The Significance of Visakha Puja Day

 The Significance of Visakha Puja Day

     Visakha Puja Day honors the birth, Enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha.  The United Nations General Assembly, fulfilling the hopes of the International Buddhist Conference inSri Lankain November of 1998, urged the international recognition of this day, especially at the United Nations Headquarters and offices.  The Council of Thai Bhikkhus in theU.S.A., following the hopes of the International Buddhish Conference and the urgings of the United Nations, also commemorates this special holy day.

Visakha Puja Day commemorates the three main events in the Buddha’s life.  First, the birth of the Buddha is for the benefit of all people in the world because of the message the Blessed One brings regarding the alleviation of suffering.  Secondly, the Enlightenment of the Buddha is a light to expel the darkness of the world, the darkness of the defilements of greed, anger, and delusion, insofar as the Buddha shows how we, too, can approach this blissful, luminous state.  Thirdly, the death of the Buddha reveals the ultimate truths of existence: the impermanence of all things, the unsatisfactoriness of everything in the world (the world’s “suffering” character), and the lack of self that characterizes all phenomena.

As we celebrate Visakha Puja, each of us should bear in mind the words spoken by the Buddha at the beginning of his life’s work and those spoken at the end.  Shortly after his Enlightenment, when Brahmā Sahampati had convinced the Buddha to teach the Dhamma for the benefit of mankind, the Buddha said, “Open for [all human beings] are the doors to the Deathless, / Let those with ears now show their faith”.  We should respond to the words of the Buddha by developing our faith into true wisdom so we, too, can approach the deathless state of Enlightenment.  Shortly before his death, the Buddha uttered these last words: “All conditioned things are of a nature to decay—strive on untiringly”.  We should engage untiringly in our work, this Vesakha Day and everyday, of developing the truth of the Buddha’s teaching in our own lives and of bringing it into the lives of others.

Mar. 19, 2012

Ven. Dr. Thanat Inthisan

Secretary –General

The Council of Thai Bhikkhus in the USA.