Sunday, 04/19/2026
The meaning of the Master attaining enlightenment
Update: 18/01/2024
The meaning of the Master attaining enlightenment
Namo Original Master Shakyamuni Buddha
Dear religious leaders,
Dear distinguished guests, all people and Buddhists!
Heaven and earth rejoiced, the gods played music, the rain and sky scattered flowers to welcome the great man who attained great enlightenment in the world, Shakyamuni Buddha. The brilliant sunlight of the Dharma from the Great Enlightened One illuminated the world at dawn on December 8th, more than 26 centuries ago.
Shakyamuni Buddha, formerly crown prince Siddhartha, descended from the noble Sakyamuni sun. Even if the material and spiritual value is abundant, displayed before the Crown Prince's eyes, it is not enough to forever captivate the young Crown Prince's aspirations. Because of the Paramita vows that have been cultivated over many lifetimes, now seeing the suffering of human life, with the resolute he is willing to give up everything, on the February 8th when he just turned 19 years old. The prince crossed the citadel to become a monk in the middle of the night. At that time, he only had Channa and horse Kanthaka as his companions to see him off.
The Taoist Siddhartha then sought out the true masters of that time, worshiping the ideal of saving sentient beings and not enduring hardship; and then, also achieved what the two teachers had achieved. Because he was not satisfied with his desire to live, he and five brothers Kondanna, the first five disciples of Sakyamuni, experienced ascetic practice, hoping that one day not too far away, the highest truth would be enlightened. Those 6 years of asceticism were spent, but the ultimate truth was never attained. Then, he gave up, went to Uruvilva, Name of a forest near Gaya where Sakyamuni practiced austere asceticism before his enlightenment, under the Pippala tree, One of the name of the Ficus religiosa, solemnly took an oath, and meditated sincerely: "From now, If I cannot attain Supreme Bodhi, then even if my flesh and bones are crushed, I will never leave this place!”
With a strong spirit and unyielding will, Demons in heavens had to give way in fear. At the first watch, he attained Enlightenment. At the Second watch, he attained Clear vision of the saint. At the third watch, finally, the deliverance of mind from passions was reached perfection. From that time, the world has had a righteous enlightened being born.
Under the Bodhi tree, the great demon army was defeated
The morning star has just risen
Turn the wheel of dharma
Three Yanas take refuge in one mind
Infertility will be witnessed
All species are directed towards one mind Vow to attain birthlessness.
At that night, December 8th, His magnetic light illuminated the entire three thousand great worlds.
This important event has marked a milestone in human history about the Master's message of Compassion and Wisdom. The message is that:
“It is the World-Honored One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, dear monks, when appearing in the world, his appearance brought happiness and peace to the majority, because of compassion of the world, as well as the benefit, happiness, and the peace of Gods and humans.”
Thus, the Great Enlightened One, the free from all influence of the passion-nature, has existed in the world through 10 titles including Tathagata, Sacrifice, Perfect Enlightenment, Perfection of Wisdom and Conduct, Good Oath, Understanding of the World, Supreme Being, Regulator The Man, the Master of Heaven and Man, the Buddha, the World-Honored One.
Dear Sirs! Dear ladies and gentlemen!
There is nothing more sacred and noble than the appearance and enlightenment of a Tathagata. We can talk about coming - going, birth - death, existence - loss in the relativity of the world; But few people know that in the absolute truth of the First Noble Truth, the World-Honored One was never born and never died. Hence, He attained enlightenment right in this realm of the five evil defilements, which is ringing the bell to awaken the world for the meaning:
You will become Buddhas
I has become a Buddha.
This important meaning will be left in the hearts of every Buddhist when we learn to look back at ourselves and constantly reflect and practice. Greed, anger, ignorance, and wrong views will be let go when the light of mindfulness and awareness shines. In that profound gratitude, the serious practice of each of us will be the highest way of repaying gratitude to the Compassionate Father of the three realms and four species.
Let us be like the Venerable Ananda, together arousing the will of Great Might - Great Power - Great Compassion to enhance the value of practice and transformation of Buddhism on the anniversary of Sakyamuni's enlightenment.
Now I vow to attain perfect enlightenment
Saving sentient beings is like the sand of the Ganges River
This body and mind are as broken as dust
The Buddhas' grace is a little bit of gratitude.
In endless happiness on this year's anniversary of the Buddha's enlightenment, we once again pray for the Dharma to prevail, the Sangha to be in harmony, the country to be prosperous, the world to be at peace, and sentient beings to be at peace. We respectfully wish the entire assembly to be blessed with wisdom and enlightenment, and the Bodhi mind to grow.
Namo Original Master Shakyamuni Buddha.
Tam Cung
Translated into English by Huynh Thi Khanh Phung