Happy Laba Festival (Buddha’s Enlightenment Day)

Yesterday was the Laba Festival (腊八节)，a traditional festival in China and a Buddhist festival too, which commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha’s Enlightenment Day (8th day of the 12th lunar month in Chinese Buddhism).

On this day, people typically eat Laba Porridge (or Congee, 腊八粥) to commemorate the events before the Buddha’s enlightenment - how the Buddha practised extreme asceticism for six years, was on the brink of death, and finally received the offering of milk porridge from a shepherdess who was passing by. After the Buddha took the porridge, he regained his strength and vowed to sit under the Bodhi tree and not move until he obtained enlightenment.

According to Chinese Buddhism, on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, he realised enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and understood the truth of life and the Universe. In particular, he realised that all sentient beings possess the wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata (same Buddha-Nature), but because of the presence of attachment and delusion they don't realise it. After that, he proclaimed the Dharma for the rest of his life and awakened countless sentient beings.

His teachings still continue to help countless beings even today ✨????

We are forever grateful for the Buddha’s precious teachings ✨????

Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha ✨????
Namo Amitabha Buddha ✨????