|
The year 2550 B.E. falls on 12th May 2006 CE (Wesak Full
Moon Poya Day). On Full Moon Poya day in the year 623 BC
a Prince was born to Queen Maha Maya in the park called
Lumbini at Kapilawassththu which was on the borders of
Nepal. He was a noble Prince of Sakyan Clan. King
Suddodana was his farther. Queen Maha Maya - the mother
died after seven days of the birth of prince. The Royal
baby was named Siddartha as he was the future Buddha.
Prince Siddartha after having engaged in his studies and
at the age of sixteen was married to beautiful cousin
Princess Yasodara. After the marriage he led a happy and
luxurious life in the Royal palace. The Prince was so
compassionate towards humanity, and he was reluctant to
enjoy the luxuries in the Royal palace. He felt the
sorrows and the suffering the humans experienced outside
the Royal Gates. The sensual pleasures valued highly by
the ordinary people were not accepted by the Prince.
Prince Siddartha was a person destined to be a Buddha
and finally made his historic journey at the age of
twenty-nine, leaving his beautiful Princess and the
infant son on a Full Moon Poya Day of Esala in search of
truth. The Prince Siddartha was not worried about the
departure as Yasodara and the infant son had everything
in abundance and utmost protection in the Royal palace.
Prince Siddartha became and Ascetic and followed the
doctrines of several leading teachers of that time.
However, he was not satisfied with their final
achievements. The Ascetic Siddartha decided to achieve
the realization of truth in an independent way. He
followed a life of strict asceticism. He followed
practices of harsh and severe methods for six long years
to find the truth. Those practices tormented him and
left no strength to achieve his goal. His efforts were
futile and he changed his mind through his personal
experiences to give up self-mortification to adopt the
independent path called the middle path.
During the course of middle path, one Wesak night at
Gaya under a Pippala tree (now called Bodhi tree) the
ascetic Siddartha attained Enlightenment. In the first
watch of the night he developed through meditation the
super normal knowledge which helped him to recall his
past lives. This faculty is called "Pubbenivasanusmathi
Gnana". In the middle watch he developed the super
normal vision. This vision deals with death and rebirth
of beings and it is called "Chutuppata Gnana". In the
last watch of that night he developed the super normal
knowledge with regard to the elimination of passions.
This knowledge is called "Asavakkya Gnana". This
knowledge comprehends things in their true nature. As
such he attained the perfect enlightenment called "Samma
Sambodhi".
The ascetic Siddartha attained Buddha hood in his thirty
fifth year and he devoted the remaining years of his
life to help humanity to get rid of suffering. He
preached Dharma to all intelligent beings to understand
the real situation prevailing in the world. Hence sever
all attachments which promote Thanha and halt the
Sansaric journey.
This extra ordinary human being attained Parinibbana at
the age of eighty. It is Two Thousand and Five Hundred
and Fifty years since his passing away, as a gesture of
respect and devotion all Buddhists in the world
celebrate the occasion on 12th May 2006. Wesak Poya Day
is not recognized for Parinibbana alone but also for
Prince Siddartha's birth and enlightenment, which took
place on Wesak Full Moon Poya Day.
The Government of Sri Lanka celebrates this occasion
with great patronage. In addition to Sri Lankan
Government involvement all Buddhists Organizations
celebrate this 2550 Buddha Jayanthi in May with great
veneration.
|
