Wesak FestivalWesak Festival

Why are we here?Why are we here?

The time of the full moon is a time of The time of the full moon is a time of celebration.celebration.

We celebrate the energy of the SUN.We celebrate the energy of the SUN.

The reason is that when the Moon is full it is The reason is that when the Moon is full it is the furthest from the Sun, thus the Sun’s the furthest from the Sun, thus the Sun’s energy is the strongest.energy is the strongest.

Thus we celebrate the energy of Thus we celebrate the energy of the Sun through meditation and the Sun through meditation and reflection.reflection.

All is Energy!All is Energy!

For those of you who are not familiar with For those of you who are not familiar with esoteric philosophy – or do not know it well – I esoteric philosophy – or do not know it well – I will remind you that all is energy. Thus you will remind you that all is energy. Thus you should simply relax and try to feel the energy should simply relax and try to feel the energy rather then concern yourself with rather then concern yourself with understanding everything.understanding everything.

During the lecture you can ask questions or During the lecture you can ask questions or make comments. After the meditation you make comments. After the meditation you may also ask questions.may also ask questions.

Wesak PresentationWesak Presentation

BuddhaBuddha

Wesak FestivalWesak Festival

Water CeremonyWater Ceremony

- Short Break -- Short Break -

Coffee/Tea - discussionCoffee/Tea - discussion

BuddhaBuddha

Buddha (“the awakened” - someone who is completely Buddha (“the awakened” - someone who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions) was the title free from all faults and mental obstructions) was the title given to Siddhartha Gautama, the son of a Nepalese rajah. given to Siddhartha Gautama, the son of a Nepalese rajah. According to tradition, Guatama left a life of luxury at age According to tradition, Guatama left a life of luxury at age 30 and devoted himself to years of contemplation and 30 and devoted himself to years of contemplation and self-denial, finally reaching enlightenment while sitting self-denial, finally reaching enlightenment while sitting beneath a tree. Henceforth known as Buddha, he spent his beneath a tree. Henceforth known as Buddha, he spent his life teaching disciples about his beliefs (embodied in the life teaching disciples about his beliefs (embodied in the Four Noble Truths) and the goal of achieving the Four Noble Truths) and the goal of achieving the enlightened state of Nirvana.enlightened state of Nirvana.

Lord Buddha is considered the ninth avatar (incarnation) Lord Buddha is considered the ninth avatar (incarnation) of of Vishnu (Preserver in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Vishnu (Preserver in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer)Creator-Preserver-Destroyer)

BuddhaBuddha

As with Christ we know where Buddha was born. With As with Christ we know where Buddha was born. With Buddha it was Lumbini, Nepal - which is in the southern Buddha it was Lumbini, Nepal - which is in the southern part of Nepal, near India.part of Nepal, near India.As with Christ we do not know the year Buddha was born—As with Christ we do not know the year Buddha was born—563 B.C. is one date, 623 B.C. another, and 1029 B.C. a 563 B.C. is one date, 623 B.C. another, and 1029 B.C. a third.third.As with Christ we do not know Buddha’s birthday.As with Christ we do not know Buddha’s birthday.

But not knowing Buddha’s birthday it seemed that there But not knowing Buddha’s birthday it seemed that there should be a day to celebrate his birthday—as we in the should be a day to celebrate his birthday—as we in the West have Christmas for Christ.West have Christmas for Christ.

The date decided upon for the exact date of Vesak, The date decided upon for the exact date of Vesak, informally “Buddha’s Birthday,” is in the fourth month in informally “Buddha’s Birthday,” is in the fourth month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar (typically May), coinciding the Chinese Lunar Calendar (typically May), coinciding with the first full moon of that month. The date varies from with the first full moon of that month. The date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar. This is a year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar. This is a national holiday in Nepal.national holiday in Nepal.This day commemorates three important events of This day commemorates three important events of Buddha’s lifeBuddha’s life——His birthHis birth——His enlightenment, i.e. attainment His enlightenment, i.e. attainment of supreme wisdomof supreme wisdom——His attainment of Nirvana i.e. the His attainment of Nirvana i.e. the complete extinction of his self at the age of 80.complete extinction of his self at the age of 80.

BuddhaBuddha

Gautama Buddha was not a god and the philosophy Gautama Buddha was not a god and the philosophy of Buddhism does not entail any theistic world-view. of Buddhism does not entail any theistic world-view. Thus using a narrow definition of religion Buddhism is Thus using a narrow definition of religion Buddhism is not a religion. The teachings of the Buddha are solely not a religion. The teachings of the Buddha are solely to liberate human beings from the misery and to liberate human beings from the misery and sufferings of life.sufferings of life.

