Buddha Purnima Quotes are the most divine and significant quotes associated with the Lord Buddha. There are many festivals to celebrate in Buddhism, and undoubtedly, Buddha Purnima is one of the most important days for the Buddhism community and for the entire humanity.
Buddha Purnima popularly known as Buddha Jayanti and is celebrated with great zeal and fervor in, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, along with some other numerous South Asian countries including Thailand, Tibet, China, Mongolia, Cambodia, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Because of the spiritual importance of this day, it is celebrated with great faith and purity.
Buddha Purnima Quotes: What is Buddha Purnima?
Buddha Purnima quotes are definitely the most sacred quotes in Buddhism and this day is celebrated with great enthusiasm. But, what exactly is Buddha Purnima, so let us shed some light on the festival.
It is called the Thrice Blessed Festival, because of the three major events on this day. The literal meaning of Buddha Purnima is “full moon day”. Purnima means, full moon day in Sanskrit, and is the biggest day for Buddhists because, on this day, it is believed three important events of the Buddha’s life took place, i.e, his birth, his attaining enlightenment, and his death, Mahaparinirvana.
We all know who was Gautama Buddha, but here is a simple description of him, to give you an idea. Gautama Buddha was born as Prince Siddharta Gautama born in 563–483 BCE in Lumbini (what is now Nepal) and raised in the Shakya capital of Kapilavastu, later he founded the religion of Buddhism.
He is recognized as the enlightened one and taught for around 45 years building a large following. He focused on the teachings of Sukha only and tried to eliminate the sufferings and the harms in the world. The teachings are solely based on liberating sentient beings from suffering.
The basic teachings and the core of Buddha’s teachings are The Three Universal Truths; The Four Noble Truths; and The Noble Eightfold Path. We will diverge from our topic if we go deep down in the Buddha’s teachings, but Buddha has left a legacy behind that is a blessing to this world, and Buddha Purnima actually celebrates his existence, his teachings, his blessings.
Indeed, the blessed soul of Buddha led many suffered people to the right path. He prayed for the entire world, so why not one day is only associated with him, and that day is Buddha Purnima. Buddha Purnima holds its significance and people around the world accept it and celebrate it.
Buddha’s birth is celebrated as part of Vesak in South and SouthEast Asia. Vesak is another festival that also celebrates the Buddha’s enlightenment and death. While in East Asia, the awakening and death of the Buddha are observed as separate holidays.
Buddha Purnima Quotes: When it is?
Buddha Purnima is often celebrated every year, around April or May, and sometime in June in a leap year. We cannot decide the exact date of Buddha’s birthday according to Georgian calendars because the exact date of Buddha’s Birthday is based on the Asian lunisolar calendars. But, primarily Buddha’s birthday is celebrated in the Baisakh month of the Buddhist calendar and the Bikram Sambat Hindu calendar. And, that is the main reason behind the term Vesak.
While in modern-day India and Nepal, where the Buddha used to live and spend his most part of the life, the auspicious day of Buddha’s birth is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month of the Buddhist calendar.
On the other hand, the Theravada countries that follows the Buddhist calendar, it falls on the full moon known as Uposatha day, typically in the 5th or 6th lunar month.China and Korea celebrates the holy day on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar.
The dates usually vary in the “Georgian calendar” but are always in April, or May. And, in the Tibetan calendar, it falls on the 7th day of the fourth month. In South Asia and Southeast Asian countries that also includes Mongolia, Buddha’s birthday is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month of the Buddhist calendar and the Hindu calendar. According to that, it usually falls in April or May of the Western Gregorian calendar.
Like, in 2017, Buddha Purnima was on May 10. In 2018, it fell on April 29 in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, on April 30 in Nepal and India, and on May 29 in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In 2019 and 2020, Buddha Purnima was celebrated on May 19, and May 7 respectively.
Many East Asian countries celebrate Buddha’s Birth on the 8th day of the 4th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, and the day is an official holiday in Hong Kong, Macau, and South Korea. The solar Gregorian calendar varies year to year changing the date every year. In the year 2017, it was celebrated on May 3, and in 2018, 2019, and 2020 it was celebrated on May 22, May 20, and April 30.
