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Buddha's Birthday Talks

Buddha's Birthday or Buddha Day (also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, and Buddha Pournami) is a primarily Buddhist festival that is celebrated in most of South, Southeast and East Asia, commemorating the birth of the prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition and archaeologists, Gautama Buddha, c. 623 BCE, was born at Lumbini in Nepal. Buddha's mother was Queen Maya Devi, who delivered the Buddha while undertaking a journey to her native home, and his father was King Śuddhodana. The Mayadevi Temple, its gardens, and an Ashoka Pillar dating from 249 BCE mark the Buddha's birthplace at Lumbini.
The exact year of Buddha's birthday is based on the Sri Lankan convention, while several Asian lunisolar calendars ascribe to different lunar days. The date for the celebration of Buddha's birthday therefore varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar, but it is usually celebrated in either April or May. During leap years, the birthday may be celebrated in June.
In South and Southeast Asia, the Buddha's birth is celebrated as part of Vesak, a festival that also celebrates the Buddha's enlightenment (on the day of the full moon, hence Sanskrit: पूर्णिमा pūrṇimā) and his mahaparinirvana. In Tibetan Buddhism, Buddha's birth (7th day of the 4th Month) is celebrated separately from Saga Dawa Duchen, the annual festival celebrating his enlightenment and mahaparinirvana (15th Day of the 4th Month). In East Asia, Vietnam and the Philippines, the enlightenment and death of the Buddha are observed as separate holidays.
| Title | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Sesshin as a Koan for the BodySerial: SF-00990   Sesshin Lecture: Easter/Buddha's Birthday; enlightenment experiences; dharmakaya; not doing anything; nirmanakaya; this is your life Sesshin, Enlightenment, San Quentin, Zazen,  Buddha's Birthday, Birth-and-Death,... | Apr 08 2007Green Gulch Farm | |
| Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-03546   Second Sesshin, Zendo Lecture day 6  Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Letting Go, Karma, Karmic Consequences, Buddha's... | Nov 21 2004Tassajara | |
| Sunday Lecture Ceremony, Manjushri, Offering, Heart Sutra, Perfect Wisdom, Buddha's Birthday,... | Apr 02 2000Green Gulch Farm | |
| Buddha's BirthdaySerial: SF-03241   Sunday Lecture  Buddha's Birthday, Ceremony, Renewal, Liberation, Vow, Happiness, Peace,... | Apr 04 1999Green Gulch Farm | |
| Pathways to Zen Generosity Awakening Dragons, Non-duality, Manjushri, Vimalakirti, Duality, Don't Know Mind, Birth-... | Apr 15 1998 | |
| Buddha's Birthday Buddha's Birthday, Practice Period, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center | Apr 05 1998Green Gulch Farm |