Observing Buddhist Waisak Day

The Buddhist religious celebration of Waisak day is in Indonesia observed on May 28 this year. Also known as Buddha's birthday, Waisak day actually marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha.

Buddhism arrived in Bali from India through priests around A.D.500. The fundamental doctrine of Buddhist involves the notion of karma and reincarnation. This notion is present in Balinese Hindusim, which is a combination of practices and beliefs from four different types of worship: Hinduism, Buddhism, animism and ancestor worship.

Buddhist Balinese will mark this day with prayers and offerings at Buddhist temples on the island, one of which is the Brahmavihara Arama Temple & Monastery, in Banjar village near Lovina, North Bali.

Another place that has physical evidence for the practice of Buddhism in Bali is at Goa Gajah or the Elephant Caves near Ubud. Here, scattered on the sides of a canyon beyond the spring are boulders with carvings of stupas, Buddha statues and other Buddhist forms.

For more reading about Waisak day, refer to this Wikipedia article: Vesākha/Vesak Day.