According to Buddhism, sorrow and desire are the According to Buddhism, sorrow and desire are the main cause of all the evil and suffering of this world. main cause of all the evil and suffering of this world. Lord Buddha advocated Four Noble Truths along with Lord Buddha advocated Four Noble Truths along with the Eightfold Path consisting of precepts to gain the Eightfold Path consisting of precepts to gain mastery over suffering. It is only after following this mastery over suffering. It is only after following this path one can reach the ultimate aim of Nirvana. path one can reach the ultimate aim of Nirvana. Nirvana is the transcendental state of complete Nirvana is the transcendental state of complete liberation.liberation.

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

Life means suffering.Life means suffering.

To live means to suffer, because the human nature To live means to suffer, because the human nature is not perfect and neither is the world we live in. is not perfect and neither is the world we live in. During our lifetime, we inevitably have to endure During our lifetime, we inevitably have to endure physical suffering such as pain, sickness, injury, physical suffering such as pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, and eventually death; and we tiredness, old age, and eventually death; and we have to endure psychological suffering like sadness, have to endure psychological suffering like sadness, fear, frustration, disappointment, and depression. fear, frustration, disappointment, and depression. Although there are different degrees of suffering Although there are different degrees of suffering and there are also positive experiences in life that and there are also positive experiences in life that we perceive as the opposite of suffering, such as we perceive as the opposite of suffering, such as ease, comfort and happiness, life in its totality is ease, comfort and happiness, life in its totality is imperfect and incomplete, because our world is imperfect and incomplete, because our world is subject to impermanence. This means we are never subject to impermanence. This means we are never able to keep permanently what we strive for, and able to keep permanently what we strive for, and just as happy moments pass by, we ourselves and just as happy moments pass by, we ourselves and our loved ones will pass away one day, too.our loved ones will pass away one day, too.

Life means suffering.Life means suffering.The origin of suffering is The origin of suffering is attachment.attachment.

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

The origin of suffering is attachment to transient The origin of suffering is attachment to transient things and the ignorance thereof. Transient things things and the ignorance thereof. Transient things do not only include the physical objects that do not only include the physical objects that surround us, but also ideas, and—in a greater sensesurround us, but also ideas, and—in a greater sense—all objects of our perception. Ignorance is the lack —all objects of our perception. Ignorance is the lack of understanding of how our mind is attached to of understanding of how our mind is attached to impermanent things. The reasons for suffering are impermanent things. The reasons for suffering are desire, passion, ardor, pursuit of wealth and desire, passion, ardor, pursuit of wealth and prestige, striving for fame and popularity, or in prestige, striving for fame and popularity, or in short: short: cravingcraving and and clingingclinging. Because the objects of . Because the objects of our attachment are transient, their loss is our attachment are transient, their loss is inevitable, thus suffering will necessarily follow. inevitable, thus suffering will necessarily follow. Objects of attachment also include the idea of a Objects of attachment also include the idea of a “self” which is a delusion, because there is no “self” which is a delusion, because there is no abiding self. What we call “self” is just an imagined abiding self. What we call “self” is just an imagined entity, and we are merely a part of the ceaseless entity, and we are merely a part of the ceaseless becoming of the universe.becoming of the universe.

The origin of suffering is attachment.The origin of suffering is attachment.The cessation of suffering is The cessation of suffering is attainable.attainable.

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

The cessation of suffering can be attained through The cessation of suffering can be attained through nirodhanirodha. Nirodha means the unmaking of sensual . Nirodha means the unmaking of sensual craving and conceptual attachment. The third noble craving and conceptual attachment. The third noble truth expresses the idea that suffering can be truth expresses the idea that suffering can be ended by attaining dispassion. Nirodha extinguishes ended by attaining dispassion. Nirodha extinguishes all forms of clinging and attachment. This means all forms of clinging and attachment. This means that suffering can be overcome through human that suffering can be overcome through human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of many levels that ultimately results in the state of many levels that ultimately results in the state of NirvanaNirvana. Nirvana means freedom from all worries, . Nirvana means freedom from all worries, troubles, complexes, fabrications and ideas. Nirvana troubles, complexes, fabrications and ideas. Nirvana is not comprehensible for those who have not is not comprehensible for those who have not attained it.attained it.

The cessation of suffering is The cessation of suffering is attainable.attainable.

