• Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera on the significance of Vesak and this year’s theme of good friends

Vesak Full Moon Day is a significant day in the Buddhist calendar as it marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. This year, Vesak is commemorated today (12), although the State Vesak Festival commenced yesterday and will take place until Friday (16). The commemorations will be held under the theme ‘Bhajetha Miththe Kalyane – Bhajetha Purisuththame’, which highlights the association of noble friends with virtue.

In order to understand the religious and cultural aspects of Vesak as well as the importance of the theme, The Daily Morning Brunch spoke to University of Kelaniya Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies Director Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera.

Past and present Vesak observances

In an article titled ‘Vesak: The Day of Buddhas’ Arising’, authored by Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera, the significance of Vesak as well as how it came to be the holiday commemorated today is discussed in detail. Having spoken about the birth of Prince Siddhartha in present-day Nepal, how the middle path led to his enlightenment, and the passing of the Buddha, Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera writes that some believe the Vesak ceremony dates back to King Asoka’s period, based on writings in the Edicts of Asoka.

Several centuries later, Chinese monk Faxian described a procession of images conducted on the eighth day of the second month in Pataliputra. The article points out that it is likely that Arahant Mahinda introduced these festivals to Sri Lanka in the Third Century B.C., when he arrived in the country.

The celebration of Vesak for the first time in Sri Lankan history can be traced to the religious activities of King Dutthagamini in the Anuradhapura period, where there is a mention of 24 Vesak festivals, indicating Vesak as an annual celebration given that the king ruled the country for 24 years.

Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera writes that King Bhatikabhaya performed 28 Vesak festivals at a grand scale during his 28-year reign and King Vasabha held 44 Vesak festivals during his 44-year reign. Similar records show that Sri Lankan kings celebrated Vesak annually.

However, with colonisation, this came to an end, with the Dutch abolishing the Poya holiday in Sri Lanka on 1 November 1770. However, on 27 March 1885, Vesak was declared a public holiday in Sri Lanka and that same year, the Buddhist flag was hoisted for the first time on Vesak Full Moon Day. In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly internationally recognised the day of Vesak.

Vesak celebrations today take place in Sri Lanka as well as in other countries.

Principles and offerings

When observing Vesak, activities can be divided into two categories. Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera writes that these are pratipattipuja (veneration by the practice of principles or the Dhamma) and amisapuja (veneration by the offerings of material objects, such as food, drinks, and clothes).

In conversation with The Daily Morning Brunch, Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera explained that some believe that paripattipuja is more important that amisapuja, while others believe they are equally important. To sustain our culture, both are needed, he pointed out, saying: “The heartwood of a tree is made of its bark and other components. Similarly, Buddhist principles and the teachings of the Buddha are protected by culture. If we reject culture completely, and depend solely on the teachings, we can only protect the Dhamma for a short while. It is with culture that we must take the teachings forward. It is essential that this is done in a balanced manner.”

The importance of good friends

Speaking about the theme of this year’s State Vesak Festival, Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera said it was an extremely important one. He explained that Ananda Thera once asked the Buddha if having good friends was not half the reason the ‘Sasana’ exists. The Buddha replied that it was fully based on good friends and companions.

In the Vyagghapajja Sutta, Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera shared, the Buddha preached four conditions of welfare to the wealthy man Dighajanu. These conditions are the accomplishment of persistent effort (utthana-sampada), the accomplishment of watchfulness (arakkha-sampada), good friendship (kalyanamittata), and balanced livelihood (sama-jivikata).

The Buddha has thus highlighted the importance of good friends and companions to both the ordained and the layperson.

“Good friendship can keep people from wrongdoing. Good friends help each other. It is a good thing for everyone,” Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera said.

He also recalled the Cullasetti Jataka. According to thejatakatales.com, in the story, the Bodhisattva is a royal treasurer and, one day, upon seeing a dead mouse, remarked that anyone can start a business even with the dead mouse.

A poor young man heard this and picked up the dead mouse. He sold it as cat food, and thus started a series of events that would prove Bodhisattva’s prediction. Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera explained that the Jataka tale showed the importance of winning people over and making good friends, as it leads to the young man’s eventual success.

He said: “In this worldly life, to become successful or wealthy, to go forward in life, you need good friends, which is what the Jataka tale tells us.”

Buddha’s teachings and modern society

While the majority of Sri Lanka follow the Buddha’s teachings, violence and crime keep increasing in society. When asked how the Dhamma can be applied in such a context, Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera explained that isolated incidents of violence and crime have always taken place, even during the Buddha’s time.

“It is when they become commonplace that we can say there is social decline. Today, with the advancement of media and other forms of communication, such incidents get spoken about more often than in the past. Overall, there is both development and decline in society. It is with development that there is decline,” he explained.

According to Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera, today’s society is one that prioritises money, whereas in the past, values and principles were given priority.

“Today, there is a change in what is valued or appreciated. The definition of happiness has changed. In the past, happiness was based on helping others and doing good. Today, happiness is based on material goods and desire. These existed in the past as well, but there is more temptation today,” he explained.

According to the Thera, we are now a multi-commodity society. “There are more desires and needs. Even children and youth have more wants and needs now. Due to this, there has also been an increase in mental stress and wrongdoing,” he pointed out.

Legal frameworks are in place to reduce such wrongdoing, however, the law has certain limitations. Religion thus plays a role in instilling good values in society and paving the way to mental wellbeing or calmness. While such efforts are made, Ven. Prof. Madawachchiye Dhammajothi Thera shared that some people fail to control their minds, which leads to such incidents of violence and crime.

He shared a vital message, saying: “Today, there are more temptations that pull society towards the bad. The advancement of technology has created an inflow of both the good and the bad. The child should have the strength to choose the right path, like a swan that separates milk from water. The child should have the skill and the knowledge to know what is right and wrong. The child should be given an education on staying away from the bad and following what’s good. If not, it will be challenging to stop society from perishing.”