Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi, May 16: Buddha walked throughout North India for forty-five years, teaching all who would listen about life’s suffering, how to end it, and how to attain peace and nirvana.
His birth is commemorated by Buddhists and Hindus all over the world as the major festival of Buddha Purnima in countries such as India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Many Hindus believe Buddha is the ninth incarnation of Vishnu, hence prayers and festivals are held in Gaya and Kushinagar (UP) as well as across India, particularly in Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and North Bengal (Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Kurseong). The festival of Buddha Purnima, also known as Buddha Jayanti, Vaisakhi Buddha Purnima, or Vesak, happens on a full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Vaisakh (April/May), and this year, Buddha Purnima will be observed on Monday, May 16.
Since his birth as Prince Siddhartha Gautama on the Purnima Tithi (full moon day) at Lumbini in 563 BC, the birthday of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, has been observed as Buddha Purnima around the world (modern day Nepal). Because Buddha is considered the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism, Buddhists and Hindus all over the world honour this day.
It is also the day on when Buddha, as Prince Siddhartha Gautama (c. 563-483 BCE), gained Nirvana (salvation) under the Mahabodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, as well as his death anniversary in Theravada Buddhism. Dharma (obligation), nonviolence, peace, and kindness were all espoused by Gautama Buddha. At the age of 30, he gave up his worldly belongings and princedom.
He left his worldly possessions and princedom at the age of 30 to lead a life searching for the truth.
According to Buddha, the reality of suffering is—Dukkha, the truth of suffering’s cause—Samudaya, the truth of suffering’s end—Nirodha, and the truth of the road that leads to suffering’s end—Magga. Suffering is real, and it has a beginning and an end. Suffering is not meant to communicate a pessimistic outlook, but rather a realistic approach to dealing with the world as it is and attempting to improve it. For this he said to follow the eightfold path.
The eightfold path:
- Right understanding (Samma ditthi)
- Right thought (Samma sankappa)
- Right speech (Samma vaca)
- Right action (Samma kammanta)
- Right livelihood (Samma ajiva)
- Right effort (Samma vayama)
- Right mindfulness (Samma sati)
- Right Concentrationb (Samma Samadhi)
In some way or another, the Buddha’s entire teaching, to which he devoted himself for 45 years, deals with this road. He expressed it to different people in different ways and in different phrases, depending on their developmental stage and ability to understand and follow him. The noble eightfold path, however, contains the core of the thousands of discourses spread throughout the Buddhist texts.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other political leaders sent wishes to citizens.
“Happy Buddha Purnima to all the countrymen and the followers of Lord Buddha in the whole world . Lord Buddha showed humanity the path of non-violence, compassion and tolerance . His teachings are more relevant today. Let us all resolve to follow the path shown by Lord Buddha,” President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted in Hindi.