During the first fifteen days of the Lunar year, this festival is celebrated. The fifteenth day is the main day of commemoration.
It is called “Buddha’s Day of Miracles”. It is one of the four main holy days of Tibetan Buddhism.
This day commemorates the taming of the six false teachers. Long ago, six false teachers felt insulted by Buddha Shakyamuni’s power and presence. So, they challenged Buddha Shakyamuni’s wisdom and power. They bragged to kings that they will match and surpass the Buddha’s miraculous powers, to prove that he is just an ordinary monk.
Across 15 straight days, many Kings and hundred thousands of common people witnessed the Buddha’s miraculous displays. These displays defeated the six false teachers. The six false teachers met their end.
The Buddha encouraged everyone to do virtues and abandon non-virtues.
This great and inspiring Buddhist Sutra story is long. It can be divided into five blog posts:
- The challenge and preparation
- The fifteen days of miraculous displays and victory
- Why the Buddha developed the Thousand-spoked Wheel on the soles of his feet
- Why the Six False Teachers dared to challenge the Buddha
- Why Prince Tree Stump was too ugly