Beneath the lanterns

Over 2,500 years ago on a full moon day during the month of Vesak under a Bo tree, Siddhartha Gautama became the Enlightened One."The birth and enlightenment of Lord Buddha are the two most remarkable events," says Prof. Dhammavihari Thero, who believes that celebrating the birth of a great leader, be it Lord Buddha or Jesus Christ means the celebration of the message they gave to society and reflecting on its importance to mankind.

Come Vesak or any other Poya day we go to the temple, offer flowers and sit beside our parents as they recite gatha or sutra, sometimes repeating it along with them, other times straining to catch some words. Some among us would spend a full day at the temple, observing sil.

As kids it was with much enthusiasm that we helped our parents attach the bamboo sticks together with twine and make frames for the Vesak lanterns. Choosing matching colours for the lantern was fun as was hanging the bright and colourful bucket lanterns on the trees. It was nice to hear passers-by making all sorts of comments about the beautiful decorations – our handiwork.

And then there was the excitement, known as Vesak balanawa or going to 'see Vesak.' The biggest attractions were, without a doubt, the gigantic pandals. To us children there was nothing more awe inspiring, as we watched the Jathaka stories unfold amidst the patterns made by the hundreds of lights bulbs.

The dansal or free food or drinks stalls scattered throughout the city with seemingly endless queues of people thronging to get in are a common sight during Vesak. The young organisers would even hail passing vehicles and insist the passengers quench their thirst. But it was all done in good spirit.

Today, however, things seem to have changed somewhat. Seventy to eighty years ago, Ven. Dhammavihari Thero said that this was done in a spirit of sharing what we had with others, at least for one day. He went on to say, that in those days it was not as commercialised as it is today.

Most of the dansal today are organised by businessmen who try to indulge in some image building campaigns during this time. But would they look twice at a beggar on the street on any other given day? Didn't Lord Buddha teach his followers to do good always, and not just on one day but every year?

As we grow older we continue to respect and uphold those traditions but now as young adults trying to make sense of this world we live in, we cannot help but wonder what the significance of it all is. Isn't Buddhism all about selflessness (the concept of Anaatma)? And doesn't it preach that giving what you have to others is one of the noblest things you can do? But do we ever really 'give' in its truest sense?

This beautiful country of ours is being unfortunately torn apart along lines of race, language and religion further fuelling the two and a half decade long war. People of other faiths and different ethnic backgrounds are eyed with suspicion and are intentionally or unconsciously discriminated against. Is this what Lord Buddha taught? Didn't he talk about equality and harmony?

Family relationships are vital because what you learn at home is what you bring to society, Ven. Dhammavihari reminds us. "Respect your parents. Be mindful of the fact that they know a great deal more about life and the world than you do. Judge what your parents say in the best light. Love your parents and take this love to other people, this would in turn lead to moral goodness in society. The child is a member of a wonderful unit called family. As children – grow up in the home with perfect family values," Ven. Dhammavihari Thero said.

Buddhism shows us the way to lead a good, happy and peaceful life. It also teaches us about life after death. "Without doing good deeds, without love in your heart, without charity and responsibility in this life you cannot hope for a better life in your next birth," Ven. Dhammavihari Thero says.