Buddha’s Enlightenment

Buddha's Enlightenment is an evening Zen meditation and ceremony at the Auckland Zen Centre in Onehunga, New Zealand. Held each year in early December, it commemorates "the reopening of the Way" by Shakyamuni, the Buddha of our world cycle. It suits anyone drawn to Zen practice who wants to mark the Buddha's awakening in a communal setting, led by Roshi.

What Happens

The evening sitting begins at the usual time with zazen, seated Zen meditation. Roshi then tells the story of the Buddha's Great Enlightenment. Passages from the sutras are read aloud, and everyone chants together.

After the ceremony, a special dessert of sweetened milk-rice (kheer) is served. It recalls the first nourishment the Buddha took to regain strength after his period of extreme ascetic practice, and before he accomplished anuttara samyak sambodhi, complete, perfect enlightenment. Sharing it brings the story of the evening into the body as well as the mind.

The gathering runs from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

The Setting

The ceremony takes place at the Auckland Zen Centre in Onehunga, where the regular evening sitting is held. This celebration follows the centre's usual evening schedule, with the ceremony added after zazen.