Significance of Vesak or Buddha Purnima: Short Note and Haiku

 SHORT NOTE

On Vesak festival, devout Buddhists, followers of Buddhism, people motivated by buddhist philosophy and spiritualists remember the Buddha and feel inspired by the tenets of Buddhism to live a purposeful life.

However, devout household  devouts assemble in various temples and pagodas before dawn for the ceremonial hoisting of the Buddhist flag and singing of hymns in praise of the holy triple gem: The Buddha, The Dharma (the Buddha's teachings), and The Sangha (the Buddha's disciples living in monasteries).

In India, many Hindus deem the Buddha an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and celebrate Vesak as Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima, and Buddha Day. The festival is a holiday to  commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Siddhartha Gautama who was born in Lumbini, now in Nepal. Thus, Vesak is the Full Moon day in the month of May deemed sacred both Buddhists and Hindus around the world.

Even, the United Nations has proclaimed the festival as the International Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution of Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world which is over two and a half millennia old and continues to thrive as 'spirituality of humanity' with great respect across the globe. 

According to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Buddha Purnima or Vesak commemorates Buddha Shakyamuni’s birth, enlightenment and passing away, and is considered the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar. "On this auspicious occasion, I offer fellow Buddhists everywhere my good wishes in leading meaningful lives filled with warm heartedness and compassion," he stated in his message.

INSPIRED HAIKU

All that is outer -

That's impermanent, transient -

Causes strife, rebirth

***

Wisdom, compassion

Are humanity's vision

Beyond all differences 

***

Embrace for freedom -

Humane solidarity -

Through kindness, goodwill, peace

***

Deconstruct ego

To reconstruct ourselves -

Commit to good deeds

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