Vesak full moon’s plea to mankind

Virtuous Vesak Full Moon –calm and bright –
Dominates the skyline with its radiant light;
Rhythmic floating, pensive regal flight,
Recalling the Triple Blessed Day’s night.

Displaying Metta Sutta, hymn of universal love,
Influencing humanity to practise boundless love;
Casting a vigilant eye on all mankind,
In each ear you whisper, pacifying inner mind.

Leaderless Leader, Almighty Gautama, Sakyan Sage,
The sublime Doctrine – the Dhamma, the Great Message –
Echoes in each human ear with true Buddhist spirit,
Pleading with us to be free of malicious spirits.

Reviving memories amidst beaming rays,
Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha’s Dhamma you radiate,
Yearning peacefully to rid man of violence,
Vesak Moon, you embody Buddha’s philosophy of tolerance.

With reverence you pay homage to Buddha’s greatness;
For 2,552 years unshaken, resplendent and noble,
Kindling minds with thoughts of tolerance and kindness,
May humans emulate you and eschew wickedness.

To quell flames of hatred and greed in humanity
You appear in holy fragrance and tranquillity,
Adorning high and low equally, the Buddhist way,
Forgetting caste, creed, colour, greeting all in a similar way.

By Kumari Kumarasinghe Tennakoon