April 8 is the Buddha's birthday, the "Flower Festival.
On this day about 2,600 years ago, the future Buddha, Gautama Siddhartha, was born in Lumpini, the child of a Shakya king in southern Nepal.
It is said that when he was born, he took seven steps and pointed upward with his right hand and downward with his left hand, saying, "Heaven is above, heaven is below, and I am alone.
This is more of a fiction to show the greatness of the Buddha to future generations.
The actual Gautama Siddhartha grew up in the royal palace as a young man with no problems, but one day he wondered why people become ill, grow old, and die. He began to think deeply about the truth of life and became an ordained priest. He then underwent a near-death ascetic practice, awakened to the truth, and became a Buddha.
The teachings of the Buddha have led to today's Buddhism.
Although the Japanese are said to be non-religious, Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples enshrining gods are everywhere.
Many Japanese hold their wedding ceremonies at shrines and their funerals at temples. It has been a long time since Buddhism in Japan has been called funeral Buddhism, but the original Buddhism is a teaching that shows people how to live. It is not for the dead, but for the living.
Therefore, I think Japanese temples should preach Buddha's teachings more to everyone, but unfortunately, Japanese monks have become so secularized that they do not appreciate the teachings even when they are preached.
Buddhism is important to me because for a time I attended a temple in Theravada, which can be considered primitive Buddhism, and I listened to and studied Elder Sumanasara with great enthusiasm.
For this reason, a statue of Buddha bought in Bangkok sits on our family altar along with the tablets of our ancestors.
Unlike the pointed-head Buddha images often seen in Thailand, this round-headed Buddha in the full lotus position has a very gentle face. So I always feel refreshed when I see this Buddha image.
The custom is to pour sweet tea over the Buddha images during the "Hana-Matsuri" (Flower Festival), but since sweet tea was not available, I worshipped for a little longer than usual.
