Bodhi Day and Awakening to Dharma — celebrated on anniversary of Shakyamuni Gautauma Buddha’s Enlightenment
Feature Contents
Shakyamuni Buddha teaching.
Bodhi Day is the precious day we celebrate Gautama Shakyamuni Buddha’s Enlightenment, primarily in Mahayana Buddhist traditions. Although it is, perhaps, the most important day of the Buddhist calendar — celebrating the ultimate goal of the path, Enlightenment — it is a quiet day in most traditions. It is meant to be a day of contemplation, practice, and purification. For this reason, there are no parades or fireworks.
It is celebrated by very devout Buddhists, lay and monastic, on the 8th day of the Month.*
*In some traditions the lunar 12th, but many temples and lineages and countries celebrate on Dec 8 of the Western calendar.
An ideal practice is recitation of the Three Jewels Sutra:
According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, based on the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic, “karmic results are multiplied one hundred million times.”
For dates, whether you celebrate on lunar or western calendar is up to you. Both are meritorious, although honoring both days is best for merit. University of Tennessee:
“Dec. 8 marks the celebration of Bodhi Day in Japanese Buddhism. Bodhi means enlightenment or awakening in Sanskrit. It commemorates the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha. Buddhists throughout the world celebrate Bodhi Day, but they do not all celebrate Siddhartha’s enlightenment on Dec. 8. In China, South Korea and Vietnam, his enlightenment is observed on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month. In 2025, this falls on Jan. 7.”
Bodhi means Enlightenment
Bodhi literally means Enlightenment in both Sanskrit and Pali.
For this reason, the tree under which Buddha sat for his contemplations — his great mental battle with Mara — leading to his ultimate Enlightenment is named after this event, the Bodhi Tree. This grand Ficus tree is forever sanctified with the name Bodhi Tree.
Buddha touches the Earth to be his witness before Mara, the tempter. Buddha calls out to Earth, rather than the heavens, to be his witness of merit.
The ancestor of this great Ficus Religiosa Tree still thrives in Bodhgaya, a symbol of Buddha’s triumph as the Conqueror. That great and sacred tree witnessed Buddha’s great vow to the Earth. The tree witnessed Buddha’s epic battle with Mara, the destroyer. The tree protected Buddha as he sank deeper and deeper into meditation.
As the morning star rose in the sky, in the third watch of the night, Siddhartha Gautama Buddha found the answers to our suffering, and experience Nirvana. It was in this moment, he became the Buddha — which simply means the “Awakened One.”
Mara’s army is swept away by a flood of merits. The Earth Mother rings out her hair releasing the torrent. In each of Buddha’s many lifetimes as a compassionate Bodhisattva, he accumulated drops of merit — released now as an epic flood on the day of his Enlightenment.
In the long Discourse to Saccaka (MN26), Buddha described the phases of his Enlightenment in three stages during which he saw all of his past lives in the cycle of rebirth, every moment of every life through countless cyclic times. He discovered a way to overcome the prison of karma and Samsara by living the Eightfold Path. He realized the Four Noble Truths and finally reached Nirvana.
Buddhist Monks sitting under the ancestor of the Bodhi Tree under which Shakyamuni Buddha attained Enlightenement in Bodhgaya India.
Ultimately, after he gave up the austerities and adopted the middles way, he meditated on the four “Jnanas” (or stages):
“So when I had taken solid food and regained strength, then — quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful mental qualities, I entered and remained in the first jhana: rapture and pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought and evaluation. But the pleasant feeling that arose in this way did not invade my mind or remain. With the stilling of directed thoughts and evaluations, I entered and remained in the second jhana: rapture and pleasure born of composure, unification of awareness free from directed thought and evaluation — internal assurance. But the pleasant feeling that arose in this way did not invade my mind or remain. With the fading of rapture I remained in equanimity, mindful & alert, and physically sensitive of pleasure. I entered and remained in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones declare, ‘Equanimous & mindful, he has a pleasant abiding.’ But the pleasant feeling that arose in this way did not invade my mind or remain. With the abandoning of pleasure and pain — as with the earlier disappearance of elation & distress — I entered & remained in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity and mindfulness, neither pleasure nor pain. But the pleasant feeling that arose in this way did not invade my mind or remain.” [MN36]
Taking the eight precepts (for two days around Bodhi Day or any Holy Day), prostration and practice are the best ways to celebrate.
How to celebrate Bodhi Day
We celebrate the Conqueror and his epic Bodhi experience on Bodhi Day — and every other day of the year.
In Mahayana Buddhism, including Zen and Pureland all around the world, Bodhi Day is a day of practice, study and Dharma rather than a day of fireworks and celebration. The most popular way to celebrate Bodhi Day is to read sutras — ideally out loud.
Recitation of Heart Sutra in Sanskrit is a recommended paractice for Mahayana Buddhists:
Other ways we celebrate Bodhi Day are:
For the day, even for non-monastics, observe the Pratimoksha vows or at least the five precepts, or Pancha Sila
Charity
Acts of kindness and Metta towards all beings
Extra meditation sessions through the sacred day
Retaking Bodhisattva Vows, by stating them outloud.
Creating merit.
New series on Buddha Weekly: In Buddha’s Words. Actual verified Quotable quotes from the Buddha with citations from source.
Devotional Merit
It is said that merit practices are multiplied on Buddha Days, including Bodhi Day, Vesak, Uposatha, and so on. Ways to increase devotional merit on these days include:
Offerings
Prostration
Merit-making
Taking refuge
Chanting
Pūja
Reading Sutras or Suttas or Tantra
Making offerings to the Buddha are a way to create merit, especially on Holy Days such as Bodhi Day.
