COME CELEBRATE BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY, ENLIGHTENMENT AND PARANIRVANA

Northwest Arkansas Buddhists will celebrate Vesak 2008 with a potluck picnic beginning at 3:30 pm (dinner starts around 5:30 pm) on Sunday, May 18 at Agri Park in Fayetteville. All area Buddhists and all those interested in Buddhist theory and practice are cordially invited to attend.
Sometimes informally called “Buddha’s birthday,” Vesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment (Nirvana), and passing (Paranirvana) of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni. An official state holiday in many Buddhist countries, Vesak is also known as Vaisakha, Buddha Jayanti, and Saga Dawa. The exact date of Vesak varies according to the various lunar calendars used in different traditions. For many of those traditions, Vesak falls on May 20 in 2008.
Please bring food and drink, plates, cups, and utensils to share with those attending, as well as lawn chairs, games, etc. Local practice groups are invited to bring information about their group’s practice and activities to share with others. Those who wish may bring offerings of fruit, flowers, incense, or candles to be placed on the altar.
The event will feature a period of silent meditation, and perhaps a Dharma talk or two. At the close of the event, Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee will offer to those interested the Eight Precepts Vow, to be honored for the 24-hour period beginning at sunrise on Tuesday May 20. Participants who take the vow undertake to abstain from: taking life (both human and nonhuman); taking what is not given (stealing); all sexual activity; telling lies; using intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness; eating at the wrong time (the right time is eating once, after sunrise, before noon); singing, dancing, playing music, attending entertainment performances, wearing perfume, and using cosmetics and garlands; and using luxurious places for sitting or sleeping.
Located on Garland Avenue north of the University of Arkansas and Deane Street, Agri Park features a covered pavilion; in the event of rain, the event will proceed as planned.