Bodhi Day 2023: Every year on December 8, Japan celebrates Bodhi Day. It usually occurs on the eighth day of the lunisolar calendar's twelfth month. The day, called Rohatsu in Japanese, was transferred to its present date by Emperor Meiji as part of Japan's westernization process and the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. It is a day that is good for many on a spiritual level.
What is Bodhi Day?
The day that Gautama Buddha (Shakyamuni) is said to have achieved enlightenment, or bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali, is celebrated as Bodhi Day in Buddhism. Siddhartha, according to legend, had lately abandoned years of severe austerity and made the decision to sit under a peepal tree, also called a Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), and simply meditate until he discovered the cause of suffering and the means of eliminating it.
Bodhi Day 2023: Wishes, Messages, WhatsApp Status, Quotes & More To Share On This Day
Why is Bodhi Day celebrated?
Bodhi Day is observed to mark the moment that took place 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha or ‘awakened one’. The story goes that, rejecting the luxurious lifestyle of a prince, Siddharta left the comforts of the palace at the age of 29 and went on a journey of deep introspection to seek meaning in life.
He decided to keep meditating until he attained "bodhi," or "enlightenment," while in the northeastern Indian town of Bodh Gaya, beneath the Peepal tree, a variety of Banyan fig that is now renowned as the Bodhi Tree. At the age of 35, he achieved enlightenment through 49 days of nonstop meditation. He attained a degree of enlightenment where he could perceive the interconnectedness of all things, leading him to formulate the Four Noble Truths: Dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), Samudaya (arising), Nirodha (cessation), and Marga (way), which is the path that leads to the Eightfold way.
What is the importance of Bodhi Day?
Buddhists observe Bodhi Day as a time to consider the significance of awakening, Buddha's teachings, and his journey towards enlightenment and spiritual development. It highlights the values of understanding, compassion, and mindfulness and encourages devotees to further their dedication to self-realization and the reduction of suffering in both themselves and other people.
On Bodhi Day, it is customary to craft Bodhi trees out of dough or paper, which represents Siddhartha's enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. Believers talk and spread Buddha's teachings, perform deeds of kindness, and show compassion to others.In order to honour this day, Buddhists meditate, study the "dharma," which is defined as "universal truth or law," recite sutras, which are Buddhist texts, and show kindness to other living things. Some observe the day in a more conventional manner by preparing a tea and cake dinner.
In conclusion, Bodhi Day is an auspicious occasion observed by Buddhism. It commemorates and celebrates the significance of Budhha’s teaching towards enlightenment and awakening for freedom from suffering.
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