Bodhi Day is on Dec. 8th, a Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautauma experienced enlightenment, also known as Bodhi in Sanskrit or Pali.

According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under a Pipul tree (known today as “The Bodhi Tree”, a Ficus religiosa or Bo-Tree) and simply meditate until he found the root of suffering, and how to liberate one’s self from it. Siddhartha finally found the answers he sought and became Enlightened, and experienced Nirvana.
He then became the Buddha or “Awakened One”.

“A tree is a wonderful living organism which gives shelter, food, warmth and protection to all living things.
It even gives shade to those who wield an axe to cut it down.” ~ Buddha
Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.

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The Buddha describes his Enlightenment in three stages:
1.   During the first watch of the night, the Buddha discovered all of his past lives in the cycle of rebirth, realizing that he had been born and reborn countless times before.
 2.  During the second watch, the Buddha discovered the Law of Karma, and the importance of living by the Eightfold Path.
 3.  During the third watch, the Buddha discovered the Four Noble Truths, finally reaching Nirvana.

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