Saka Dawa
The Buddhist Month of Observance
Saka Dawa, also known as Vesak, Vishakha, Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Buddha Day, and Phật Đản, is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (passing away) of the Buddha. Although each of the Buddhist traditions celebrate this holiday at different times of the year, in Tibetan, ‘Saka’ refers to the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, which falls around May or June each year, while ‘Dawa’ is the Tibetan word for ‘month’. Therefore, Saka Dawa is ‘the month of Saka’, the Tibetan Buddhist month of observance.
Traditionally, during the month of Saka Dawa, it’s said that any merit gained is amplified 100,000 times. Merit (good karma) is gained through study, practice, reciting sutras and mantras, engaging in pilgrimages, circumambulating monasteries and holy sites, and by performing acts of altruism and generosity.
SBT, following the Western calendar, celebrates Saka Dawa throughout the month of June, with a strong emphasis placed on the last week, culminating in our ‘Day of Observance online retreat and celebration’ on the final Sunday of June. For SBT, Saka Dawa is a time to focus deeply on our spiritual growth and awakening, through joyful study, practice, and engaging with sangha.
How to observe Saka Dawa
It’s common for practitioners to pledge a practice goal or renounce certain vices for the month, week, or day of Saka Dawa. These commitments might include daily recitation of Buddhist texts, affirmations, or the accumulation of mantras. Vices given up can range from eating meat, drinking alcohol, and taking intoxicants, to giving up sugar, fast food, and unwholesome media.
Here are some meaningful ways to observe, celebrate, and engage with Saka Dawa:
- To increase your meditation sessions and/or the duration of each session.
- To increase your study and reading – maybe pledge to read a classic Buddhist text.
- To undertake a pilgrimage to a sacred place or a place that may inspire your practice.
- To engage in a retreat.
- To become vegan or vegetarian for the month.
- To volunteer some time to your favorite causes.
- To engage in acts of generosity.
- To engage in acts of kindness.
- To seek reconciliation and repair damaged relationships and friendships.
- To put extra effort into your practice of The Four Gifts
- To share the dharma with those who are interested.
- To engage in acts of environmental care.
- To circumambulate sacred places.
- To attend Buddhadharma teachings and sangha events.