Celebrating the Timeless Journey of the Buddha
This month, the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, is being celebrated across various regions and cultures, each on different dates due to diverse lunisolar calendars (15 May in China, 28 May in India, and 26 May in Tibet).
The Buddha is most deeply honored at Bodh Gaya’s Maha Bodhi Temple during Vesak.
This site, with the sacred Bodhi Tree, is the spiritual heart of the Buddhist world, radiating the essence of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions.
The Buddha’s era, predating written history in India, remains shrouded in mystery.
Buddhism first emerged in Ashokan inscriptions between 268 BCE and 232 BCE, centuries after the Buddha’s time, which according to tradition, was 2,500–2,600 years ago.
The Bharhut Stupa and other artistic friezes later depicted the Buddha’s life and the Jataka tales—stories of his past lives as a Bodhisattva, embodying virtues such as wisdom, compassion, and truthfulness.
Celebrating the Buddha’s final rebirth as Siddhartha Gautama is akin to acknowledging only the climax of a grand, multi-lifetime journey.
The Buddha’s life story, enriched by the Jataka tales, portrays a cosmic odyssey of countless rebirths.
This Vesak, may you joyfully honor the timeless Buddha-era, a testament to enduring enlightenment across many lifetimes.
