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A belief in the oneness of man
By Upali Salgado
"A unique being, an extraordinary man arises in this world, for the benefit of the many, for the happiness of the many out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, the good and happiness of Gods and men. Who is this unique being? It is the Thathagatha, the Exalted fully Enlightened One."

Anguttara Nikaya
Vesak is a full moon day of great significance when the thoughts of about three million people all over the world, are focused on the noble figure of Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha and His teachings (dharma), as recorded by His disciples in suttas.

It was on a full moon day in May 623 BC that, a noble Sakyan Prince named Siddhartha Gautama, who was blessed at birth with 32 special marks such as the lotus and conchshells on His palms and a further 108 marks on His two feet, was born at the Lumbini Gardens (now located in Nepal) amidst a grove of Sal trees, all in bloom.

He preached His first sermon at the Deer Park in Saranath in the open air, and about 45 years later, at the age of eighty years passed away (Maha Parinibbana) again in the open air amidst tall trees at Kasi, now known as Kasi-Nagar (Kushinara) in India. It was also on a Vesak day in Sri Lanka, centuries later, that King Dutugemunu began constructing the Ruwanveli Maha Seya at Anuradhapura.

Who is a Buddha?
He is known as the highest perfection of man. Before attaining Enlightenment to be a Buddha, one has to fulfil ten Perfections (Paramita). These perfections are dhane (Charity) or the love of giving for others’ welfare, virtuous discipline (Seela), renunciation of lay life, panna or wisdom, patience, trustfulness, determination and courage, compassion and equanimity. A Buddha is one who has released Himself from all attachment and pleasures of the senses and is free of ignorance of the Four Noble Truths. He is pure and one who by His own effort attained Enlightenment.

He left us no written word, and lived in a land steeped in spirituality and vedic religious tradition. His charismatic personality, collected around Him a band of devoted disciples who were in search of the Truth. As a Teacher of morality He left His footprint on Indian soil.

Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha was, according to scholars of the Anglo-Buddhist school (i.e., Mrs. Rhys Davids, Edward Conze and Marshall) an extraordinary man. He was a social reformer who lived at a time when Vedic traditions and ceremonialism were strong. He did not approve of animal sacrifices which would be at the price of others suffering. He decried the caste system. Several of His disciples were considered to be of low castes. Suneetha was a scavenger, Radha was a beggar, and Upali of the barber caste. They all entered the Maha Sangha Order. The Buddha's humanism crossed many a racial and national barrier. He believed in the oneness of man although we are born with Karmic inheritances (of Samsara) which are highlighted indicating degrees of intellect, degrees of human dynamism, varying riches, poverty and even human handicaps at birth.

What is Buddhism?
All major religions excepting Buddhism bind one to believe in a supreme Creator God, immortal soul revelations, eternal heavens and hells. The Theravada Buddha Dharma is free from such belief, dogmas and theories. Hence it cannot strictly be called a religion, but today in Lanka due to Hindu influence with the Chola conquests of the North in the 10th -11th Century certain Hindu practices such as poojas (offerings, vows) have crept into the practice or observance of Buddhism. Buddhist dharma is essentially a teaching of cause and effect (Hetupala dharma). The virtues of Dhana, Seela and Bhavana (meditation) promotes the individual to follow 'the Correct Path' on his samsaric journey towards the goal of Nibbana. This dharma (philosophy) is based on the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Law of Dependent Origination, Karma and rebirth.

In homage to the Buddha this Vesak, millions will flock to temples wearing white, to observe Atasil in a religious atmosphere. They will all partake in a vegetarian diet, a frugal meal, listen to discourses on the dharma and meditate on the law of Anichaya (impermanence of life) etc.

Prof. Lakshmi Narasu, an Indian Buddhist scholar who lived 100 years ago has said, "Of Buddhism alone it can be said that it has discarded all animism, all dogmatism, all sensuality, all ascetism, all ritual, ceremonialism and consists of universal compassion or maitree, charity, self-denial and love for all life."

“All mankind is His shrine
Seek Him hence forward in the good and wise
In happy thoughts and blissful emotions,
In kind words and sublime serenity,
And in the rapture of the living deed,
There seek Him if you would not seek in vain
There is the struggle for justice and right,
In the sacrifice of self for all
In the joy and calm repose of the heart,
Yes, and for ever in the human mind
Made better, and more beauteuns by this work."

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