Buddha’s Enlightenment Celebration

In our tradition, we commemorate the Buddha’s Enlightenment Day on December 8th. Zen lore has it that after sitting under the bodhi tree for seven days, the Buddha looked up, saw the morning star and roared his lion’s roar, “I together with the great earth and all living beings, attain the Way.”

In our heartfelt aspiration to do just like the Buddha did, we sit for seven days of rohatsu (twelfth month) sesshin, sitting through the night, especially on the last night of sesshin.

Due to my work schedule, this year we’ll sit this upcoming weekend here at Transforming Through Play Temple.

I’m thinking that some of you might want to celebrate the Buddha’s Big E and so I offer the ceremony here for your home practice.

1. Light your candle, offer incense, and maybe some coffee or tea to the old guy who’s been sitting for seven days.

2. 3 bows

3. Recite “Shakymuni Buddha” from The Record of Transmission of Light. The link will bring you to Cook’s version in Google Books, see page 29. If you want the version we use, shoot me an email and I’ll send you a copy.

4. Dedication (chant this at the end):

On this, the recognition day of old Shakyamuni Buddha’s

seeing directly the morning star,

We offer flowers, incense, candle light, and tea

as an expression of gratitude for the old teacher.

We have recited “Shakymuni Buddha” from The Record of Transmission of Light. We now dedicate all benefits from this to: The great teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha

The first master in China, Bodhidharma

The first master in Japan, Eihei Dogen

To Mahaprajapiti and all great practitioners

whose names have been left unsung

To Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, triple treasures in the ten directions and all arahats and bodhisattvas.

May the power of their liberating wisdom direct

the wandering-in-circles world

toward the peaceful Buddha land

And may the power of their inspiration

and their peaceful hearts

lead wandering beings to enter the authentic path.

We aspire to turn the Dharma wheel unceasingly

and to free the world from every tragedy

of war, epidemic, natural disaster and starvation.

Ỡ All buddhas throughout space and time,

Ỡ All honored ones, bodhisattvas, mahasattvas

Ỡ Wisdom beyond wisdom, mahaprajnaparamita.

5. 3 bows