One of the most important celebrations in Buddhism is the Rohatsu, which takes place in December and has to do with the enlightenment of the Buddha. we talk to you now What is Rohatsu and what is its meaning for Zen Buddhists? When is it celebrated?
In the same way that for the Jews, the celebration of Hanukkah or Hanukkah implies the memory of the recovery of the sacred temple, for the Buddhists the Rohatsu has to do with the Buddha and his values and it is a celebration that has a long tradition in Japan.
What is Rohatsu?
Rohatsu is a Japanese Buddhist celebration of the moment when the Buddha attained enlightenment.n. Unlike Easter, which would be the parallel Christian celebration, the Rohatsu calls for a great increase in work and meditation instead of giving his followers free time to relax and reflect. Although not all people in Japan practice Buddhism or celebrate Rohatsu, the values at the core of society almost exactly match the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism. It is these values that provide a basis for Japan’s solidarity. Therefore, as Rohatsu is a celebration of values in Buddhismin a way is an extension of the very state of Japanese culture.
Origins of Rohatsu
To talk about the origins of Rohatsu in Japan is to talk about the origins of a religion. Buddhism is the religion in which the Rohatsu is celebrated. To put the origins of Buddhism and Rohatsu into perspective, it is easiest to compare the history of Buddhism with that of Christianity. Just as Christianity encompasses many different sects, so does Buddhism. Similarly, just as the Protestant sect of Christianity split from Catholicism, Buddhism also split into two main practices, although the split occurred long before Christianity around 410 BC. C. A sect, known in Sanskrit as Theravada, believed in a more literal approach to the teachings of the Buddha and placed more emphasis on attaining enlightenment for oneself. The other, known as mahayanafollowed the Buddha’s teachings more liberally, and emphasized that the group achievement of enlightenment was not only possible but the highest ideal (Lyall). This will be important in discussing the cultural significance of Rohatsu in Japan.
Rohatsu is part of Zen Buddhism (Zen means complete, whole and virtuous). Zen dates back to Mahayana Buddhism. First taught by an Indian teacher known as Bodhidharma, it spread to China (known as Chan Buddhism), then to Japan by a teacher named Eisai Zenji in the 12th century (Flanagan 2004).
When is Rohatsu 2020
The Rohatsu is a commemoration of the moment when the Buddha attained enlightenment and It is usually celebrated the week in which December 8 falls. It is one of the sesshin, or periods of intense practice that occupies the first seven days of the six months of the year. In many Zen monasteries, these sesshins can include up to eleven hours of meditation a day for an entire week. Nevertheless, Rohatsu is the most important sesshin of the year and therefore usually requires up to fifteen hours of meditation per day., and in some monasteries the monks literally live, eat and sleep in the meditation hall. At the end of the week, at the end of the last meditation period, the monks leave the meditation hall, as the beating of a great drum and the ringing of bells herald the end of Rohatsu. Then the monks bathe, eat and sleep.
In 2020, the Rohatsu will be celebrated from December 8, with a whole week of meditation in addition to meditate throughout the night from the seventh to the eighth day.
What is celebrated in Rohatsu and what does it mean for Buddhists
Rohatsu in Japanese means “eighth day of the twelfth month”. December 8 has come to be, the day Japanese Zen Buddhists observe the enlightenment of the historical Buddha.
Traditionally, this observation, sometimes called » bodhi day «, was performed on the eighth day of a twelfth lunar month, which often falls in January. When Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar in the 19th century, Japanese Buddhists adopted fixed days for many holidays, including Buddha’s birthday. Western Buddhists of many schools also seem to be adopting December 8 as Bodhi Day. Bodhi means “awakened” in Sanskrit, although in English we tend to say “enlightened.”
The enlightenment of the Buddha is observed at different times in other parts of Asia. For example, Theravada Buddhists of Southeast Asia commemorate the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing into Nirvana by dying on the same day, called Vesak, which is usually in May. Tibetan Buddhists also observe these three events in the Buddha’s life at the same time, during the Dawa Duchen Saga, which is usually in June.
Buddha’s Enlightenment
According to the classical story of Buddha’s Enlightenment, after several years of fruitless search for peace, the future Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama decided to achieve enlightenment through meditation. She sat under a bodhi or sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa) and went into deep meditation.
As he sat, the demon Mara tempted him to abandon the mission. Mara brought her most beautiful daughters to seduce Siddhartha, but he did not move. Mara sent an army of demons to scare Siddhartha from his meditation seat. Once again, Siddhartha did not move. Mara then conjured up a vast army of terrifying demons, who ran screaming towards Siddhartha. Siddhartha did not move.
Finally, Mara challenged Siddhartha demanding to know by what right he claimed enlightenment. Mara boasted of her own spiritual achievements and her demon army cried out, “We bear witness!” “Who will speak for you?” Mara asked.
Then Siddhartha reached down with his right hand to touch the earth, and the earth itself roared: “I bear witness!” Then the morning star rose in the sky and Siddhartha realized enlightenment and became the Buddha.
Rohatsu Rituals
In Japanese Zen monasteries, Rohatsu is the last day of a week long sesshin. A sesshin is, as we have already explained, an intensive meditation retreat in which all waking time is devoted to meditation. Even when not in the meditation room, participants strive to maintain the focus of the meditation at all times: eating, washing, doing housework. Silence is maintained unless it is absolutely necessary to speak.
In a Rohatsu Sesshin, the tradition marks that the meditation of each night is longer than the one that is done during the day. In the case of being able to endure, as we have mentioned, the last night is spent in full meditation.