Saga Dawa (Tibetan) or Vesak (Sanskrit)

The sacred month of Saga Dawa is traditionally held in high regard for the practice of dharma and meritorious deeds. The merit of any good deed performed during this special month is considered to be multiplied a million times.

Saga Dawa is one of the four major annual Buddhist festivals. It commemorates three important events in the life of Buddha Shakyamuni: his birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana, according to Tibetan traditions. Saga Dawa falls on the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar year, and its fifteenth day is considered especially auspicious within this sacred month.

The full moon of Taurus, also known as the Wesak Festival or Vesak (from Sanskrit), or Saga Dawa in Tibetan, is one of the most significant celebrations within the Buddhist and spiritual calendar in general. This date, which varies each year according to the lunar calendar, coincides with the full moon of May, when the Sun is in the sign of Taurus and the Moon in Scorpio.

What is commemorated during the Wesak Festival?

Birth of Buddha
It commemorates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Buddha. According to tradition, he was born in the Lumbini forest (present-day Nepal) under a full moon.

Buddha's Enlightenment
It also celebrates the day Siddhartha attained enlightenment under the fig tree (Bodhi), becoming Buddha, the "Awakened One," who achieved complete understanding of the nature of life, suffering, and liberation.

Buddha's Death or Parinirvana
It commemorates his entry into Parinirvana, the final state of total liberation after his physical death.

Spiritual and Symbolic Significance
Portal of Light and Blessings
According to esoteric and Buddhist traditions, a portal of high-vibrational cosmic energies opens during the full moon of Taurus. The Buddha is said to descend spiritually into the Himalayan valley, showering blessings upon the Earth and all humanity, assisted by Christ (in an ecumenical context).

Spiritual Renewal and Service to the World
It is an opportunity for group meditation, service, and the invocation of light, love, and goodwill for all humanity. Many spiritual groups conduct meditations to anchor these energies in the collective human consciousness.

Union of East and West
Wesak is also seen as a time of fusion of Buddhist (wisdom) and Christian (love) energies, seeking to inspire humanity toward a life of greater compassion, cooperation, and peace.

Important Wesak Symbols
Water Blessed by the Buddha
It is believed that during the Wesak ceremony, the waters are charged with spiritual energy and blessed, then shared as a symbol of purification and healing.

Global Group Meditation
Across the planet, millions of people join in synchronous meditations, generating a collective field of spiritual elevation.

In the Tibetan tradition, it is customary to accumulate a large number of recitations of the mantra of immeasurable love and compassion, called the Chenrezig mantra, for the benefit of all beings. This mantra is Om Mani Padme Hung (pronounced Om Mani Peme Hung by Tibetans), also known as the mani mantra.

Participate in the global merit accumulation by recording your manis from May 27 to June 25, 2025, at this link:

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