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

There is a path to the There is a path to the cessation of suffering.cessation of suffering.There is a path to the end of suffering—a gradual There is a path to the end of suffering—a gradual path of self-improvement, which is described more path of self-improvement, which is described more detailed in the Eightfold Path. It is the middle way detailed in the Eightfold Path. It is the middle way between the two extremes of excessive self-between the two extremes of excessive self-indulgence (hedonism) and excessive self-indulgence (hedonism) and excessive self-mortification (asceticism); and it leads to the end of mortification (asceticism); and it leads to the end of the cycle of rebirth. The latter quality discerns it the cycle of rebirth. The latter quality discerns it from other paths which are merely “wandering on from other paths which are merely “wandering on the wheel of becoming”, because these do not have the wheel of becoming”, because these do not have a final object. The path to the end of suffering can a final object. The path to the end of suffering can extend over many lifetimes, throughout which every extend over many lifetimes, throughout which every individual rebirth is subject to karmic conditioning. individual rebirth is subject to karmic conditioning. Craving, ignorance, delusions, and its effects will Craving, ignorance, delusions, and its effects will disappear gradually, as progress is made on the disappear gradually, as progress is made on the path.path.

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

Life means suffering.Life means suffering.

The origin of suffering is The origin of suffering is attachment.attachment.

The cessation of suffering is The cessation of suffering is attainable.attainable.There is a path to There is a path to

thethecessation of cessation of suffering.suffering.

The Noble Eightfold The Noble Eightfold PathPath

1.1.Right ViewRight View

2.2.Right IntentionRight Intention

3.3.Right SpeechRight Speech

4.4.Right ActionRight Action

5.5.Right LivelihoodRight Livelihood

6.6.Right EffortRight Effort

7.7.Right MindfulnessRight Mindfulness

8.8.Right ConcentrationRight Concentration

}} WisdomWisdom

}}EthicalEthicalConduCondu

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}}MentalMental

DevelopmDevelopmentent

The PreceptsThe Precepts1.1.… … harming living beingsharming living beings

2.2.… … taking things not freely giventaking things not freely given

3.3.… … sexual misconductsexual misconduct

4.4.… … false speechfalse speech

5.5.… … intoxicating drinks and drugs causing intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessnessheedlessness

6.6.… … taking untimely mealstaking untimely meals

7.7.… … dancing, singing, music and watching dancing, singing, music and watching grotesque mimegrotesque mime

8.8.… … use of garlands, perfumes and personal use of garlands, perfumes and personal adornmentadornment

9.9.… … use of high seats.use of high seats.

10.10. … … accepting gold or silver.accepting gold or silver.

I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from:I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from:

Wesak FestivalWesak Festival

The Wesak Festival stands for certain The Wesak Festival stands for certain most definite and clearly marked most definite and clearly marked ideas:ideas:1.1. This Festival links the past with the This Festival links the past with the

present.present.

2.2. This Festival marks the high-water This Festival marks the high-water mark of spiritual blessing in the mark of spiritual blessing in the world.world.

3.3. At the time of the Festival … and At the time of the Festival … and through the united effort of the through the united effort of the Christ and the Buddha working in the Christ and the Buddha working in the closest cooperation … there is closest cooperation … there is opened a channel of communication opened a channel of communication between humanity and God.between humanity and God.

HinduismHinduism

BuddhismBuddhism

JainismJainism

BönBön

The Legend of WesakThe Legend of Wesak

By what name we call By what name we call these Beings does not these Beings does not

greatly matter.greatly matter.

I see and when I see and when the eye is the eye is

opened, all is opened, all is illumined.illumined.

Water CeremonyWater Ceremony

ChristiansChristians

Purity and Purity and fertilityfertility

TaoisTaoistt

GreeksGreeksNative AmericansNative Americans

EgyptiansEgyptians

TransformationTransformation SubconsciousSubconscious FertilizationFertilization PurificationPurification ReflectionReflection IntuitionIntuition RenewalRenewal BlessingBlessing MotionMotion

LifeLife

AstrologicallyAstrologically

TarotTarot

CelticCeltic Animal RealmAnimal Realm

Water is essential to our very existenceWater is essential to our very existence

BuddhistBuddhist

Water CeremonyWater Ceremony

In the centre of all Love I stand. In the centre of all Love I stand. From that centre I, the soul, will From that centre I, the soul, will outward move. From that centre outward move. From that centre I, the one who serves will work.I, the one who serves will work.May the love of the divine Self be May the love of the divine Self be shed abroadIn my heart, through shed abroadIn my heart, through my group, and throughout the my group, and throughout the world.world.

The Next Full MoonThe Next Full MoonGemini Full MoonGemini Full Moon

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Gemini Full Moon Gemini Full Moon MeditationMeditation

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