Notes

How to Celebrate Vesak Day in a meaningful way
As lay disciples we can observe eight precepts imitating the great arahants.
We can give Vesak cards to friends, teachers, and relatives with a genuine intention of blessing them.
We can offer kiripindu (milk rice) to a Buddha statue or a Bodhi Tree reflecting upon the great qualities of the Buddha.
We can make a lantern and offer it to the Buddha, just like we offer flowers.
We can clean the area around a Bodhi Tree and wish, “From the merit I acquired from cleaning the shade of the Bodhi tree may my mind also one day be cleansed of all defilements. ”
On Vesak day we can offer flowers, drinks, honey, hakuru, chatumadhura, incense, oil lamps, and robes, in reminiscences of Buddha’s birth as prince Siddhartha, his enlightenment and passing away (Parinibbāna)
We can worship and make offerings to the Bodhi Tree thinking, “Even the Buddha paid homage to this great tree that offered him shelter on the night of his enlightenment.”
We should pay the same respect to the Bodhi Tree as we would to the Buddha, by doing so we can acquire immense merit.
During the second week after his enlightenment, the Buddha stood gazing at the Bodhi Tree without a blink, showing his gratitude to the tree that had sheltered him during his achievement of Buddha-hood. In reminiscence of this exemplary act we too can make a strong resolution to instill in ourselves the precious quality of gratitude.
We can join in with Vesak dansalas, convincing our parents to contribute if we don’t have anything of our own to offer.
In Vimanavatthu 4.9, we learn, “If people offer something to the Supreme Buddha when he is alive or after he has passed away, as long as they have the same confident mind on both occasions, the results will be the same. Beings are reborn in heaven because of their confident minds.”

Dear parents and children, make the determination from this day on to celebrate Vesak correctly. Remember how our teacher came to this world on Vesak day, attained Enlightenment, and passed away into Parinibbana. Do these acts of merit with the pure intention of honouring our teacher and remember happily the good results that will come to you. Each Vesak, determine to practice the Buddha’s teachings diligently so you can attain true happiness in this Gautama Buddha’s Dispensation.