Pancha Sila — the Five Precepts
Strictly observe the five precepts — ideally year round, but certainly put extra effort into it on Buddha Days such as Bodhi Day:
Not to kill
Not to steal (or fraud or forgery, etc.)
Not to be irresponsible in sexual acts
Not to speak falsehoods (including malicious speech, gossip, and lying)
Not to be intoxicated (any form).
Plaque with the five precepts engraved in Lumbini Park, Nepal.
Thirteen Sanghadisesas
More extensive ways to practice might include the thirteen Sanghadisesas (rules) normally observed by monks or sangha before any big event or communal event:
Discharge of semen or getting someone to discharge your semen, except while dreaming
Lustful bodily contact with a woman, including kissing or holding hands
Making lustful remarks to a woman alluding to her genitals or sexual intercourse
Requesting sexual favors from a woman, or telling her that she would benefit spiritually from having sex with the monk.
Arranging for a date, affair, or marriage between a man and woman
Building a hut without permission from the sangha, or building a hut that exceeds 3 x 1.75 meters in size
Having someone else build a hut for you without permission from the sangha, or exceeding 3 x 1.75 meters in size
Making unfounded charges about another bhikkhu in the hopes of having him disrobed
Making deceitfully worded charges about another bhikkhu in the hopes of having him disrobed
Agitating for a schism, even after having been rebuked three times
Supporting an agitator, even after he was rebuked three times (only applies if there are fewer than four supporters)
Rejecting well-grounded criticism, even after having been rebuked three times
Criticizing the justice of one’s own banishment, even after having been rebuked three times
A Bodhi Seed mala — symbolic of Bodhi or Buddha’s Enlightenment — which is the ideal mala for most Buddhist practice, on a Sadhana text (Tibetan sacred text). Reciting sutras, mantras and practicing is the best way to celebrate Bodhi Day!
More articles by this author
Buddhist Practices for Pacifying War, including Hayagriva and Tara — the “pacifiers of war”
7 DAYS of PURITY: The “Four Rs” of the Final Week of the Year in Buddhism: Vital Vajrasattva Practice and New Year Traditions Explained
Bodhi Day and Awakening to Dharma — celebrated on anniversary of Shakyamuni Gautauma Buddha’s Enlightenment
A Light to the World — Celebrate Buddha’s Descent from Heaven on Lhabab Duchen: merit multiplied ten million times
4 Practices on Lunar Days: 5 Buddha’s Vow and Practicing Activity, Merit, Reflection, Renewal
Celebrating the extraordinary activities and life of His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche, the Sakya Trichen
The power of Dharma to help sentient beings, in part, lies in ensuring access to Buddha’s precious Dharma — the mission of Buddha Weekly. We can’t do it without you!
A non-profit association since 2007, Buddha Weekly published many feature articles, videos, and, podcasts. Please consider supporting the mission to preserve and “Spread the Dharma." Your support as either a patron or a supporting member helps defray the high costs of producing quality Dharma content. Thank you! Learn more here, or become one of our super karma heroes on Patreon.
Lee Kane
Author | Buddha Weekly
Lee Kane is the editor of Buddha Weekly, since 2007. His main focuses as a writer are mindfulness techniques, meditation, Dharma and Sutra commentaries, Buddhist practices, international perspectives and traditions, Vajrayana, Mahayana, Zen. He also covers various events.
Lee also contributes as a writer to various other online magazines and blogs.
Weekly Dharma by Email
Receive Buddha Weekly in-depth features by email.
Thank you!
You have successfully joined our subscriber list.
Translate »
Scroll to Top
XWe use necessary cookies to operate this website and optional cookies to enhance and personalize your experience. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies as outlined in our Cookie Notice. You can manage your cookie preferences at any time, including opting out of optional cookies, by using the links below. Read MoreRejectAcceptSettings
Manage My Consent
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
CookieLawInfoConsent
1 year
CookieYes sets this cookie to store the user consent.
JSESSIONID
session
The JSESSIONID cookie is used by New Relic to store a session identifier so that New Relic can monitor session counts for an application.
ts
1 year 1 month 4 days
PayPal sets this cookie to enable secure transactions through PayPal.
ts_c
1 year 1 month 4 days
PayPal sets this cookie to make safe payments through PayPal.
viewed_cookie_policy
1 year
CookieYes set this cookie to keep track of whether the user has approved the use of cookies.
_GRECAPTCHA
5 months 27 days
This cookie is set by the Google recaptcha service to identify bots to protect the website against malicious spam attacks.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Cookie
Duration
Description
IDE
1 year 24 days
Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile.
NID
6 months
NID cookie, set by Google, is used for advertising purposes; to limit the number of times the user sees an ad, to mute unwanted ads, and to measure the effectiveness of ads.
test_cookie
15 minutes
The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
5 months 27 days
A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
YSC
session
YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
yt-remote-connected-devices
never
YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
yt-remote-device-id
never
YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
yt.innertube::nextId
never
This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
yt.innertube::requests
never
This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Cookie
Duration
Description
CONSENT
2 years
YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
vuid
1 year 1 month 4 days
Vimeo installs this cookie to collect tracking information by setting a unique ID to embed videos to the website.
_ga
1 year 1 month 4 days
The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_*
1 minute
Google Analytics sets this cookie to store a unique user ID.
_gid
1 day
Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Cookie
Duration
Description
__cf_bm
30 minutes
This cookie, set by Cloudflare, is used to support Cloudflare Bot Management.