麻豆约拍

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Nichiren Buddhist Robert Harrap.

Good morning.

This weekend many Buddhist schools around the world celebrate Wesak, which commemorates the Buddha鈥檚 birth, enlightenment and death. It鈥檚 a movable feast depending on the full moon, which we may see tonight. It鈥檚 a celebration where light is very important, whether candles or lamps, which represent representing the enlightenment which enabled the Buddha to awaken to both the cause and the resolution of suffering.

According to Buddhist tradition these three key events in Shakyamuni Buddha鈥檚 life all took place on a full moon: his birth in Lumbini (in modern day Nepal), his enlightenment in Bodh Gaya and his death at the age of about 80 in Kushinagar. Then his teachings or dharma followed the trading routes like the Silk Road and travelled across the whole of Asia. We know that Buddhist thought also travelled west and influenced the ancient Greeks.

The most important things the Buddha taught in his dharma as a result of his liberating insight were principles like the Middle Way, the interconnectedness of all things, and how to put into practice loving kindness and compassion. The Buddha wanted people to become aware of their limitless potential, and showed a way for people to master their minds, reining in any negative tendencies so that they could reveal their innate wisdom, compassion and courage.

Importantly, he didn鈥檛 just preach, he also took action. In the tradition I follow, its founder, Nichiren, writing in 13th century Japan, said: 鈥淭he purpose of the appearance in this world of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his behaviour as a human being. The wise may be called human, but the thoughtless are no more than animals.鈥� May I be wiser and more compassionate today than I was yesterday, and take even more action tomorrow than today.