dharmatalks

Today is the 15th day of the fourth month (Saga Dawa – which literally means million moons) in the Tibetan calendar. Known as the “Festival of Vaisaka” (or as it is called in the Japanese tradition, Hanamatsuri)– one of the four principal holidays in the Buddhist tradition — Saga Dawa Düchen celebrates the enlightenment and passing into parivirvana of Buddha Sakyamuni. Therefore, it is of particular import in Bodhgaya, where Sakyamuni awakened at the age of 35, and in Kusinagara, where he left this mortal coil to enter his Nirvikalpa samādhi,, when he was 80.

The Sanskrit word “parinirvana” is used to describe the final passing from the samasaric cycle of death and rebirth, ending the experience of suffering. Mahasamadhi is another expression for the state in which the realised person reaches the highest attainment, as ego-consciousness, the concept of a soul, dualistic perceptions and all other concepts are released into full and complete Realisation/Enlightenment/Oneness. This state of “no turning back” awareness is called Nirvikalpa samādhi.

According to the tradition and mythos, as Buddha Sakyamuni was about to pass from the samsaric experience, he is said to have told his disciples, “It is in the nature of all things that take form to dissolve again. Strive with your whole being to attain perfection.”

The landscape around Mt. Kailash, where legend tells us Lord Siva Mahadev resides and takes repose, explodes in colourful prayer flags during the festival of Saga Dawa Düchen. Around the world, practitioners take time to observe the day in ways that are meaningful to them, and which reinforce the importance in their lives of the Triple Gem – The Buddha, his Teachings (the Dharma) and the fellowship of practitioners (the Sangha). Our monks bring offerings of incense, flowers and other contributions from the community and lay them at the feet of their Teacher. These offerings of flowers, candles, joss sticks and money are representative of the impermanence of all phenomena, since the flowers will die, the candles and incense burn up, and the money will be spent.

It is a day on which birds, insects and animals are released by the thousands in what is known as a ‘symbolic act to liberation’; of giving freedom to those who are in captivity, imprisoned, or tortured against their will.

Symbolically, an image of the Buddha is placed in a small bowl, filled with water, and each member of the ladrang and temple come up, and pour water over the image, representing the cleansing of our karma, and our commitment to the Noble Eightfold Path and Five Precepts of Mindfulness (monks also renew their vow to live according to the Fourteen Monastic Precepts of the Contemplative Order of Compassion.

Alleviating the Suffering of Others

On Saga Dawa Düchen, it is auspicious to do whatever you can to alleviate the suffering of someone who is ill, hungry or poor. Many devout practitioners will make offerings to someone they know is facing a difficult time, and will use this opportunity to bring joy into someone’s life.

A Time to Remember the Oppressed

This is also a time of remembrance of those who suffered, because they refused to deny the Dharma path. In 1963, the wicked South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, a Catholic and younger brother of the vitriolic Archbishop Ngo Dinh Thuc, banned the flying of the Buddhist flag. When Buddhists refused to comply and responded with flag-waving and demonstrations, Diem’s forces opened fire on the crowd, killing nine, sparking a six month-long Buddhist crisis, a period of civil disobedience against religious discrimination. Sadly, the conflict resulted in much violence, including the arrest and assassination of Diem, following a coup by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam on November 1, 1963 – a month that would also end in the assassination of arguably one of the most beloved of American presidents, John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

On Saga Dawa Düchen, whatever activities we undertake are said to be multiplied by the millions. Therefore we encourage everyone to be kind and do what you can to alleviate suffering, strengthen your path, and enhance your awareness and spiritual practice.

OM AMI DEVA HRIH

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

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“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion;
Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom;
Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces;
O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa —
Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows,
Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”

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Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Khenpo Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2010, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.