Bodhi Day is an extremely vital day for Lord Buddha’s followers. They observe this day to commemorate the day Siddhartha Gautama attained spiritual awakening. There’s no doubt about the fact that this day holds a supreme religious and spiritual significance in the Hindu religion.
According to the reports, people celebrate this day all over the world to commemorate the day when Gautama Buddha reached nirvana or enlightenment. The lord on this day sat under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, in Northern India, hence the name.
Fans may like to know that people observe this day in the pure land of Buddhist Schools in China, Japan, and Korea, as well as in many Mahayan traditions, including Zen. As such, the Buddhists observe this day by practicing kindness towards all living beings. So, they chant sutras from the popular Buddhist texts.
Additionally, they study the Dharma or Lord Buddha’s teachings. Moreover, they also engage in meditation. Besides these, followers of the Mahayana sects and Lord Buddha also engage in customary tea, cake, and readings.
If you want to know more about this date, then you are at the right place. Here we will share some awesome facts about this day. So, now’s the time to follow this article, and find out all you need to know about this auspicious day.
How To Commemorate The Bodhi Day
So, as we already told you, Bodhi Day is an auspicious day for any follower of Lord Gautama Buddha. According to the reports, we observe this event every year to celebrate Lord Buddha, who under the tree called the Bodhi tree, attained enlightenment. Reaching Nirvana wasn’t easy as the Lord had to traverse a lot.
He lived the life of both an ascetic and rich, fulfilling both paths. Following that, he realized that one must follow the middle ground or path to reach full salvation. Only by following the Middle Path, one can attain true Nirvana. He practiced Ashtangik Marga, or eight paths. Following that, he attaied the truth about life, and sat under the tree in Bodh Gaya, to attain Nirvana.
This is the state one reaches after realizing the truth about life. Gautama Buddha realized that to eradicate suffering, one has to sever their ties to the very things that cause suffering in the first place. So, that’s the reason why he followed the eight paths, and then reached Nirvana.
Nirvana or enlightenment is a state where one can severe their suffering, thus freeing them from the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. So, now the question is, how do we celebrate this day? On Bodhi Day, we read Buddhist Texts, chant sutras from that, and then study the Dharma.
Moreover, we also partake in the customary tea and cake ceremonies. Most importantly, we follow the teachings of Lord Buddha on this day. So, those teachings include abstaining from taking life or partaking in any kind of violence, refraining from taking what’s not yours, and more.
When Is The Bodhi Day?
So, now that we know about the Bodhi Day’s significance, it’s time to take a look at when we observe this day. According to the reports, there are two sects of people who follow this day. So, the secular sect celebrates this event on the 8th of December every year on a fixed basis. However, for others, this date changes based on the lunar calendar. In other words, it’s like Easter for others, since it changes its date every year.
For example, the Bodhi Day 2022 was held on the 30th of December. However, the year 2023 was really interesting because it fell exactly on the 8th of December, 2023. In other words, we observed the event along with the secular sect since it was on the same date. Notably, the next year, it’s on Thursday 18 January, 2024.
Why Bodhi Day Is Important
There are various reasons why this day is extremely important to not only the Buddhists but others as well. For example, this day helps us remember various vital lessons of life. According to the reports, the lessons from Bodhi Day are simply priceless, to say the least. So, it teaches us to find the meaning of life, and how to live the best aspects of ourselves.
For example, it guides us on the values we should cherish, and renounce the bad habits that we hold on to. Besides that, this day also deepens us spiritually. So, as we know, everyone requires spiritual awakening to some extent in their lives.
So, this day offers a great platform for us to connect to the almighty. Most importantly, this is the day when we all unite. In other words, it helps us unite for the common good of mankind. Undoubtedly, this is one of the highlights of this day.
Conclusion
In the end, we can say how special this day truly is. Millions follow this day with their friends and family, and remember the great teachings of Lord Buddha. It also gives us a moment to think about our lives and do better.
Since it’s an event, we can also go through Lord Buddha’s teachings and learn a different aspect of our lives. Ultimately, it’s pivotal to enjoy the day to the fullest and remember the lord for his teachings.
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 holds supreme importance for not only Lord Gautama Buddha’s followers but also for mankind. Celebrating this day allows us to connect to our spiritual selves.){kind=link}