Happy Bodhi Day
Where ever Buddhism goes, it picks up the customs and bits
of the culture from the country it arrives in. So perhaps we should find
incorporate
Buddhism with some of our winter holiday customs . Of course the compassion
of the season fits right in with Buddhism. And of course Buddhism is
not alone in incorporating celebrations. After all the Christian celebration
of
Christmas was incorporated with the Roman celebration of Saturnalia and also
Soltice customs.
December 8 is Bodhi Day, by some Buddhist traditions. This day honors
the enlightment of Siddhartha Gautama. Bodhi Day would be a good way to integrate
the winter holidays with Buddhism. Here are some suggestions for integrating
our customs with Buddhism:
- String multicolored lights around your home. These lights represent enlightenment.That
they are multicolored represents the many pathways all of which are valid.
Turn on the lights each evening starting on December 8 and for 30days after.
- Light a candle everynight to symbolize enlightenment.
- The Bo tree (ficus religiousa) is the tree under which the Buddha sat.
Buy a potted live ficus tree for your home (a ficus benjamina will do if you
can't find a ficus religiousa) decorate this tree with lights, strings of
beads representing how all things are united, and three shiny bulbs representing
the three jewels of Buddhism.
- Sujata offered The Buddha milk and rice which helped him to regain his
strength so that he could become enlightened. A breakfast of milk and rice
would be a way to start Bodhi day with mindfulness.
- Make Bo tree cookies or Bo leaf cookies - the leaves are heart shaped so
you can use a heart shaped cookie cutter (Thanks to the online discussion
groups for this suggestion)
Bodhi
day scene created by Hongwanji Mission in Hawaii
Links:
Lessons and Activities:
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