What is Vesak Day?
Vesak Day is a festival celebrated by Buddhists, remembering the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha.
What happens during Vesak Day?
Buddhists visit temples to participate in ceremonies like:
- Bathing of Buddha
- Hoisting of the Buddhist flag
- Chanting of religious texts (sutras and mantras)
- Lighting candles and offering flowers at the feet of religious leaders
How is Buddhism different from Christianity in teaching?
| Buddhist teaching | Christian teaching | |
| Role of Good Works | Good works serve to achieve physical, verbal and mental self purity through the earning of ‘merit’. | Salvation is by faith alone and good works are evidence of that salvation.“by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16) |
| Views on Suffering | Human suffering results from cravings for things, aversions against things and ignorance towards things. The ultimate spiritual goal of Buddhism, ‘Nirvana’, is defined by one’s eternal escape from suffering. | Human suffering started with sin. As descendants of Adam, we inherit his sin and sorrow, for “…as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so, death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:21) |
| Way out of suffering | The way out of suffering is focused on changing man’s actions, thoughts, and desires | The only escape from suffering is through Christ’s death on the cross when he gave his life as “a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). |
| Hope in Eternity | Aspiration towards ‘Nirvana’, freedom from suffering. Perception of afterlife is that of reincarnation, and further attempts to escape suffering can be made with future lifetimes. | A definite future where “God shall wipe away all tears… and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelations 21:1,4) |
Written by: Julia Koh
References
Figure 1. Devotees bathe the Buddha after circumambulating the Hougang stadium on May 10, 2014, each holding a lotus-lamp. — ST FILE PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/vesak-day-5-things-you-should-know-about-this-buddhist-celebration-0
Figure 2. Offerings and good deeds Photo by Nathaniel Hayag
Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/vesak-day
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