Vesak Day
Around 2500 years ago in India, on the day of the full moon in May, Queen Mahamaya from the city of Kapilavastu gave birth to Prince Siddhartha under the Sala Tree at Lumbini Park. Prince Siddhartha later renounced worldly life to become a monk and achieved Supreme Enlightenment. He is since known as Shakyamuni Buddha.
Vesak Day is a day that commemorates not only the birth of Buddha, but also His attainment of Enlightenment and entrance into Parinirvana. It signifies Buddha’s light of wisdom shining upon the whole world and his great compassion in relieving the suffering of all sentient beings. At the same time, it reminds us Buddhists not to forget the mission to propagate the Dharma to benefit all sentient beings.
