Happy Bodhi Day/Rohatsu!

December 8, 2008 5:52 PM

Bodhi Day, also known as Rohatsu, celebrates the day when Buddha was enlightened under the bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya (video, annotated photo gallery). How do we celebrate Bodhi Day? Typically, Rohatsu is the last day of a weeklong sesshin (intensive meditation retreat). Better not sleep late, the bell rings at 3:50 am! One person's experience of sesshin. A lesson in mindfulness for Rohatsu, including tips for beginners. Bodhi Day is primarily a Zen tradition. Tibetan buddhists celebrate Buddha's enlightenment in May with the festival of Saga Dawa. Other Buddhist holidays.
posted by desjardins (11 comments total)

*sheiks his bohdi*
posted by jonmc at 6:05 PM on December 8, 2008

What an awesome post. My girlfriend and I were just talking about doing Vipassana - this looks like some excellent reading. Thanks, desjardins!
posted by Baby_Balrog at 6:06 PM on December 8, 2008

Tonnes of Tibetans refugees in Bodh Gaya and they LOVE Canadians.
posted by gman at 6:20 PM on December 8, 2008

Nice post.... One of the most interesting experiences of my life was being in Korea for Vesak while stationed in Seoul in the 70's..... for a Midwestern guy with little worldly experience...it was very, very, enlightening!
posted by HuronBob at 6:33 PM on December 8, 2008

This is very interesting, but why wake so early? I wonder sometimes why religions are adamant about waking people up early. Islam and Christianity both encourage early waking. Is there no enlightenment for night people like myself?
posted by fuq at 6:36 PM on December 8, 2008

fuq,

Good is ever vigilant because Evil never sleeps.
posted by Severian at 7:03 PM on December 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

Bhodi day should involve both surfing and bank robbery.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:17 PM on December 8, 2008

Swallowing a Red-Hot Iron Ball
posted by homunculus at 12:13 AM on December 9, 2008

Bodhisattva
Would you take me by the hand
Bodhisattva
Would you take me by the hand
Can you show me
The shine of your Japan
The sparkle of your china
Can you show me
Bodhisattva

(Donald Fagen - Walter Becker)
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 12:22 AM on December 9, 2008

This is very interesting, but why wake so early? I wonder sometimes why religions are adamant about waking people up early. Islam and Christianity both encourage early waking. Is there no enlightenment for night people like myself?

IANA monk, but it seems pretty common in monastic traditions to avoid all types of bodily indulgence, whether that means eating just enough simple food to get by, getting just enough sleep to get by, or refraining from sensual/sexual pleasures. Going to bed in the early evening and rising early enough to get some serious meditation/prayer in before sunrise and breakfast would be just one aspect of that.
posted by aught at 6:17 AM on December 9, 2008

Dogen - The Movie (Not Kidding) 道元禅師　映画『禅ZEN』予告編
posted by homunculus at 4:06 PM on December 27, 2008