Holistic Education for Integral Human Development
Community outreach at a night market to introduce Wesak programmes.
Just 2 weeks before the full-moon day of Wesak, this conversation between the yoga coach and learner sparked a reflection. When the yoga coach said classes are on as usual on the Wesak public holiday, a learner said, in jest “But we have to go pray!”. The Yoga coach then scoffed and said “You must be kidding.”, and all ended up laughing.
Over a decade ago, I would have jested just the same because Wesak was simply a holiday, attributed to the Buddhist religion but held no meaning to me, a tick-the-box Buddhist. The rituals which I have seen being practiced didn’t connect with me, and hence held no meaning at all. No one around me explained why we go to the temples nor wore ‘blessing strings’, probably because they don’t know themselves.
Today, my family and I actively help our community prepare for the Observance, with confidence on why we celebrate Wesak full-moon, and what we can do to pay tribute to the Buddha. Our meaningless holiday is now a meaningful holy-day. This is because 10 years ago, my colleague invited me to join a Dhamma camp for families organised by the Buddhist Society.
Our lives have changed for the better since that day, because we find so much meaning in the Buddha’s teachings. When we embrace the Dhamma in everything we do, our lives are much more purposeful and fulfilling. All this because my colleague cared enough to reach out.
So friends, let us also reach out to our family and friends who are ‘tick-the-box’ Buddhists to join Wesak observances wherever you are, and further engage them for Dhamma talks or programmes which are suitable. They may or may not be ready now to explore Dhamma, but you would have planted a seed which will sprout in time to come. Namo Buddhaya.