The great significances of the Vesak Poya

Undoubtedly, the greatest significance of the Vesak Poya in May is that the three most important events of Siddartha Gautama’s life occurred on this day six centuries ago in Nepal and India. He was born, attained enlightenment, and his life and almost 50 years of preaching the dhamma he had reasoned out for himself and decided to share with others, ended this full moon day. The details of these events are truly marvelous, most unusual and mixed with sorrow and hardship, finally triumph. Consider his birth: out in a park under a tree when his mother travelling to her father’s palace for her first confinement felt labour pains as she alighted from her carriage to take a respite. The sorrow was that she died seven days later but the joy of the birth of a son to Suddhodana was restored when Mahamaya’s younger sister, Prajapathi Gotami, became Siddhartha’s foster mother.

Attaining Buddhahood was after a most traumatic leaving of his wife and newborn son and venturing forth as a homeless, poor ascetic. The suffering of seven years of starving the body and the least of comforts brought him close to death. He decided to follow a middle path in his search and then gloriously found the truth seated under a bo tree in Gaya after partaking of a good meal provide by Sujatha. His death at 80 was not a sudden one. He suffered dysentery after consuming either mushrooms or pork served him by a pious devotee and walked in thirst and fatigue with his faithful Bhikkhu Ananda until he reached Kusinara – his destined place of death. Lying down on a hastily prepared bed between two sal trees, having been visited by a person who wanted questions to his answer and giving his final advice to the Sangha present, he breathed his last.

I gleaned more great significances from reading the article by Ven Mirisse Gunasiri Mahathera in the centenary publication of the Servants of the Buddha – Dhamma Gems.

We had these in mind, but the article induced more effect and influence giving thoughts to ponder over this season of Vesak and lockdown.

The Mahathera speaks of Social equality which the Buddha introduced to class and caste wracked India of the time. Oft repeated is the Dhammapada verse: “Not by birth but by deed does one become a Brahmin or an out-caste. Not by colour bar or caste bar or by wealth or poverty must a person be judged.” Many are still impressed by wealth and power – both ephemeral and even injurious if mishandled. The wealthy and powerful often get inebriated over these and end up disastrously if not in this life, in a later life. To put it simply, sycophants are led up the garden path!

Free thinking:

the Mahathera next advocates as the Buddha was the greatest and probably first Free Thinker. I quote from the article: “Free thinking, not in its modern significance but in its primary meaning, was one of the Buddha’s high principles. He shunned all traditional systems… and finally adopted an independent outlook based on rational understanding.” This in other words is freedom of thought and understanding, which is often shunned by other religions. The Mahathera quotes the Buddha’s words: “Oh monks, do not accept even my own words without scrutinizing them out of respect towards me. The purity of gold is discerned by melting it or cutting it or by means of a touch stone.” Certainly apt when lies are omnipresent and rumour and fake news are often taken to be true.

Personally I relish the Buddha’s advice that he is the advisor, the show-er of the Path that we should investigate and if found good, we follow. He gives us the responsibility of paving the way for our future of samsaric lives to come; whether to be reborn or strive to end the samsaric cycle.

This brings on the Buddha’s exhortation that he was a mere man who strove and reached Buddhahood. Of course he had superior powers and every other excellent quality. But he was no god to be venerated nor worshipped. This thought is very necessary in Sri Lanka of today when building or going to temple is the highest merit and merely listening to bana. Within temple premises are altars for gods of the Hindu Pantheon. Not right.

The Buddha is supposed to have said: “Visit the four places of significance to me.” Hence we pilgrimage to India to visit Lumbini, Buddha Gaya, Saranath and Sravasti, and Kusinara. Ven Brahms gave a different interpretation. The four places mentioned by the Buddha are the four janas one achieves when meditating which lead to Nibbana.

Greatly appreciated is the fact to be kept in mind that death is the one sure happening in life, and can happen any time. And the comforting thought that if one follows at least the five precepts diligently, one need not fear death.

Nanda Pethiyagoda