Wesak Full Moon World Healing Meditation Ceremony:

For the last decade or more, SUM and its members have read and performed the mystical legend of Wesak. It is a story which takes the listener on a journey of the soul. We follow the path of those mystic masters that have come before. We journey to the Sacred Valley together, to witness a once in a life altering event.  Many travelers have joined us as we meet up to share this special moment in time. Will you be there?

Wesak, also known as Vesak, is one of the most important festivals in Buddhism, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Gautama Buddha. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of May (or sometimes in April, depending on the lunar calendar), and it holds significant spiritual and cultural importance for Buddhists around the world.

The story of Wesak begins with the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, which is now located in modern-day Nepal, around 563 BCE. According to Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha was born into a royal family, and it was prophesied that he would become either a great king or a great spiritual leader. His father, King Suddhodana, wanted him to succeed him as a king and shielded Siddhartha from the harsh realities of life.

Despite his privileged upbringing, Siddhartha became increasingly aware of the suffering and impermanence in the world. One day, he ventured outside the palace and encountered the "Four Sights" – an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a wandering ascetic. These encounters deeply affected Siddhartha, leading him to renounce his luxurious life and embark on a spiritual quest to seek the truth of existence and alleviate human suffering.

For six years, Siddhartha practiced asceticism and meditation under various teachers, but he still hadn't found the answers he sought. Finally, he decided to meditate under a Bodhi tree, vowing not to rise until he attained enlightenment. It was during this intense period of meditation that Siddhartha experienced profound insights into the nature of existence, transcending suffering, and achieving enlightenment. He became the Buddha, which means "the awakened one."

Following his enlightenment, the Buddha spent the remaining years of his life teaching the Dharma (the path to liberation) to his disciples, traveling throughout India to spread his message of compassion, wisdom, and inner peace. He delivered countless sermons, known as sutras, and established a monastic community (the Sangha) to preserve and propagate his teachings.

Wesak commemorates not only the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha but also his death, known as Parinirvana. According to tradition, the Buddha passed away peacefully at the age of 80 in the town of Kushinagar, India, having achieved complete liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

During Wesak celebrations, Buddhists engage in various religious activities, including attending temples and monasteries, performing acts of charity, meditating, chanting sutras, and making offerings of flowers, incense, and candles. They also participate in processions, symbolic rituals, and communal prayers, reflecting on the life and teachings of the Buddha and reaffirming their commitment to following the Noble Eightfold Path.

Overall, Wesak serves as a time for Buddhists to reflect on the profound teachings of the Buddha, cultivate compassion and mindfulness, and deepen their spiritual practice as they strive towards enlightenment and liberation from suffering.