THE MEANING OF VESAK The day of the full moon of May is a special day for Buddhists around the world. It is called Vesak, a word that comes from the name of the month of May in the language spoken a long time ago in India. On Vesak day Buddhists remember and reflect on the Birth of the Buddha, his Enlightenment and the day when he died and entered Parinirvana.

THE BIRTH The Buddha was born earlier than expected in the gardens of Lumbini, when his mother was travelling to her parent’s house to have her baby. He was named Siddhattha and was the pampered prince of a small kingdom. As he grew up he tired of his empty life of luxury and worried about the suffering of the common people. One day Prince Siddhattha left the palace to live in the forest as a poor beggar. He wanted to find out real happiness by his own efforts in meditation and so to be able to help others. celebratingthebuddha.blogspot.com

THE ENLIGHTENMENT Many years later, after a long period of meditation, he found the cause and the cure of all our suffering. In this flash of enlightenment was born the Dhamma, as his teaching is called. He realized that the cause of all suffering is greed and that the nature of all things is to change all the time. The way out of suffering is to be aware of this and wisely not holding on to what is changeable. He also advised to develop mindfulness and kindness through meditation and reflection. Thus he reached Nirvana, which is a state of profound peace and contentment. Since then the prince has been known as the Buddha, a word that means .

THE PARINIRVANA The Buddha wanted to share his discovery with everybody so they also could become enlightened. He spent the rest of his long life travelling and teaching. He founded monasteries wherever he went and many followers became monks and nuns. When the Buddha was 80 years old he died and reached Parinirvana, which is a state beyond Nirvana attained after death.

VESAK DAY AT A BUDDHIST TEMPLE On Vesak Day Buddhists visit their temple and listen to the monks and nuns who help them to reflect on the message of the Buddha. Everybody joins in chanting and in a short meditation in a beautifully decorated shrine room. There are flowers and candles on the altar in front of the Buddha image and the air smells sweetly of incense. The participants bring food that they offer to the monks and nuns and then all share a nice and friendly meal.

I had a lot of fun doing these drawings for you but I am a little tired now; perhaps you can help me and draw in this frame a Vesak ceremony at a Buddhist temple.

QUESTIONS 1 What do we celebrate on Vesak day?

2 Who was Siddhattha?

3 Was Prince Siddhattha happy in his palace?

4 What did he decided to do?

5 How did Siddhattha become the Buddha?

6 What does the word Buddha mean?

7 What did the Buddha do during his long life?

8 Why did the Buddha teach the Dhamma?

9 What was the last advice of the Buddha?

10 What do you think the Buddha meant by that?

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