Each year on December 8th, Buddhists around the world celebrate Rohatsu, or Bodhi Day, a sacred holiday commemorating the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. This day invites reflection on the transformative journey of awakening and how we can live those teachings in our daily lives.
The Story of the Buddha’s Enlightenment
Over 2,500 years ago, Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Shakya clan, renounced his royal life. After becoming aware of suffering in the forms of sickness, old age and death, he sat beneath the Bodhi tree,vowing not to rise until he understood the nature of suffering and the path to liberation. After 49 days of meditation and intense inner searching, he attained enlightenment upon the rising of the morning star.
Upon his , the Buddha is said to have exclaimed:
“Wonder of wonders! All beings are endowed with the wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata (the Buddha), but because of their delusions and attachments, they do not realize it.”
These words remind us that enlightenment is not something to be earned. It is not external to us—it is already within us, waiting to be uncovered through our wholehearted practice.
How Rohatsu is Traditionally Observed
In Zen Buddhism, Rohatsu is marked by a week-long intensive meditation retreat known as Rohatsu Sesshin, involving silent sitting, chanting, and mindful work and eating periods to honor the Buddha’s awakening. It’s a time to reaffirm and rejuvenate our Buddhist practice,
Other traditions may observe the day with rituals, candlelight vigils, and offerings of light and incense, symbolizing the illumination of wisdom.
Celebrating Rohatsu in Our Daily Lives
For those not in monastic settings, Rohatsu can still be a meaningful opportunity to deepen one’s practice and honor the Buddha’s teachings. Here are some ways to bring Rohatsu into your life today:
Meditate Under a Tree
Recreate the Buddha's experience by sitting quietly under a tree, contemplating the interconnectedness of all life.
Practice Generosity
Engage in acts of kindness, such as donating to a charity, helping a neighbor, or volunteering your time. The Buddha taught that generosity is a foundation of spiritual practice.
Light a Candle or Lantern
Symbolize the illumination of wisdom by lighting candles in a quiet ceremony, reflecting on your aspirations for awakening and how you can embody compassion.
Contemplate the Four Noble Truths
Spend time studying or journaling about these foundational teachings, which explain the nature of suffering and the path to liberation.
The Four Noble Truths:
1. There is suffering in the world.
2. Suffering comes when we cannot accept things as they are in the moment.
3. There is a way out of this suffering.
3. The Way is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path.
Join a Sangha Event
Many Buddhist centers offer Rohatsu services or online programs, allowing you to connect with others on this path.
A Day to Reaffirm Awakening
Rohatsu is not just about honoring the Buddha’s enlightenment; it’s about reaffirming our own capacity to awaken. Each of us faces our own versions of Mara (a malevolent spirit that sent temptations and fears that tested the Buddha under the Bodhi tree). Rohatsu reminds us that with patience, courage, and wholeheartedness, we too can see through delusion and live from a place of clarity, lovingkindness, and compassion.
As you celebrate this Rohatsu, may you feel the truth of the Buddha’s words: the seed of awakening is already within you. All it needs is your care and attention to grow.
How will you celebrate Rohatsu this year?
Gassho,
Kyoji
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