Wednesday, May 8th, 2022, was the 8th day of the 4th month on the traditional East Asian lunar calendar. This was the date for Vesakha-puja (in Korean, Bul-tan-il), the annual celebration of the birth of the Buddha. In South Korea, where this event is one of the biggest public holidays of the year, part of the celebration involves visiting a Buddhist temple to “bathe the Buddha” by pouring water over a statue representing the infant Buddha. Click here to watch a short video from the BZC YouTube channel. 

Friday, December 30th, 2022, was the 8th day of the 12th month on the traditional East Asian lunar calendar. This is the date for Sambodhi-puja (in Korean, Seong-do-jae-il), the commemoration of the enlightenment of the Buddha almost 2,600 years ago.

A common practice on this occasion is an all-night meditation, ending early the next morning, just as tradition says the Buddha achieved enlightenment with the rising of Venus, the morning star.

To celebrate the occasion last time, there were two Facebook Live events broadcast on the BZC Facebook page — one at 9pm on Sunday Jan. 9th, and another at 6am on Monday Jan. 10th.

Saturday, January 21st, 2023, was the eve of New Year’s Day on the traditional East Asian lunar calendar. A special mini-retreat washeld at the Center, which included sitting and moving meditation, chanting, refreshment breaks, and culminated in 108 bells at midnight.