Reflection on Vesak Day

by Venerable Kwang Sheng

Vesak Day is celebrated annually by Buddhists in memory of Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing into parinirvana. On this meaningful occasion, Buddhist organisations worldwide hold grand celebrations to express gratitude to the Buddha for his compassionate teachings that deliver beings from suffering. At the same time, through acts such as offering flowers and light; chanting sutras; or giving benevolently to the needy, they pray for personal happiness, national stability and international peace.

The Buddha achieved enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago while meditating intensely under a Bodhi tree. Since then, meditation has always been a key practice in Buddhism. In recent decades, rapid developments in our material world have resulted in sharp increases in stress levels, feelings of aggravation and bewilderment. Hence, an ancient yet effective remedy to treat psychological troubles was been pushed to the forefront of the world’s stage – mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness is an act of introspection, of turning one’s attention inwards to observe phenomena as they are. In contrast, most people live their lives with attention fully tuned to the outside world. Hence their minds are constantly shifting with the everchanging external conditions, and continually giving rise to likes or dislikes, greed or aversion. As a result, they can never feel at peace. In order to relax our mind and body, and live harmoniously, we need to cultivate the ability to be mindful, by frequently shining a light introspectively, so as to ensure we remain calm and serene in the midst of our interactions with the phenomenal world.

Through mindfulness meditation, we cultivate an open and steady ability to introspect, guarding our mind and thoughts all the time. We are at ease and understand that with such a clear and steady mind, we can manage all of life’s challenges. This is the aim of mindfulness meditation. In recent years, western medicine, psychology and neuroscience have accumulated vast experimental research to demonstrate that mindfulness meditation can effectively enhance our physical and psychological health, including alleviating physical symptoms of illnesses, reducing negative emotions, cultivating positive psychological traits, boosting emotional balance, improving attention and cognitive functions, and strengthening social skills.

In view of the positive benefits of mindfulness meditation, educators in both the East and West have already incorporated mindfulness meditation training into their school curricula for various grades, hoping it will help students achieve healthier growth and balanced development.

As Vesak Day approaches, I wish all our devotees and readers fulfilment of your wishes and all things auspicious. Live in gratitude and mindfulness. 

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卫塞禅话

广声大和尚

卫塞节是佛教为纪念缅怀释迦牟尼佛诞生、成道、涅槃的节日，在这一年一度的重要节日中，国际佛教团体都会举行隆重盛大的庆祝活动，以此来感念佛陀的教化之德，救度之恩。同时，借助灯花供奉、诵经念佛、慈善布施等祈求如意吉祥、国泰民安、世界和平。

二千五百多年前佛陀在菩提树下通过深入禅定，觉悟成佛，从而修行禅定便成了佛教徒修持佛法的重要法门。近几十年来，由于物质文明的高速发展，致使人们的压力、烦躁、困惑剧增，于是一项古老有效的对治一 切烦恼的修法被推出世界舞台——内观禅修。

内观，就是如实观察事物的实相。一般的人都生活在“外观”的世界中，眼光只向外看，结果心随境转，不断生起贪爱和憎恨，内心由此不再平静。为了使身心自在，生活和谐，就需培养“内观”的能力，时常向内观照自己的身心，清楚自己与外界互动的每一个当下，保持安详。

通过内观禅修的训练，培养出一种开放而稳定的内观能力，时刻照顾好自己的心念，轻松而明白，以这种清醒而稳定的心态，就可以面对人生的起伏，这就是内观禅修的目标。

近年来，西方医学、心理学与神经科学界，已累计丰富的实证研究，显示内观禅修训练能够有效促进人们的身心健康，包括：改善生理疾病症状，减少负面情绪，培养正向心理特质，提升情绪调节能力，促进注意力认知能力，并增强人际关系技能。

鉴于内观禅修的利益，东、西方教育界人士已经开始将内观禅修训练融入各级学校教育，希望藉由内观的训练帮助学生拥有更健康的成长与平衡的发展。

卫塞节即将来临，祝愿护法善信及读者们，成就所愿，诸事吉祥。用感恩心看待生活，用内观心对待生命。