Rohatsu

Rohatsu is Japanese for "eighth day of the twelfth month," so it always falls on December 8th.

Today Japanese Buddhists observe the enlightenment of the Buddha. It's also known as Bodhi Day. Here's the short explanation:

After years of searching for answers, Siddhartha Gautauma finally vowed that he would sit under the Bodhi tree until he found the truth. Siddhartha fasted and meditated under the tree for a week, and on the morning of the eighth day he was enlightened by the principles at the heart of Buddhism. After that he was called the Buddha - The Enlightened One.

In Japanese Zen monasteries, Rohatsu is the last day of a week-long sesshin, an intensive meditation retreat. Participants maintain silent meditation at all times, even while eating and doing chores. And each evening's meditation period gets a little longer, until on this last night they sit up all night. The Rohatsu Retreat gives participants the opportunity to realize their own Buddha nature.

Agenda today:

1. Zazen Meditation

2. Make rice kheer

3. Decorate with a string of colored lights

1. Zazen Meditation:
Most Buddhists don't go through such an intensive week-long process, but might spend part of Bodhi Day meditating, contemplating the Dharma, and chanting sutras. Many also choose to perform acts of kindness. 

I plan to try some zazen using a video to guide me; here are two I've previewed: The first is very basic and the second is longer.

2. Make rice kheer:

After his seven days of fasting and meditation, the Buddha was emaciated and very weak. A girl named Sujata from a nearby town came to offer him a bowl of rice pudding with honey to help him to recover his strength.

Eating rice kheer is a soothing way to end zazen practice, and making it is a meditation practice of itself. Make yourself a cup of tea, and prepare to stay near the pot to stir, to keep the milk from burning as it reduces.

Ingredients

• 1/3-c. white Basmati rice
• 4-c. whole milk
• 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4-c. honey (or less)

Yield: Serves 4-

1- In a large, heavy pot, bring the rice, milk, cardamom and salt to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to keep milk from burning.

2- Reduce the heat so that the milk is gently simmering and cook for 45 to 50 minutes, stirring often. The rice should be tender and the milk will be reduced by half, giving a porridge-like consistency.

3-  Add honey to taste. Stir and turn off the heat. Serve warm or chilled.

My tiny outdoor tree.

3. Decorate with a string of colored lights:
I found several mentions that Buddhist families with children may string colored lights today to mark the many pathways to enlightenment. I am ready today to bring a little more light to the dark of winter