BANGKOK, 13 May 2014 – A massive amount of Buddhists have flocked to temples all around the country this morning to celebrate the Visakha Bucha Day, which is also known as “Vesak”. This festival also marks 2600 years of Buddha’s Enlightenment.
Following the tradition, many people woke up very early to give alms to monks before heading to temples for Buddhist preaching. The preaching topic on this day focuses on the history of Visakha Bucha Day, followed by other important Buddhist teachings such as the Five Precepts, which constitute the basic rules of morality for Buddhism.
Of those five precepts, they are:
1. Abstinence from killing.
2. Avoid stealing or taking what is not given.
3. Avoid sexual misconduct.
4. Refrain from using false speech.
5. Abstinence from intoxicating beverages and alcohol.
Vesak is a special day of significance for Buddhists, as it marks the birth, the enlightenment, and the passing of Gautama Buddha, who was once an Indian prince named Siddhartha that lived in the 7th century BC.
The ceremony will continue this evening as people will return to temples by lighting up candles as part of the process to pay homage to Lord Buddha.
