The First Sermon Of Lord Buddha falls on the fourth day of the sixth month of the Bhutanese calendar. This year, the holiday is set to happen on July 28 .The First Sermon Of Lord Buddha, officially known as ‘Drukpa Tshe Zhi,’ is a non-working holiday in Bhutan. As the name suggests, Drukpa Tshe Zhi marks the anniversary of the first sermon given by Lord Buddha in the Deer Park in Isipatana, India, over 2,500 years ago. The sermon also marks the creation of the Buddhist ‘sangha’ or ‘monkhood.’
History of First Sermon Of Lord Buddha
Born in Lumbini, India, Siddhartha Gautama was a member of the aristocratic Shakya clan during the reign of Bimbisara, the ruler of the Magadha empire. The sheltered young man, as the story goes, embarked on a journey outside the walls of his palace and, upon seeing the reality of the suffering beyond aristocratic luxury, renounced his place in society and adopted an ascetic lifestyle. He began traveling across the Gangetic plain in order to spread his message of a ‘Middle Path.’ after many years of meditation and mendicancy, he is believed to have attained enlightenment — the knowledge and understanding of the cycle of life and death and how to lead a ‘good life’ of moderation.
His first sermon, entitled “Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion,” was delivered over 2,500 years ago in the Deer Park in Isipatana, India. In this sermon, Gautama stated the ‘Four Noble Truths’ — the existence of suffering, the cause of suffering, the cause of suffering can end, and the path to the end of suffering — and the ‘Noble Eightfold Path’ — the right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Following this path would allow a person to break away from suffering and attain ‘nirvana.’
Post his death, Gautama came to be known as Buddha, which means ‘The Enlightened One.”
First Sermon Of Lord Buddha timeline
Siddhartha Gautama becomes the founder of Buddhism.
Buddhist practitioners are sent to Sri Lanka from India.
Buddhism reaches China.
Buddhism reaches Central Asia during the reign of King Kanishka.
First Sermon Of Lord Buddha FAQs
Where did the Buddha give his first sermon?
Buddha gave his first sermon in the Deer Park in Sarnath, which is now an archeological complex.
When did Buddha have his first sermon?
Buddha gave his first sermon in the sixth century B.C. to the first five men that accompanied him.
Which language did Lord Buddha preach in?
He preached in Pali, a Middle Indic dialect that became one of the major languages of Buddhist scriptures and literature.
How to Observe First Sermon Of Lord Buddha
Learn about Buddhist philosophy
Spend the day reading up on The First Sermon Of Lord Buddha. It marks the day Buddhist philosophy was established.
Read about the life of Gautum Buddha
Gautum Buddha had an awe-inspiring life. Use the day as an opportunity to learn more about it.
Visit a Buddhist temple
If possible, visit a Buddhist temple on the day. Offer your prayers and think upon life. You might find there’s a shift in consciousness.
5 Interesting Facts About Buddhism
Diet
Buddhists follow the principle of non-violence, thus they are vegetarians.
Mahayana
Mahayana Buddhism is the most practiced kind of Buddhism.
Monks
Buddhist monks and nuns shave their hair.
Holy book
There is no singular holy book in Buddhism, but they do have several essential texts.
Etymology
Western Scholars coined the term ‘Buddhism’ in the 1830s.
Why First Sermon Of Lord Buddha is Important
It’s a day of religious significance
The First Sermon Of Lord Buddha is an important day for Buddhists. Did you know there are over 500 million Buddhists in the world?
It’s an opportunity to learn about Buddhism
Many people don’t know about Buddhism. The day is a perfect opportunity for them to learn about its beliefs and practices.
It brings an important message
The Middle Path is a very important philosophy to analyze. The day offers an opportunity to reflect on it.
First Sermon Of Lord Buddha dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2022 | August 1 | Monday |
2023 | July 21 | Friday |
2024 | July 10 | Wednesday |
2025 | July 28 | Monday |
2026 | July 18 | Saturday |