 |
| Lighting Butter Lamps During Saka Dawa, Nangyal monastery.
Credit: Jamie
Ashley |
| During this month,
most of the important events in the life of Gautam Buddha
happened. For example: His birthday, accepting the vows
of a monk, the day of his Parinirvana (Death), and, most
importantly, the day when he was enlightened all fall in
this month. So it is believed that any merits that are collected
during this month will have multiple effects. Therefore
avoiding negative deeds and engaging in positive deeds,
especially during this month is advocated. |
The most important festival for Tibetan Buddhism, the 'Saka
Dawa Festival' commemorates Shakyamuni's Buddhahood and the
death of his mortal body. Saga Dawa also stands for the Disu
month in the Tibetan language; Disu is one of the 28 constellations
of astrology in Tibetan calendar. Because the Disu appears in
the fourth month of Tibetan calendar, this month is called as
the Disu month, i.e. Saga Dawa. In Indian tradition, this month
is called Vaisakhi and the full-moon day called Buddha Purnima.
Sometimes, due to a discrepancy in the solar and lunar calendar,
the celebration of the Buddha Purnima and Saka Dawa can differ
as much as one month.
Why is Saga Dawa special?
During this month, most of the important events in the life
of Gautam Buddha happened. For example: His birthday, accepting
the vows of a monk, the day of his Parinirvana (Death), and,
most importantly, the day when he was enlightened all fall in
this month. So it is believed that any merits that are collected
during this month will have multiple effects. Therefore avoiding
negative deeds and engaging in positive deeds, especially during
this month is advocated. The following of the eight Mahayana
precepts for 24 hours on holy days is recommended during this
period.
The precepts are :
- Not to kill
- Not to lie
- Not to steal
- Not to engage in any sexual activity
- Not to take intoxicants
- Not to eat food at the wrong times (explained below)
- Not to sit on large, high or expensive beds (your average,
normal bed is fine)
- Not to sing, dance or play music
- Not to wear perfume, garlands or ornaments (watches and
malas are fine but not other decorative jewelry even if its
Buddhist jewelry)
The rules about food (if you take precepts): You may have a
light breakfast and your lunch (as large as you want) must be
finished by noon. If this is not possible, eat it as soon as
you can. When you have stopped eating for 15 minutes, you can
not eat again until you wake in the morning. No dinner or snacks.
No "dark foods" such as eggs, meat, onions, garlic,
or radishes.
There are many virtuous things you can do during this very special
day (or any day). Some suggestions are below:
- Put offerings on an altar.
- Meditate.
- Any Buddhist practice.
- Mentally offer beautiful things you pass on the way to and
from work (i.e. everything inside a grocery store, or jewelry
store).
During this Saka Dawa month, at every monastery sutras are
recited and 'Cham' dances are performed. It is said that good
deeds in the month of this festival multiply 300 fold (some
put this number at 10,000) in return and this leads many people
to donate large sums to the religious orders, monasteries and
to the beggars that gather at this time of year. Gods in the
heavens are believed to descend to the mortal world on this
day. Incense is burnt in large scale and picnicking is enjoyed
in the public parks. The 15th day of the fourth month on the
Tibetan calendar is said to be the birthday of Sakyamuni. This
is also the day when he died and attained Nirvana.
In some places, such as in Sri Lanka, temples, towns and villages
are beautifully decorated with colorful garlands and lights
with images of the Buddha. On the full moon night of the month,
images of the Buddha and representations such as relics are
carried in long processions on ornamented elephants and chariots.
In Tibet, during this period, hundreds of thousands of people
turn their prayer wheels on the street in Lhasa, and then paddle
boats in the Dragon King Pool, and sing and dance in the afternoon.
During the month of Saka-Dawa, marking Buddha's birth, enlightenment
and Parinirvana, many people join celebration and the monks
in making tens of thousands of water bowl and light offerings
to the Buddhas in the ten directions.
