Festivals and Retreats

Celebrating Wesak

• Theravada Buddhists in Singapore
  Freeing animals from cages
  Symbolise liberation and remember Buddhas release from samsara

• Theravada Buddhists in Indonesia
  Lighting and releasing paper lanterns
  Symbolise how Buddhas Dhamma can be used to overcome darkness of ignorance and light the path to enlightenment

Wesak Importance

• Affords Buddhists the opportunity to remember Buddha
  Remembering his birth, enlightenment and passing into parinirvana (death)

• Reminds/teaches key aspects of the Dhamma
  Dhammapada: “All conditioned phenomena are impermanent”
  By engaging in celebration practices (releasing caged animals) Buddhists remember anicca

Celebrating Parinirvana Day

• Some Mahayana Buddhists treat it as a solemn occasion
  Reflect upon their own immorality and remember those who have died
  Go to a retreat or meditate

• Other Mahayana Buddhists perform pilgrimage (yatra)
  Visit the site of Buddhas death, Kushinagar
  Visit the temple complex and perform puja to thank and remember the Buddha and his death

Parinirvana Day Importance

• Affords Buddhists the opportunity to remember Buddha
  Remembering his passing into parinirvana (death)

• Reminds/teaches key aspects of the Dhamma
  Dhammapada: “All conditioned phenomena are impermanent”
  By engaging in celebration practices (meditating on an offering of a flower) Buddhists remember anicca

Retreat Examples

• Tara Buddhist Meditation Centre (UK)

• Samatha Centre (UK)

• Bodh Gaya (India, Place of Buddhas enlightenment)

• Kushinagar (India, Death of Buddha)

Retreats Importance

• Affords Buddhists the opportunity to remember Buddhas life
  Kushinagar —> reflect on Buddhas death and how if the Buddha escaped samsara, they may too

• Allow Buddhists to engage in Buddhist practice
  Meditation center —> engage in Samatha, Metta, Vipassana meditation
  Dhammapada: “Those on the meditative path will be released from Maras fetter”
  Freedom from craving is a goal for Buddhists