Today is Buddha Day

I decided to share details on how Buddhists celebrate Buddha’s (Shakyamuni) Birthday. Plus some quotes by Buddha.

It is considered by most to be the most important day in Buddhism and most Buddhists spend the day in contemplation of the Buddha’s life and enlightenment. Celebrations outside the temples often involve ceremonial bird releases and some local traditions or culture into the festivities.

Celebrations at the temples often involve guest speakers as well as chanting and praying and offerings to the Buddha statue (usually vegetarian in line with Buddhist beliefs) in respect for his life and teachings.

There are various regional variations in the dates upon which Buddha Day is observed (varying in the Gregorian calendar between April and May) – for simplicity we have focused on the most commonly celebrated date in all east Asian countries (excluding Japan), which occurs on the 8th day of the 4th month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Quotes by Buddha:

•“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”

•“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

•“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”

•“To understand everything is to forgive everything”

•“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”