Full Moon Night

Candle Lighting for World Peace

DIMC

May 24 2013

 Photos taken by Alex Yu

Vesak is a Buddhist festival that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. In some places, it is also known as Candle lighting for world peace. I would like to emphasize that I attended this event held by Dhammakaya International Meditation Center as a researcher in psychology of religion and a photographer. I didn't participate in the religious rituals. The day of Vesak varies from year to year and from place to place; it is tied to the lunar calendars adopted by different Buddhist nations, but usually it is held on a full moon day. In 2013 the Vesak Day is May 24. It is coincident that the Vesak Day and the American Memorial Day are only a few days apart from each other. My mind is inter-entangled with the messages of peace and war.