Rohatsu decorations/celebration

[Chikyou]

I'm really excited for Rohatsu this year and want to celebrate a little (aside from the retreat which I will of course be there for - it's already blocked off on my calendar).

Are there any traditional ways of celebrating, like decorations, traditional foods etc?

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Tai Shi]

What are the dates again?
Tai Shi
lah


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Shinshi]

What are the dates again?
Tai Shi
lah


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

This year is is the weekend of Dec 2nd and 3rd.

Rohatsu Retreat: Commit to sit our SPECIAL NETCAST ROHATSU RETREAT (to be held online, currently scheduled for netcast the weekend of December 2nd & 3rd) at the culmination of the Ango. Again, it would be good to participate "live", but the Rohatsu Netcast will be available in recorded form to fit schedules. The retreat will likely be similar to last year's schedule and content:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...2022-MAIN-PAGE

[Shujin]

Hi Kelly, my experience with Rohatsu is centered mostly around sitting retreats. I think it's more of a contemplative than celebratory occasion. The Buddha's birthday, by contrast, is more festive.

That said, I don't see why one couldn't celebrate Rohatsu with food and decoration. Maybe make a small bodhi tree?

Either way, I'm just a priest in training, and could have missed the mark.

Gassho,
Shujin

St/lah




Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[Bion]

I'm really excited for Rohatsu this year and want to celebrate a little (aside from the retreat which I will of course be there for - it's already blocked off on my calendar).

Are there any traditional ways of celebrating, like decorations, traditional foods etc?

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

In Japan it doesn’t seem to be a widespread celebration, though some lights are displayed and some cakes and tea served. So, that seems nice! [emoji1] Jundō can expand on that more. Some flowers for the altar, some cake offering for the Buddha, to wish enough food in the world, to wish for some peace and well being, would be nice also.
But, as mentioned before, we celebrate by doing a Buddha’s activity [emoji3526]

Gassho
Sat and lah

[Kaitan]

What is it's my birthday in December 3rd? Can I buy cake and eat it during the retreat?

Gasshō

stlah

Bernal

[Shinshi]

What is it's my birthday in December 3rd? Can I buy cake and eat it during the retreat?

Gasshō

stlah

Bernal

I think it would be required.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Jundo]

Oh, well, we have our Rohatsu Retreat. That's a party! (Happy Enlightenment!)

But you know, for several years, I have tried to introduce around here "Buddhist Family Holidays" to make our own version of, well, you know ... those other holidays in December and Spring ...

... and it just has never taken off. However, it has lots of fun ideas for both Rohatsu and Vesak ...

Even the site I created has vanished, although it still lives on Wayback ...

https://web.archive.org/web/20160415041904/https://www.sites.google.com/site/buddhistfamilyholidays/home

I would still love to see the idea catch on.

Some ideas there include ...

ROHATSU HOLIDAY IDEAS (WINTER)
When to Celebrate? "Bodhi Day" is the Buddhist holiday commemorating the day that the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautauma experienced enlightenment ("Bodhi" in Sanskrit and Pali). After spending years living the life of an ...

Day of Fasting To commemorate Shakyamuni's period of denial and fasting in the time prior to his enlightenment, one Day of Fasting may be a moving practice. Fasting is an old and ...

Ricemilk Meal To break the day of fasting ... make and enjoy a family meal or treat of rice pudding, or traditional "ricemilk," together with your loved ones. This can be done while ...

Mara's Temptations Have your children promise to give up something they love for a day (adults can give up three things) or for several days ... candy, dessert, television, video games or the ...

Bodhi Day Family Meal Celebrate Bodhi Day with a special dinner inviting family and friends. The meal can be held on a convenient night near Bodhi Day. A vegetarian meal is suggested, and we ...

Lights of Enlightenment Light candles each of the seven nights of Rohatsu, together as a family, parents helping small children to do the lighting. Here is an example of such a ceremony: First ...

Organize a "Blanket Drive" Together with your kids, collect from your home blankets and other warm clothing for the homeless in winter, or organize a "blanket drive" collecting blankets and warm clothing from many ...

Decorating the Bodhi Tree The Bodhi Tree, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, is a species of banyan fig known as "sacred fig" (ficus religiosa, of 'bo' tree). One might purchase a potted live ...

Giving Loving Words & Gifts Avoid store-bought cards, and have children and adults sit down together around the family table to write personal, heartfelt letters and cards of love and gratitude to family members ...

HOLIDAY SONG CONTEST
SUBMIT AN ORIGINAL HOLIDAY SONG PLEASE SUBMIT AN ORIGINAL SONG OR MUSICAL COMPOSITION on the theme of VESAK OR ROHATSU, THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA, or ANY BUDDHIST TEACHINGS, HISTORY OR SUBJECT. HOWEVER, SONGS SHOULD ...

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Chikyou]

Oh, well, we have our Rohatsu Retreat. That's a party! (Happy Enlightenment!)

But you know, for several years, I have tried to introduce around here "Buddhist Family Holidays" to make our own version of, well, you know ... those other holidays in December and Spring ...

... and it just has never taken off. However, it has lots of fun ideas for both Rohatsu and Vesak ...

Even the site I created has vanished, although it still lives on Wayback ...

https://web.archive.org/web/20160415041904/https://www.sites.google.com/site/buddhistfamilyholidays/home

I would still love to see the idea catch on.

Some ideas there include ...



Gassho, Jundo

stlah

Lovely!

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Do Mi]

I am planning to sit Rohatsu here and I'm very excited. Is there a place to sign up/commit? I have been reading the information from last year.

In gassho,

Do Mi
sat and lah

[Jundo]

I am planning to sit Rohatsu here and I'm very excited. Is there a place to sign up/commit? I have been reading the information from last year.

In gassho,

Do Mi
sat and lah

Hi Do Mi,

I will post information in the coming weeks. It is now scheduled for the weekend of December 2nd-3rd.

The content will be just as prior years ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?20880-TREELEAF-SANGHA-online-2-DAY-ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU-RETREAT-2022-MAIN-PAGE

See you there. I will save you a good seat.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Do Mi]

Hi Do Mi,

I will post information in the coming weeks. It is now scheduled for the weekend of December 2nd-3rd.

The content will be just as prior years ...

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?20880-TREELEAF-SANGHA-online-2-DAY-ANGO-JUKAI-ROHATSU-RETREAT-2022-MAIN-PAGE

See you there. I will save you a good seat.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

Thank you!!

Gassho,

Do Mi
sat and lah