Saga Dawa Düchen, the ‘Festival of Vaishakha’, is one of the four major Buddhist holidays. It occurs on the full moon (the 15th day) of the fourth Mongolian lunar month, which is called Saga Dawa in Tibetan. It celebrates Buddha Shakyamuni’s enlightenment and parinirvana. At the age of thirty-five Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya. This day also marks the anniversary of his parinirvana at Kushinagara.
Remembering the Buddha on Saga Dawa Duchen—his birth, enlightenment, and parinirvāṇa—means an opportunity to practice joyfully. We can take a pause from our busy concerns and reflect on the timeless message of the Buddha’s teaching.
Here, let us inspire you to offer praise, recite the Buddha’s dhāraṇī, practice visualization of the Supreme Sage, and rejoice in the knowledge that all the merit gathered on this auspicious occasion is multiplied.
May all that merit be dedicated to the awakening of our mothers, the limitless sentient beings!
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