The Buddha’s Birthday: Celebrating the Life of Shakyamuni

Today is the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha - the Buddha in our world. This day is traditionally known as Vesak or 佛诞日 (Fó dàn rì) in Chinese. It falls on the 8th of the fourth lunar month in Chinese Buddhism.

This sacred day commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Buddha, the Enlightened One.

From the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha told us he had countless eons ago realised Buddhahood, this time he descended into our Earth to show us how it’s within our potential to be a Buddha - this is just one of his many performances (manifestations).

Over 2500 years ago, the Buddha was born in Lumbini (modern-day Nepal). His birth marked the arrival of a being who would illuminate the path of liberation for countless sentient beings.

You can watch Jiawen’s detailed Dharma talk on the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha and the life of the Buddha here, consisting of a total of eight episodes.

To celebrate his birth on this day people often bathe baby Buddha statues with fragrant water or tea (symbolizing purification of the mind and body).

Offering incense, flowers, light, and chanting.

On this sacred day of Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, may all beings be blessed with wisdom, compassion, and inner peace. May the light of the Dharma continue to illuminate our hearts and the world.

Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha 

Namo Amitabha Buddha