Vesak Full Moon Poya Day: Honouring the life of Lord Buddha

The world’s most splendid annual Vesak Full Moon Day falls on May 12 this year.

The day signifies the birth, enlightenment and the reclining of the Siddhartha Gautama Samma Sambuddha.

The occasion glorifies the evolution of the Four Noble Truths and the eight-fold Noble Path for the eternal happiness of the gods, men and all living beings. The appearance of a Buddha in this world is one of the rarest occasions. The doctrine of Buddha, known as Buddhism, is not just a religion but a way of life. 

Siddhartha Gautama, the Prince of Kapilavastu, renounced his royal palace, Princess Yasodhara, his beautiful wife, son Rahula, the Crown and the Kingdom to seek deliverance from all ills of life. 

He voluntarily retreated to the thickest forest at the age of 29 years and struggled under austerities for six long years. 

Lord Buddha, having achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, utters his first words of wisdom, the ‘Paean of Joy’

However, by adopting the policy of Middle Path, the unique ascetic realised the Eight-Fold Noble Path and Four Noble Truths, thus opening the gates to attain the Supreme Bliss Nibbana. 

Seated under the shade of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Gautama Buddha engaged himself in Transcendental Meditation and achieved complete emancipation from all cankers.

His mind became pure and free from all restraints and worldly bondages. 

The Buddha enjoyed immense comfort when he achieved freedom from delusion. It was at this point that the Buddha uttered his maiden words, the “Paean of Joy”.

Having declared the “Paean of Joy”, the Buddha serenely remained seated under the glorious Bo Tree for one whole week. 

He was complacently contemplating the Sublime discovery he had achieved in saving innumerable living beings. 

He realised the Supreme Universal knowledge to quench the never-ending cycle of birth. 

“Who will be able to comprehend the intricacies of this doctrine of philosophy?”, the Buddha repeatedly questioned himself. Then, the Blessed One surveyed the Universe, to find there are wise men, wise enough to reap the harvest of golden seeds. He also realised that even those wrapped up in their greedy delusions would still benefit from the Dhamma and its discourses to make a beginning in their spiritual endeavours. When further scanning the planet Earth, Buddha saw that some wise men he knew, Alara Kalama, Uddakarama, were no more. Then he selected the five ascetics Kondanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji as those matured enough in virtue and fortunate enough to be the first batch of the order of Maha Sangha. 

Thereafter, the Buddha, from Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, proceeded to Migadhaya, Isipatana (Deer Park), close to Benares, to preach to the five Ascetics. 

At first, seeing their friend coming back to them, the five Ascetics wanted to ignore him with no preliminaries.

However, as the Buddha approached closer, they moved and took his bowl and robes, washed his feet and offered a proper seat with due respect. 

Then they addressed him as an equal, being old colleagues. The Buddha responded not to address the Tathagata by name or as a comrade.

“O Bhikkhus! Tathagata is fully Enlightened. Listen! I shall teach you the Dhamma. The Superhuman specific knowledge and insight worthy of an Ariya.” Still, the ascetics were doubtful as to how the Gautama, who failed to achieve elevation by painful austerities, gained so by becoming luxurious. 

The Buddha then asked them whether they could cite a single instance where he had spoken untruth to them in the past. Then they unanimously agreed and accepted the Buddha’s word. 

With full mercy and loving kindness, the Enlightened One visited them. Isipatana, Migadaya, Deer Park in Benares, where the ascetics lived and preached the “Dhamma Cakka Pavattana Sutta”, to the five great ascetics amid Loud Heavenly cheers to the immense benefit and happiness of men and divine beings in this World, as well as others in many other outer Worlds. 

“To go to him for refuge, to sing this praise, to do him honour and to abide in his Dhamma is to with understanding”. (An ancient Indian Poem). 

The Buddha delivered his first sermon, “Dhamma Cakka Pavattana Sutta”, amidst applause and praise by thousands of deities in many different realms. The five Ascetics listened, realised the Four Noble Truths, and all attained the Arahantship in turn. The last stage of sainthood, the Nibbana, is free from birth, decay, disease, death, sorrow and passion and is unshakable deliverance. Kondanna was the very first to attain the Supreme Bliss when he listened to “Anatta-lakkhana Sutta”.

By his 80th year, the Buddha had fulfilled his supreme mission towards the purification and deliverance of all ills of life. He had laid down a clear code of ethics for his disciples (Maha Sangha), instructed and trained them to guide the followers and the seekers of truth, in his unique Eightfold Noble Path to acquire the Eternal Bliss, Nibbana.

The Buddha was satisfied and confident of the fulfilment of his duties as the Buddha! And that the relations between Maha Sangha and the followers (Dhayakas) were firmly established in his Dhamma and were well efficient, capable of expounding them to others and well-wishers. By this time, the Buddha’s health had gradually declined. He suffered pain, sickness and became aware that he would soon end this life. Sakyamuni Tathagata Gautama, the Buddha, was constantly accompanied by a large group of Bhikkhus during his final stage of life.

Then the Buddha emerged from the cessation of perceptions and sensations:

As the thunders of heaven burst forth and the mighty earth trembled, the Devas sang devotional songs and spread flowers and perfume from the sky above, and at the Sala Groove Kusinara, flowers bloomed all around, out of season. In the third part of that Vesak Full Moon Night, as announced before, the Exalted One! Breathed his last, 2569 years ago.

The Buddha’s last words were “Behold All Disciples, I Exhort You Subject To Change Are All Component Things. Strive On With Diligence “Vayadhamma Sankhara – Appamadena Sampadetha”. 

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