Bodhi Day

Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment; also known as Bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali.

Why is it important?

Bodhi Day is observed to mark the moment that took place 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni) 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.

According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under a peepal tree, also known as a Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa, a species of Banyan fig), and simply meditate until he found the root of suffering, and how to liberate oneself from it.

Significance

The Enlightenment

Siddharta's meditation in Bodh Gaya, a town in northeastern India, continued until he achieved 'bodhi' ('enlightenment'). He attained bodhi at the age of 35, after 49 days of continuous meditation. He was now able to see how everyone and everything was connected, and therefore reached a state of enlightenment that would lead him to create the Four Noble Truths: Dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), Samudaya (arising), Nirodha (cessation), and Magga (path) in which the Eightfold Path is set out.

The Awakening

Others say Siddhartha made a great vow to Nirvana and Earth to find the root of suffering, or die trying. In other traditions, while meditating he was harassed and tempted by the god Mara (literally, "Destroyer" in Sanskrit), demon of illusion. Other traditions simply state that he entered deeper and deeper states of meditation, confronting the nature of the self.

source: Wikipedia.org

Buddha's enlightenment

R┼ìhatsu (ÞçÿÕà½), Shaka-J┼ìd┼ì-e (ÚçêÞ┐ªµêÉÚüôõ╝Ü), J┼ìd┼ì-e (µêÉÚüôõ╝Ü), Araw ng Bodhi

The enlightenment of the Buddha is celebrated yearly in many Buddhist countries, with many different traditions. Nevertheless, all traditions agree that in the third watch of the night, Siddhartha finally found the answers he sought and became Enlightened, and experienced Nirvana. Having done so, Siddhartha now became a Buddha or "Awakened One"

The Bodhi Tree

The "tree of awakening" is a large sacred fig tree located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. In religious iconography, the Bodhi Tree is recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed.

The foremost example of an existing tree is the Mahabodhi Tree growing at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, which is often cited as a direct descendant of the original tree. This tree, planted around 250 BCE, is a frequent destination for pilgrims, being the most important of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Celebrations

Buddhists commemorate this day by meditating, studying the 'dharma' ('universal truth or law'), chanting sutras (Buddhist texts), and performing kind acts towards other beings. Some people mark the day in a more traditional sense by cooking a meal of tea and cakes.

Bodhi tree plantings are held throughout the month and are usually accompanied by tea ceremonies, while incense and multi-colored lights are displayed during the following month in the capital city of Tokyo and in towns and villages across the country.

However, Bodhi Day is not an official holiday in Japan — only Buddhists, who make up about 34% of the country's population, observe the day.

Mah─üy─üna (buddhist) branches

Bodhi Day is observed in many mainstream Mahayana traditions including the traditional Zen and Pure Land schools of China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.

R┼ìhatsu (Japan) or Laba (China) ÞçÿÕà½

In Japanese, the word means 8th day of the 12th month. It is typical for Zen monks and layperson followers to stay up the entire night before Rōhatsu practicing meditation.

The Chinese version, Laba, means the Eighth Day of the La (or the Twelfth) Month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.