| Bodhi Day | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Bodhi Day Rōhatsu (臘八) Shaka-Jōdō-e (釈迦成道会) Jōdō-e (成道会) Alaw ng Bodhi |
| Observed by | Mahayana Buddhists |
| Type | Buddhist |
| Significance | The enlightenment ofGautama Buddha |
| Date | December 8 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Laba Festival(in China) Rohatsu(in Japan) Other related festivals: Vesak(in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos) |
Bodhi Day is theBuddhist holiday that commemorates the day thatGautama Buddha (Shakyamuni) is said to have attainedenlightenment,[1] also known asbodhi inSanskrit andPali. According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under aFicus religiosa, now known as theBodhi Tree, and simply meditate until he found the root of suffering, and how to liberate oneself from it.[2]
Traditions vary on what happened. Some 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 godMara (literally, "Killer" inSanskrit),demon of illusion.[2][3] Other traditions simply state that he entered deeper and deeper states of meditation, confronting the nature of the self.[citation needed]
In thePali Canon, there are several discourses said to be by the Buddha himself, related to the story. In the Longer Discourse to Saccaka (MN 36),[4] the Buddha describes his Enlightenment in three stages:
In his words:
My heart, thus knowing, thus seeing, was released from the fermentation of sensuality, released from the fermentation of becoming, released from the fermentation of ignorance. With release, there was the knowledge, "Released." I discerned that "Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for this world."[4]
All traditions agree that in the third watch of the night, Siddhartha finally found the answers he sought and became Enlightened, and experiencedNirvana.[5] Having done so, Siddhartha now became aBuddha or "Awakened One".[2][5]
The enlightenment of the Buddha is yearly celebrated in many Buddhist countries.
Bodhi Day is observed in many mainstreamMahayana traditions including the traditionalZen andPure Land schools of China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.[6]
Services and traditions vary amongst Buddhist sects, but all such services commemorate the Buddha's achievement of Nirvana, and what this means forBuddhism today.[7][8] Individuals may choose to commemorate the event through additional meditation,[8] study of the Dharma,[8] chanting of Buddhist texts (sutras), or performing kind acts towards other beings. Some Buddhists celebrate with a traditional meal of tea, cake and readings.[7]
In Japanese Zen, it is known asRōhatsu orRōhachi (臘八).[9] In Japanese, the word literally means 8th day of the 12th month. It is typical for Zen monks and layperson followers to stay up the entire night beforeRōhatsu practicing meditation, and the holiday is often preceded by an intensivesesshin. It is observed on the Gregorian date of December 8 as a result of the Westernization of Japan during theMeiji Restoration (1862–1869).[10] InTendai and other Japanese sects, it is called eitherShaka-Jōdō-e (釈迦成道会) or simplyJōdō-e (成道会).[citation needed]
The Chinese version of this festival is calledLaba (臘八) which means the Eighth Day of the La (or the Twelfth) Month of theChinese Lunar Calendar. It is most often observed in the first half of January, but it may happen on a date between theWinter Solstice (December 22) and theChinese New Year (between January 22 and February 21).[citation needed]
Bodhi Day is not as popularly celebrated asVesak Day, on which the birth, enlightenment (Nirvāna), and passing away (Parinirvāna) ofGautama Buddha are celebrated.[11]
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