The Taiwanese government set Buddha’s birthday as the second Sunday of May in the year 1999, and it is celebrated along with Mother’s Day all over the country. Japan, adopted the Gregorian calendar in place of the Chinese lunar calendar in 1873 and the festival is now celebrated on the Gregorian and Buddhist calendar date April 8. Only a few places like Okinawa celebrate it according to the orthodox Chinese calendar date i.e. of the eighth day of the fourth lunar month.
Buddha Purnima Quotes: Why we Celebrate Buddha Purnima?
Buddha Purnima is one of the main festivals during the Vaishak month marking the birth anniversary of the Gautama Buddha or Siddharta Gautama. While in the Indian region, it’s known and called as Buddha Purnima because the auspicious day falls on the full moon day, calling it Purnima. Also, many Hindus believe Buddha to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, as indicated in scriptures.
Buddha Purnima is an auspicious occasion that many Buddhists and Hindus celebrate every year commemorating the birthday of the Lord Gautama Buddha. Moreover, according to reports, it is also the same day Gautama Buddha enlightened. He was called “the awakened one” and the “enlightened one”, and his teachings are worth celebrating.
On a full-moon day, he sat under the Bodhi tree in deep meditation and decided to not leave the spot until he finds an end to suffering.
And, during the night he was visited by Mara, the evil one, who came and tried to tempt him away from his virtuous path. Firstly, he sent his three beautiful daughters to lure Gautama into pleasure, and then he sent bolts of lightning, wind, and heavy rain. Lastly, the evil one Mara, sent his demonic armies with weapons and flaming rocks. And, Gautama with the highest of his virtues defeated his armies one by one.
As the struggle ended, Gautama realized the cause of suffering and the way to remove them which he was finding for a very long time. He was born as a prince, but he decided to leave all the luxuries behind, sat in meditation, and endure hardships, but that was not taking him anywhere.
After all the struggle and meditation under the Bodhi tree ended, he found his way and gained the most supreme wisdom, and understood things as they truly are.
Gautama Buddha and his disciples went from place to place in India spreading the Dharma, his teachings, and they helped everyone along the way without any discrimination. His compassion has no bounds and the Buddha Purnima every year is dedicated to his dedication and compassion for people.
Wherever he went, he only spread peace and love and won the hearts of people because he dealt with true feelings. He never advised anyone to follow him blindly, but he always focused that people themselves should decide whether they have to follow him or not. He encouraged everyone to develop their own virtue and have compassion for each other.
Gautama Buddha never became angry or impatient or spoke harshly to anyone, not even to those who opposed him, and his manner of teaching people was so unique that they easily understand his teachings. Every person used to think that Buddha is speaking for him, and that makes him relatable in society and gained him millions of followers. He always told people to help each other in their own capabilities. He led a life that is an example for many. He used to encourage monks to help each other, look after each other.
Gautama Budhha lived a life with the greatest teachings and now his followers are continuing that legacy. His teachings were for everyone, so nobody couldn’t deny what he said, and this enlightened journey of his is celebrated every year. His birthday and his start of journey fall on nearly the same date and that date is what we call Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima.
Buddha Purnima Quotes: Significance
The holy occasion of Buddha Purnima that is celebrated worldwide commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and ultimate liberation of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. In India, he is also considered the eighth incarnation of the Lord Vishnu. Siddharta Guatama grew up to realize his destiny as soon as he entered the sphere of worldly people.
And, there the sight of a diseased man, an old man, and a corpse one after another filled him with curiosity and when a charioteer told him that everyone including himself will meet the same fate, he was greatly disturbed.
Furthermore, he saw a calm ascetic, and then he resolved to overcome all human sufferings by living the life of asceticism. And, the significance of Buddha Purnima mainly is his enlightenment and his existence in this difficult world.
Buddha left his family and worldly possessions so that he can pursue the way to end all human miseries that came in the form of old age, illness, and death. For years, Buddha spent his life in meditation on the true self of being and gained the ultimate knowledge.
And, many years later, he came to understand why human life was full of suffering. He then imparted his hard-acquired knowledge to his followers and whoever was ready to listen to him. The causes, he determined of the sufferings are called “Four Noble Truths”. These truths shed the light on:
- The Nature of Suffering
- The Origin of Suffering
- The Cessation of Suffering
- The Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering
More than 2500 years have passed since the noble leader’s demise, but his teachings, his hard-acquired knowledge are still relevant and people these days are also taking advantage of his great teachings and his derived knowledge. The teachings are as much significant as they were in his own times. These teachings and his enlightenment are important in Buddhism and that makes Buddha Purnima one of the significant holy events.
