We’re entering a season wherein the collective spirit of the people is uplifted. We call it the holiday season. The nights have been long. Very soon the shortest day of the year will pass by and the sensation of new life, and hope, and renewed spirit comes into our world through love, peace, socialization and gift giving.
In this writing we are going to recognize a wonderful day within the holiday season enjoyed by Buddhists – the uplifting into enlightenment. Bodhi Day is recognized as the day that Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, becoming a Buddha.
The following information is from a website called Bodhi Day [LINK].
“The word bodhi is a Sanskrit and Pali word that means “awakening” or “enlightenment”. Buddhists believe that Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment by meditating under a Bodhi tree, or sacred fig tree, after giving up years of ascetic practices. The Bodhi Tree is located in Bodh Gaya, India, and is also known as the Mahabodhi Tree.
“Bodhi Day is a time for Buddhists to renew their dedication to Buddhism and to reaffirm their commitment to enlightenment, compassion, and kindness.”
Bodhi Day History
The history of Bodhi Day is told on the National Today website as follows:
“Bodhi Day is observed to mark the moment that took place 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha or ‘awakened one’. The story goes that, rejecting the luxurious lifestyle of a prince, Siddharta left the comforts of the palace at the age of 29 and went on a journey of deep introspection to seek meaning in life.
“He meditated in Bodh Gaya, a town in northeastern India, under a Peepal tree (a species of Banyan fig), now famously known as the Bodhi Tree, and resolved to continue meditating until he achieved ‘bodhi’ (‘enlightenment’). He attained bodhi at the age of 35, after 49 days of continuous meditation. He was now able to see how everyone and everything was connected, and therefore reached a state of enlightenment that would lead him to create the Four Noble Truths: Dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), Samudaya (arising), Nirodha (cessation), and Magga (path) in which the Eightfold Path is set out.
How Do People Celebrate?
Throughout the month there will be Bodhi tree plantings, and the planting ceremony usually will be accompanied by a tea ceremony. Also during the month people will burn incense and put up multi-colored lights.
On the day of December 8th, Buddhists will meditate, study the universal truth or law (dharma) and chant sutras, which are Buddhist texts. It is very important to perform kind acts toward other beings.
December 8th is the date of Bodhi Day in the Gregorian calendar. For the celebrants that follow the lunar calendar, January 7th, 2025 is Bodhi Day. That is the case In China, South Korea and Vietnam. Bodhi Day is on December 8th in Japan but it is not an official holiday. Only Buddhists, who make up about 34% of the country’s population, observe the day.
Celebrating the Holidays
To all who practice Buddhism, we wish you a wonderful Bodhi Day, with the deepest respect. May we all become enlightened to the reality that at Heart, we are One. To all of us, enjoying the season of giving, a new year, and the return of the light – happy holidays.
** ** **
AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.
