LIHU‘E — Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born on April 8, about 2,500 years ago in Nepal. The Kaua‘i Buddhist Council celebrated this event with its annual Hanamatsuri service at the Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission, Sunday, congregating all
LIHU‘E — Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born on April 8, about 2,500 years ago in Nepal.
The Kaua‘i Buddhist Council celebrated this event with its annual Hanamatsuri service at the Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission, Sunday, congregating all of its members to the temple in Kapa‘ia for the occasion.
Meditation is at the heart of the Buddhist way of life, and through positive actions develop love, compassion, wisdom and experience lasting peace and happiness, states a proclamation issued by Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. to the Kaua‘i Buddhist Council.
The teachings of Buddhism reveal a spiritual path to lasting happiness and enlightenment and the way of Buddha is simply to stay present, its message standing today and unaffected by time and the expansion of knowledge, the proclamation states.
Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince to King Suddhodana and Queen Maya of the kingdom of Kapila on the eighth day of the fourth month, according to information in the program flier.
En route home for the birth, as was the custom at that time, Maya stopped to rest at the Lumbini Garden in Nepal, and at that point, Gautama was born.
At age 29, Gautama left the worldly comforts of his kingdom and palace to seek answers to the sick, the aged and the dead, as well as the cause of all suffering.
Following years of study and practice, Gautama became enlightened on Dec. 8 under a Bodhi tree, earning the title of Buddha.
These teachings spread from India throughout Asia until today, when there are Buddhists throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia and Africa.
There are more than 80,000 teachings preached by Shakyamuni Buddha, each one meant to enhance the meaning of life.
April 8 celebrates not only the birth of the Buddha, but also expresses the gratitude for what the Buddha has taught us, states the program flier.
The Kaua‘i Buddhist Council is made up of nine Buddhist temples located at different parts of the island.
This organization also hosts the annual o-bon season with its accompanying schedule of bon dances at different locations, this year’s first bon dance taking place at the Waimea Higashi Hongwanji, June 3 and 4.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
