Buddhist Philosophy Illuminate The World In The Lantern Festival

Photo illustration of a woman holding a lantern (Austin Neill / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - One of the rituals in celebrating the Buddhist holiday, Waisak, is to remove lanterns. The ritual is held in many Asian countries, such as China, Thailand, South Korea, including Indonesia. The question is when was the first time this lantern festival was held? What is the meaning?

Vesak celebration is actually to commemorate three important events in Buddhism or also known as "Trisuci Waisak". The first is for the event of the birth of Siddharta Gautama Buddha in 623 BC, then the event when he became a Buddha and the day he died.

The procession of the Vesak celebration consists of several rituals, one of which cannot be missed is the ritual of releasing lanterns. This ritual is an important symbol of how Buddha enlightens the world.

In Indonesia, the biggest Vesak celebration is held at Borobudur Temple. At last year's Vesak celebration, hundreds of lanterns aired at Borobudur Temple.

This celebration is not only attended by Buddhists. Muslims and Christians also participated in this spirituality event.

Photo illustration of the lantern festival (Melanie Magdalena / Unsplash)

Quoting Detik, before entering the lantern releasing event, the participants were invited to meditate by the monk so that the meaning of releasing lanterns would be more meaningful. After meditation, then the procession of releasing the lanterns begins.

Technically, the participants are asked to form groups of four to five people. Then the committee distributed the lanterns to each group. Then the participants waved paper lanterns while sticking the wishing paper they got when they first entered the Borobudur Temple area. Finally, burn the lantern torch while removing it when you start flying.

History

Launching the Global Times, the lantern festival has existed since the Western Han Dynasty (206SM-25) in China more than 2,000 years ago. There this religious ritual is also called the Yuan Xiao Festival.

The Yuan Xiao Festival began to be adopted by Buddhism during the reign of the Ming Emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty from 25 to 220. At that time Buddhism began to spread from India to mainland China.

Emperor Ming had heard that the monks prayed on the 15th day of the first lunar month. They will light lanterns in honor of their lord: Buddha.

Loving the custom, Emperor Ming ordered that lanterns be lit throughout the imperial palace and all the temples during Yuan Xiao. At that time the general public began to hang lanterns outside their homes and gradually this religious festival developed into a folk custom.

Mean

Quoting Buddhist Channel TV, in the official text of Buddhism, it is explained what the meaning, purpose and benefits of the lantern festival. Originally lanterns were an offering to the Buddha with the aim of cultivating three important teachings about virtue, non-hatred and unconventional views.

Therefore, this ritual is a way of cultivating one's mind which aims to achieve enlightenment. Besides that, the lighting of lanterns is also meaningful as the attainment of pure thoughts.

And the most important thing in the enlightenment process is not to offer wealth, but to keep one's mind sincere.