Why Rohatsu
“You monks, all of you, without exception, have a father and a mother, brothers and sisters and countless relatives. Suppose you were to count them all, life after life: there would be thousands, ten thousands and even more of them. All are transmigrating in the six worlds and suffering innumerable torments. They await your enlightenment as keenly as they would await a small rain cloud on the distant horizon during a drought. How can you sit so halfheartedly! You must have a great vow to save them all! Time passes like an arrow. It waits for no one. Exert yourself! Exhaust yourself!”
RÔHATSU EXHORTATIONS by Hakuin Ekaku Zenji
Translated by Eido Shimano and Roko Sherry Chayat
Rohatsu or Bodhi Day, translates from the Japanese as “the eighth day of the 12th month.” Rohatsu celebrates the evening Shakyamuni Buddha sat through the night, steadfastly seeking his awakening. As practiced in Zen monasteries, Rohatsu is an eight day sesshin each day preparing the attendees for the final all night zazen practice. While some refer to this celebration as Buddha’s birthday, the practice orients to the birth of his awakening rather then the actual day he came into the world as a baby boy. “Bodhi Day” captures this orientation given Bodhi is the Sanskrit term for enlightenment, which from the Mahayana perspective, is the realization of the non-duality of absolute and relative.
The story of Shakyamuni Buddha’s all night adventure under the Bodhi Tree has been captured in myth with the visitation of Mara, the demon of illusion, who harasses and tempts Siddhartha, the birth name of the Buddha, Buddha meaning “awakened one'“ is a name taken after this historic event. Interestingly, the Pali Canon, the traditional texts associated with Shakyamuni Buddha describes his enlightenment in three phases. The first phase of the night, the Buddha realizes his countless rebirths. The second phase, the Buddha recognizes the Eight Fold Path and the law of Karma, cause and effect. The third phase, Buddha reaches Nirvana, recognizing the Four Noble Truths.
A Few characteristics of this story must be recognized. We celebrate this momentous occasion in the darkest time of the year, recognizing the light of pure awareness, the potential for the liberation of all people. Shakyamuni Buddha found this revelation underneath the Peepal Tree - Ficus Religiousus, a large tree in the Fig family, that is held sacred by four cultures - Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. Consider an essential relationship with mature plant consciousness in facilitating awakening in a human. The moment of awakening is attributed to the when Buddha looked at the ‘morning star,” which we know as the planet Venus. Buddha receives the brightness of the morning star and recognizes that he is not separate from all of the universe, giving birth to Buddha consciousness.
Fast forward to the 21st Century, winter in the Northern Hemisphere is not conducive to sitting under trees all night. Our sangha does not consist of monks or monastery attendees. Our calendar is dominated by Christian and Jewish holidays. Zen Buddhism does not have an annual cycle of ceremonies similar to the Judeo-Christian celebrations. Therefore, the few that represent meaningful sentiments are even more essential to honor. Thus we gather together as a community of practitioners, across the globe, to honor the potential for compassionate awakening, represented by this momentous occasion. We sit zazen together through the night, across many time zones, in solidarity and prayer, for the potential for a peaceful, compassionate world.
Our Rohatsu practice offers the opportunity to celebrate the simplicity of practicing together. As a sangha, we sit together as the Buddha yet to come, awakening our connections with all beings.
“Pure awareness pervades the whole universe revealing this self right here right now within this service,
let us realize and unite with this infinite, compassionate universal light.”
- Hollow Bones Sutra Book.
On this night, we sit together as one.