Dragon Full Moon

I am a lover of the full moon as anyone who knows me knows. So, I was eager to look up the significance of tonight's moon FRIDAY MAY 12 (right now)
Full Moon at 23 Scorpio occurs May 12 at 11:51 p.m. PDT, and May 13 at 2:51 a.m. EDT.
I was happy to discover that not only is it a full moon but also the holiest day of the year for Buddhists.
So, round midnight tonight, the moon is full and shining down on us and the Chinese name for this full moon is the Dragon Moon.



As the birth, enlightenment and Nirvana of Lord Buddha falls on the same day of full moon of the month of May~which is called Vesak~ and the moon being the Vesak Moon, Buddhists around the world, including Nepal, observe Buddha Jayanti with respect and devotion to Buddha upon the 2550th Birth Anniversary of Lord Gautam Buddha.
The United Nations has been observing the Anniversary of Lord Buddha as a public holiday since 2002.
The decision to agree to celebrate Vesak as the Buddhas birthday was formalized at the first Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (W.F.B.) held in Sri Lanka in 1950, although festivals at this time in the Buddhist world are a centuries-old tradition.

On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate three great events: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha.
This sacred day is purely a religious festival, and not a festive occasion.

On this day all Buddhists are expected to reaffirm their faith in the Buddha Dhamma and to lead a noble religious life.
It is a day for meditation and for radiating Loving-Kindness.

For it was on this day that the Buddha was born, and 35 years later awoke to the unexcelled right self-awakening, and another 45 years later passed away into total nirvana. In each case, these events took place on the full-moon day in May.

Tonight is a an extra special full moon...do try to get outside & take it in if you can~