Is Buddha Purnima a Government Holiday?
Buddha Purnima is a gazetted holiday in many regions of the world. First being India, which marks Buddha Purnima a gazetted holiday, meaning post offices, government offices, and even banking institutions will remain closed. Moreover, the shops remain closed that are owned by Buddhists, or they can have reduced hours.
Other countries that observe holidays are Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, Singapore, etc.
How to celebrate Buddha Purnima?
On Buddha Purnima, usually people and his followers dress in white clothes and give out kheer that is a form of rice pudding.
If we look years back, this tradition is derived from the sources and legends which tells that a woman named Sujata once offered Gautam Buddha kheer on his birthday and it has since become a tradition.And, this tradition is followed greatly by his devoted followers.
Moreover, the dharma chakra or dharma wheel is a symbol often seen during Vesak. The dharma chakra is a wooden wheel with eight spokes and it represents Buddha’s teaching on the path to enlightenment. Basically, it symbolizes the noble eightfold path of Buddhism.
Buddha Purnima is celebrated in India by paying a visit to common Viharas first. Here Buddhists observe a longer than usual and full-length Buddhist sutra mainly white, which is similar to a service dress.
On this day Buddhists refrain from eating non-vegetarian food. Then, the statue of Buddha is then placed in a basin of water and then decorated with flowers. People then visit temples, to symbolize this day as a pure and new beginning.
Apart from kheer, milk, or porridge, there is no specific food, but Buddhists refrain from using pungent spices like onion, garlic, chives, and scallions. But, the food may vary according to different regions and sects. Some devout Buddhists may spend their entire day in temples. Some temples display the statue of Buddha as a baby in a basin filled with water.
Buddha Purnima Quotes 2021
As Buddha Purnima varies every year, here are the dates of Buddha Purnima 2021 around the world.
- India- May 26
- Bangladesh- May 26
- Cambodia- May 26
- Lao- 26 May
- Nepal-26 May
- Singapore-26 May
- Thailand- 26 May
- Myanmar-May 25
Buddha Purnima Quotes
Here are some of the best Buddha Purnima quotes and wishes to make this year’s Buddha Purnima special for you and your family.
“Be grateful towards who met you with yourself. We wish that you, your life and loved ones be showered with health, abundant fortune and prosperity, along with finding the right path to eternal happiness. Happy Buddha Jayanti! ”
These two wishes resemble what Buddha taught all his life. He always wished fortune, and prosperity wishing to eliminate the “Dukha”-sufferings from life.The years 2020 and 2021 already has brought us so many sufferings in our lives and we really need prayers to bring happiness and prosperity for us.
This Buddha Purnima lets face reality and should not live in an illusion. There is really no need to be perfect and consider ourselves the best. We can be nothing and we can be everything at the same time.
Buddha always asked his followers to do not believe in anything simply because they have heard it or is spoken and rumored by many. He also asked the followers to not blindly follow anything simply because it is found and written in your religious book or believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
Buddha always encouraged observation and analysis, and you should agree on only those things which have reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Only then you should accept it and live up to it.
These are some wise words by Buddha, to make you realize the importance of logic and your opinions. May the full moon of this year’s Buddha Jayanti take away the darkness of bigotry, hatred, ignorance, and herald in an era of contentment, peace, and enlightenment for the world. Happy Buddha Purnima!
courtesy: google images
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha%27s_Birthday
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/buddha-purnima-2020-here-s-everything-you-need-to-know-about-gautam-buddha-s-birth-anniversary/story-61YUiuRgkH71eD4OgaW82L.html
- https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/buddha-purnima
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha
- https://online.sfsu.edu/rone/Buddhism/footsteps.htm
- https://isha.sadhguru.org/yoga/history-of-yoga/buddha-pournami/
- https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/significance-of-budh-poornima
- https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/buddha-purnima-2017-significance-importance-and-celebration-1691340
- https://mythgyaan.com/buddha-purnima-wishes-quotes-whatsapp-status-sms-messages/
- https://www.india.com/festivals-events/buddha-purnima-2020-best-messages-quotes-facebook-status-whatsapp-wishes-gif-to-mark-gautama-buddhas-birth-anniversary-4021714/
- https://wisdomquotes.com/buddha-quotes/
