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VESAK MESSAGE - SADAHAM HANDA

Today is a very important and very significant day for those who follow and practise the Buddha’s Path.
Today is a Full Moon day of May. It is called Vesak Poya.
Not only for today but also for many days ahead, the followers of the Buddha’s Ancient Path, with respect and righteously commemorate and celebrate the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.
Today is marking the 2553rd anniversary of parinibbana. 2632 years ago he was born to a royal family in India, at present lies in southern Nepal.
As a royal youth, prince Siddhartha raised in luxury. At the age of sixteen, he married a beautiful princess named Yasodhara and lived a contented life.
However the prince became increasingly pensive and introspective. What troubled him were the great burning issues we ordinarily take for granted, the question concerning the purpose and meaning of our lives.
At the age of 29, stirred and inspired by deep and profound reflection on the hard realities of life, he decided that the quest for illumination had a higher priority than the promise of power or the call of worldly duty. Thus, while still in the prime of life, he cut off his hair and beard, put on the saffron robe, and entered upon the homeless life of renunciation, seeking a way of release from the round of repeated birth, old age and death.
He met the most eminent spiritual teachers of his day and mastered their doctrines and systems of meditations, but soon enough realized that these teachings did not lead to the goal he was seeking.



He next adopted the path of extreme asceticism of self – mortification which he pursued almost to the door of death. After he thought of another path to enlightenment. The path is called Middle Path, because it avoids the extremes of sensual indulgence and self-mortification.
By practising and treading the middle path along with deeper stages of meditation, the Bodhisatva, a seeker of enlightenment became a Perfectly Enlightened One, the Samma Sambuddha.
His profound teaching is very applicable, practical compatible and relevant to us today.
The Dhamma is the supreme and an incomparable medicine and therapy for mental afflictions, such as stress, distress, hatred, grudges, jealousy, craving and so on which many people are suffering today.
The Buddha articulated and formulated his teaching in a way that directly addresses the critical problem at the heart of human existence – the problem of suffering. He further promises that those who follow his teachings to its end will realize here and now the highest happiness and peace.
After an active ministry of forty – five years, at the age of eighty, the Buddha realized his end was at hand. Lying on his deathbed, he refused to appoint a personal successor, but told the monks that after his death, the Dhamma itself should be their guide. He invited his disciples to question him about the doctrine and the path, and urge them to strive with diligence for the goal. Then, perfectly poised, he calmly passed away into the Nibbana element with no remainder of conditioned existence.
Even though the Great master’s death took place twenty five centuries ago still millions of people, as devouted followers wholeheartedly commemorate and celebrate the great three events in the globe today.
“The sun shines by day, the moon shines by night. The warrior shine in armour, the holy man shines in meditation. But the Buddha shines resplendent all day and all night.”

May you all have a very meaningful and significant Vesak!

BY: VEN.HOROWPOTANE SATHINDRIYA THERA

SAMADHI BUDDHIST VIHARA

CAMPBELLFIELD – VICTORIA - AUSTRALIA