(Much thanks for @spotty-is-slumberous for lovely art for this holiday card! :D)
This is a very special time of the month for many Buddhist traditions. Just a few days ago, on May 8th, the Japanese traditions were celebrating Hanamatsuri. Today, May 15th, the Chinese traditions like the one I took refuge and precepts under are celebrating Fódàn. On May 23rd the Theravada traditions are celebrating Vesak. And on May 26th the Tibetan traditions are celebrating Saga Dawa.
All these various holidays and festivals celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and/or passing into parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha, the buddha of our current age and founder of all of our traditions. I hope all buddhists, whatever date they celebrate, can take this timeto reflect on Shakyamuni's story and draw from it inspiration to continue their practice.
Like all buddhas and bodhisattvas Shakyamuni was an ordinary being once, that through continous effort across countless lifetimes achieved the greatest accomplishment. The ultimate promise of his message is that if we follow the path prescribed by him we too can achieve it.
南无本师释迦牟尼佛
Homage to our original teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha!