With the Full Moon in May on Friday the 24th, we celebrate Wesak, a world-wide event marking the Buddha’s birth, attainment of enlightenment and his departure from this incarnation.
Siddharta Gautama was born to a royal family in northern India around 563 BC. The year may not be exact depending on the source of information, but all agree the actual day of birth occurred on the day of the Full Moon in May.
In his twenty-ninth year, Siddharta Gautama left his family’s palace in search of truth and peace. Six years later, on the night of the Full Moon in May, he sat on the grass under the Bodhi Tree and obtained enlightenment. He was thereafter known as Gautama Buddha (The Awakened One).
Having successfully completed his noble mission, the Buddha retired to a small hamlet in Kushinagar, India and lying on a couch between two sala trees, passed out of physical limitations and ascended in a peaceful state of mind. This occurred on the Full Moon day in May, 483 BC, his 80th year.
Wesak is celebrated with much color and gaiety throughout the world. Buddhists visit their local temple for services and teachings and give offerings to the monks of food, candles and flowers. The “Bathing the Buddha” ceremony is also often included. Water is poured over the shoulders of the Buddha as a reminder to purify our own minds from greed, hatred and ignorance. Gifts are taken to an altar to be offered to the Buddha statues before given to those who are in need. This shows respect and gratitude to the Buddha for his life and teachings.
It is customary to show our appreciation and join in the celebration of Wesak by dedicating ourselves with this meditation:
- Take three long breaths and concentrate especially on the exhalation, releasing as much air from your lungs as possible.
- Relax your mind and body and begin reflecting on the idea that we are a perfect expression of the Divine Essence.
- Look around you, see everything around you and begin reflecting on the idea that all this creation surrounding you is really a dance of atoms and sub-atomic particles held in shape and form by an even more subtle energy that is called prana, chi or spirit.
- As you concentrate on this dance of molecules, become aware that your whole body is also one with this dance, made up of the same atomic stuff and so is everyone and everything else in the Universe.
- Take a moment to feel the “one-ness” of all.
- Slowly bring your attention to your heart center. Begin visualizing a bright sun radiating from the center of your heart.
- See this radiating light in your heart center radiating outside of you, shining and warming all the creation surrounding you and then being radiated back to your own heart center.
- Gently bring your attention to the top of your head, bringing the radiating light from your heart up and out from the top of your head like a beautiful fountain showering this light and love all over planet Earth.
- Repeat to yourself:
- I am one with all;
- I am a co-creator with all that is;
- I am that I am.
- When you feel ready, close your meditation with a deep breath, keeping your awareness of the radiating sun in your heart. The radiating sun is the wisdom and teachings of the Buddha.
Any time you become aware that you are breathing, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are a being of light, a co-creator through every thought, word and emotion that you have. You will become more and more aware of this with every breath that you take and you will slowly realize that you have the freedom of choice to choose any thought, word and emotion at any given time. You choose to be a co-creator by accepting and recognizing this power through your freedom of choice. This is what the Wesak Celebration is all about – a special dedication of yourself to your true identity.
About the Center for the New Age
Spirit guided us to this special place which centuries earlier was used by ancient people as a ceremonial site. We were guided by Spirit to open the Center at this place which is now the heart of spirituality in Sedona.
Description
We’ve searched the globe and pulled the most accurate Psychics and Healers and amazing Massage-Therapists from all over the world who have come here to be part of this special community, whose energy makes them even more psychic. Their services are offered at the Center daily and by phone at (928) 282-2085.
Center for the New Age
341 State Route 179
across from Tlaquepaque
Sedona, AZ 86336-6111
888-881-6651 Free
928-282-2085 Main
928-282-7220 Concierge
www.sedonanewagestore.com
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