Blissful message to the world

There was exotic flora. The trees were amazingly glittering with flowers and fruits. The birds were singing joyously in the foot hills of Himalayas as it was the spring time. On the Full Moon Day in the month of Vesak the greatest and noblest being in the universe was born.

Rupa BANDUWARDENA

The Buddha is unique. The sacred teacher, the all knowing sage, Saththa Devamanussanan, who emerged for the happiness and emancipation of all from evil and sorrow during his search for a way out of suffering, discovered the real truth, the absolute truth the eternal truth the so-called supreme gift was given to the world the universe and the entire mankind. All he did was to reveal the truth of universal Dhamma. The entire teaching of the awakened one was a meaningful message to the mankind. The Blessed One pronounced that happiness was supreme among all wealth.

The Buddha is no more but his teachings are alive

His sincere wish was the welfare and happiness of all living beings without discrimination.

This was nothing but love and compassion (metta) which was boundless, extended to all without limitation. His concern was one’s ultimate deliverance from life by guiding them to escape from sufferings of samsara the cycle of births and deaths. All he did was to reveal the doctrine of universal truth the Dhamma.

Blissful birth

Prince Siddhartha’s birth brought untold happiness to King Suddhodana and Queen Maya who were without children for 20 long years. Lumbini, meaning ‘the lovely’ in Sanskrit, is located in Nepal with its rich natural setting full of shady Sal trees. Here Maya Devi while holding a branch, and the future Thathagatha was born. Ancient chronicles say that a Bodhi tree sprang up at Bodh Gaya on this day and that deities Brahma and Vishnu were there to receive the newborn.

The most amazing event was setting foot on seven lotuses which were in full bloom to welcome him saying aggo hamasmin lokassa..., meaning chief am I in this world, because he was to be the Thratilokanatha later. He was named Siddhartha which means ‘wish fulfilled’. He grew up to be a royal prince well versed in requisite arts. At 16, he entered matrimony. But it was no bar. At 29 he embarked on the journey of bliss free from jara, vyadi and marana in which he triumphed well.

Renunciation and Enlightenment

King Suddhodana did his utmost to keep him from the truth and miseries of life. The tradition and legend say that the emergence of the four portends (satara peranimithi) in his life took a different turn. He decided to renounce the pleasures of the world. He gave up his claim to the throne with all the power, honour and glory accompanying it and abandoned worldly life. In the stillness of the night, taking a glimpse of his new born son he bade farewell to his sleeping wife and left the palace on his horse Kanthaka with Channa. Once again, it is said that the deities intervened so that the sound would not disturb the sleeping palace.

For six years he wandered all over Bihar, went to early sages in his quest for true knowledge, to find a true way to detachment. With no success he then started his known meditation, continued every form of self mortification until he was reduced to a skeleton. He took nourishment again to give him the clarity of mind he desired. There under the shade of an Asatu tree he put an end to his search. Supreme enlightenment dawned upon him. The four noble truths were revealed. He was now a Buddha. Mara and his retinue were given a thorough defeat. He attained his goal, the knowledge of the truth - Bodhi. He had now realized the truth of the cause of suffering and the path to happiness. His glorious journey towards enlightenment was now concluded successfully also on a Vesak full moon day.

Great quest fulfilled

He proceeded to Saranath near Varanasi and delivered his first sermon to the five ascetics, his former companions. This event is known as Dharmachakra pravartin or setting in motion the wheel of the Dhamma. They became the first disciples and they formed the nucleus of the Sangha. Ever since numerous disciples rallied round him.

He said: “Go forth Bhikkhus into the world taking the message to them. Explain to them what I have explained Buddha himself showed the world how one could be of service to humanity.”

Damek Stupa is said to stand at the exact place where he preached to the five ascetics. The Buddha wandered from place to place in present day Bihar and taught Dhamma to all without any distinction, especially his way of life and his Akalika Dhamma. It is the essence of truth. There has never been a nobler or a better gift to the world. It revealed the path to love and compassion and ultimately to Nibbana - the state of non-existence.