaboutmalaysianfood.weebly.com/wesak-day.html ).

Lam, R. (2012, April 1). A Vesak Ritual- Bathing the Buddha.
Retrieved from Buddhistdoor Global:
http://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/a-vesak-ritual-bathing-
the-buddha

Mahinda, V. (2012). The Significance of Vesak - Buddha Day.
Retrieved from Buddhanet.net:
http://www.buddhanet.net/vesak.htm

Schools-Religion. (2014, October 20). Retrieved from British
Broadcasting Corporation:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/buddhism/buddha_day
.shtml