What is Vesākha?

Vesākha is a Buddhist holiday made to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha.  It's a day to reflect on his birth, awakening and death as an all-in-one occasion.  Usually it is observed on the full-moon day in May of Indian lunar calendar because that 's when he passed away in 543 BC.

Just before he died, he saw his faithful attendant Ananda, weeping. The Buddha advised him not to cry, but to understand the universal law that all compounded things (including his own body) have to disintegrate.  He then asked all the attendant Bhikkhus to clarify any doubts or questions they had about his teachings. They had none. 

He advised everyone not to be sad over the disintegration of the physical body but to regard what he taught (The Dhamma) as their guide and teacher.  The Buddha's final words are reported to have been:

"All composite things (Saṅkhāra) are perishable. Strive for your own liberation with diligence"  
(Pali: 'vayadhammā saṅkhārā appamādena sampādethā').  

According to Buddhist scriptures, through stages, he then finally entered Parinirvana. 

 
Until his very last moment, Buddha made a point about the importance of getting to the core, the essence of his teachings, because only truth is eternal and not subject to the law of change or decay. He also stressed that the way to pay homage to him was not just by offering flowers, incense, and candle lights, but to truly and sincerely realize then actualize his teachings - to be diligent in the practice of Dhamma.

In the spirit of Vesākha, here are some words to share about the practice:

 Since each moment is different, there is a hidden jewel in every one; notice your awareness, endless are the ways to be attentive.

Be open and accept whatever arises with the clarity of attention and without reacting liking or disliking; seeing comes from inside to outside, not the other way around.

 There is no "my" life, since there is no possessor, only observer. Life is an impermanent ever changing; it can be witnessed and cannot be owned.

Direct the observing mind to where the sensations are to the energy field; let the silence of the mind receive the energy of the body, witness life within you.

 Don't let thinking rob you of your actual experiences; lacking awareness of our true nature leads to a life of insecurity, craving and fear.

 Lastly, the practice of meditation is not a search for something out there; rather it is a journey to discover what is already here.

So for the practicing Buddhists, the day of Vesākha is a reminder to ground their determination to lead noble lives, to develop their minds, to practice loving-kindness and to bring peace and harmony to humanity.  

However, as it is normal for a person to struggle from time to time,  if you somehow find yourself constantly, constantly unhappy, unsatisfied, perhaps... you ain't done practicing!

So is this the time to mourn over the loss of your crutch and seek a new gurus or a new religions?

"Neti, Neti..."

As firmly as it sounds,  I say it with all my love and sincerity.