Buddha Purnima 2021:

 Buddha Purnima is the most auspicious day of the Buddhist Calendar. Buddha Purnima, also known as Buddha Day or Buddha’s birthday in some traditions, is the full moon day in the Indian month of Vaishaka (April”“May), which marks the commemoration of the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni. Theravada practitioners celebrate Buddha Purnima Day slightly earlier than Tibet’s Saga Dawa Duchen as they use a different lunar calendar. We may be from other traditions; however, we are all Buddhist and follow the same Buddha Shakyamuni after all.

Hence, in 2019 we at the Buddhist Institute of Universal Compassion in Spokane, WA, honored Buddha Purnima at our temple with a big inter-tradition gathering that brought together Venerable’s and fellow Dharma brothers and sisters from four different Buddhist temples.

Special Celebration at the Institute:

 The full moon day of the Theravada tradition is next Wednesday, May 19th, 2021. Since Covid is now pretty much under control in the area, Geshe-la has decided to celebrate this auspicious and meritorious time together with fellow Buddhist brothers and sisters at our temple. Please join us at the Buddhist temple 728 E. Rich Ave Wednesday, May 19th, at 7 PM. However, we will still follow the covid protocols as a precaution. Temple doors will be open at 6:30 PM and ready to offer a warm welcome to anyone who wishes to pass through them early enough to have a chance to mingle with their sangha brothers and sisters or sit quietly and meditate. Most importantly, by arriving early, you get a chance to properly pay homage to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the altar and appreciate the precious temple that Geshe-la provided for us to learn and practice the sacred Dharma.

 Kindly note, we will still be holding a Saga Dawa Duchen celebration on May 26th at 10 AM. We hope you can take the opportunity to participate in both celebrations to honor our Buddha Shakyamuni in both traditions. You are welcome to look at our website www.universalcompassion.org for other upcoming teachings under the Events Calendar. 

 **Last but most importantly**, at minimum, as Buddhists, we all can wake up following the first tenet of vowing not to cause harm to others. To cause no harm means at the very least we shouldn’t eat the fellow voiceless beings as they are slaughtered for us consumers. If we didn’t consume, the butcher wouldn’t murder the “LIVE-stock” for no reason. Therefore, at least refrain from eating meat during this holy month.