I like your Robe

The Buddha taught the first monks and nuns to make their robes of "pure" cloth, which meant cloth that no one wanted. Types of pure cloth included cloth that had been chewed by rats or oxen, scorched by fire, soiled by childbirth or menstrual blood, or used as a shroud to wrap the dead before cremation. Monks would scavenge cloth from rubbish heaps and cremation grounds. Any part of cloth that was unusable was trimmed away, and the cloth was washed. It was then dyed by being boiled with vegetable matter such as tubers, bark, flowers, leaves and spices such as turmeric or saffron, which gave the cloth a yellow-orange color. This is the origin of the term "saffron robe." Theravada monks of southeast Asai today still wear spice-color robes, in shades of curry, cumin and paprika as well as blazing saffron orange. Nowadays, however, monks and nuns no longer scavenge for cloth but they wear robes made from cloth that is donated.

It's Party Time

There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the Buddhist community. Many of these days celebrate the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition or other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar. The most significant celebration however, happens every May on the night of the full moon, when Buddhists all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It has become to be known as Buddha Day. Buddhist Festivals are always joyful occasions.

Can you compare this celebration to celebrations in any other religion?

Buddha or Budai? A common misconception!

Budai is often depicted as having the appearance of a fat bald man wearing a robe and wearing or otherwise carrying prayer beads. He carries his few possessions in a cloth sack, being poor but content. His figure appears throughtout Chinese culture as a representation on contentment. His image graces many temples, restaurants, amulets, and businesses. Amonst Westerners new to Buddhism, Budai is often confused with the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. However, the two are visually very distinct. Gautama is commonly tall and slender while Budai is short and overweight. Although primarily a folkloric figure, Budai has been incorporated into a number of Buddhist and Taoist folklore traditions. He was considered a man of good and loving character. Furthermore, rumor has it that if you rub his belly you will be graced with good luck!

Have you ever rubbed Budai's belly? Did it bring you good luck?

Nirvana means "cessation", it's the extinction of craving and ignorance and therefore suffering and the cycle of reincarnation. It is also known as "Awakening" or "Enlightenment" in the West. The term for anybody who has achieved nirvana, including the Buddha, is arahant.

Yoga

Buddhism traditionally incorporates states of meditative absorption. The most ancient sustained expression of yogic ideas is found in the early sermons of the Buddha. One key innovative teaching of the Buddha was that meditative absorption must be combined with liberating cognition

Meditation and mental alertness is key in Buddhism. If one meditates correctly and ascends through four levels of trance, ultimately reaching a point of perfect tranquillity then one enters the state of Nirvana which is the state of eternal bliss and ultimate salvation.