Members of the Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group of Fort Myers celebrated Bodhi Day alongside Buddhists all over the world on Sunday. Bodhi Day is celebrated each year on 8 December in remembrance of the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha.
A Dharma teacher for the group, Mary Tracy Siglin, remarked on the significance of the Bodhi Day celebrations:
Reminding myself on Bodhi Day, that this is a celebration not just of the Buddha’s enlightenment, but of ours as well—and that ours is possible and that we must continue our practice of trying to help people learn about the Dharma and try to make their lives happier, because that’s really what we all want—to be happy. We all want to have joy in our life, and we all want to be able to live in harmony with one another. (WGCU)
The Bodhi Day celebrations marked a turning point for the Buddhist group as the they are looking for a new place to practice.
“There’s so many churches that are getting financially strapped. I mean, [Hurricane] Ian and COVID really did a number on a lot of Fort Myers congregations,” Siglin said. “So, yes, unfortunately, we are going to have to look for another space.” (WGCU)
Rissho Kosei-kai, which primarily focuses on lay or householder Buddhist practice, was founded in Japan in 1938 by Nikkyo Niwano, with some 30 members in the beginning.
The Rissho Kosei-kai school teaches Ekayana (One Vehicle) Buddhism, encompassing the sravaka (hearer), pratyekabuddha (solitary buddha), and bodhisattva paths. Their primary practice is chanting the Lotus Sutra, which they believe holds the true essence of the Buddhadharma.
The focus of the Bodhi Day is the realization of Siddhartha Gautama. More than 2,500 years ago he set out from his father’s palace, hoping to find a way to end all suffering. After years of study he found himself meditating alone under a pipal tree in Bodh Gaya, in the modern-day Indian state of Bihar.
The word “bodhi” means to “wake up” or the “awakened one” in its most literal translation from Sanskrit and Pali. However, the term is generally understood to refer to “enlightenment.”
Emeritus Professor Phillip Almond at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at Australia’s University of Queensland, described Siddhartha’s journey:
He was determined not to arise until he had solved the problem. Seated at the base of the Bodhi tree, facing east, he began a meditation that was to last through the night. That night Gautama directly knew the true nature of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the way to its cessation. (Associated Press)
Traditionally, Buddhists around the world have celebrated this holiday in different ways. Some have week-long meditation retreats, others make offerings and chant sutras.
In the Zen Buddhist schools of Japan, Bodhi Day is known as “Rohatsu.” In other Buddhist countries, such as Laos and Myanmar, the Buddha’s enlightenment is celebrated as part of Vesak. During that time, Buddhist celebrate the life of the Buddha and offer robes and food to monastics.
For the Risho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group of Fort Myers, flowers play a large role in the observances.
“We always put fresh flowers on the altar, so the altar will look extra beautiful on Bodhi Day,” Siglin said. “It’s out of gratitude—for all of the food and sustenance that we receive on a daily basis without even asking for it. Our lives are sustained by this divine life force and we’re saying, thank you.” (WGCU)
See more
Bodhi Day brings hope to Fort Myers Lay Buddhist community (WGCU)
What is Bodhi Day? And when do Buddhists celebrate it? (Associated Press)
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