Happy Buddha Birthday!!!

Kính mừng Phật đản! Yesterday, on the first full moon of the 5th lunar month, Buddhists in Vietnam observed an important day which commemorates the birthday of Gautama Buddha, born roughly 2500 years ago. This day is typically known as Vesākha (sanskrit for the lunar month which falls around April or May) in the Buddhist world, spanning a multitude of countries across all of Asia, all of which have their own rendition of the name. Although commonly referred to as "Buddha's Birthday", this holy day actually commemorates the Birth, the Enlightenment (Nirvana), and the Passing (Parinirvana) of the Buddha.

Across Asia, Vesakha is celebrated in different ways and also on different days, following the lunar calendar of the tradition of the respective countries, but generally devotees make a visit to the temple and observe vegetarianism for the day. Right before his death, and upon seeing his faithful attendant Ananda weeping, Gautama Buddha advised not to lament his death, as just like his body, all things in the world must one day disintegrate, and to instead regard his teachings (known as the Dharma) as his teacher from then on. Therefore, tradition holds that the best way to celebrate Vesakha is not merely by making offerings to the Buddha at the temple, but by sincerely and wholeheartedly espousing the Buddha's teachings. That is to lead a noble life, develop the mind, and live in harmony and compassion with all human beings.

A couple of weeks ago, I started seeing the Buddhist flags adorning my alleyways, and subsequently all over the city in preparations for the holy day. The international Buddhist flag was designed in 1880 by Mr. J. R. de Silva and Colonel Henry S. Olcott, an American Buddhist who advanced Buddhist education and helped create about 400 Buddhist schools and colleges in Sri Lanka. In 1952, the flag was accepted as the International Buddhist flag by the World Buddhist Congress.

The 5 color bands of the flag represent the 5 colors of the aura that purportedly emanated from Buddha's body when he reached enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The blue light is said to have radiated from the Buddha's hair, the yellow from his epidermis, the red from his flesh, the white from his bones and teeth, and the orange from his palms, heels and lips. Each color represents a certain facet of Buddhahood, and in the last band, all of the colors are conglomerated, symbolizing the universality of the Truth of Buddha's teaching. That is to say, regardless of race, nationality or religion, all human beings harness the potential of Buddhahood.