Wesak Day to fall on Worker's day in 2007

Wesak Day

May 1 2007 is a double celebration of sorts : Labour day and Wesak day. In Malaysia, this means that we will have 2 public holidays in a row. (In Malaysia, when two public holidays fell on the same day, the following day would be a public holiday, but this does not apply to states and companies which do not recognised Wesak Day as a public holiday - another story!).

Wesak is a celebration of 3 meaningful events for Buddhists - the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha many years ago (2500 years ago).

In KL, most Buddhists will congregrate at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields and bring simple offerings of flowers, candles and joss-sticks to lay at the feet of Lord Buddha. These symbolic offerings are to remind followers that just as the beautiful flowers would wither away after a short while and the candles and joss-sticks would soon burn out, so too is life subject to decay and destruction.

Some devout Buddhists will wear a simple white dress and spend the whole day in temples with renewed determination to observe the observance of the Eight Precepts.

The Eight Precepts are:

Not to kill

Not to steal

Not to engage in improper sexual activity

Not to indulge in wrong speech

Not to take intoxicating drinks and drugs

To abstain from taking food at unreasonable times

To refrain from sensual pleasures such as dancing, singing and self-adornment

To refrain from using high and luxurious seats in order to practice humility

In Melaka, Buddhists will congregrate at the Seck Kia Eenh temple in Jalan Gajah Berang. I have been going to the Seck Kia Eenh temple since young and though I am working and staying in KL, I still go back to Melaka for Wesak day celebrations.

Some interesting blogs about buddhists paractices :

Joy and Compassion