Buddhists are meant to reaffirm faith in five cardinal principles of life called Panchsheela on Vesak

Vesak is the most celebrated Buddhist festival that commemorates the birth of Gautama Buddha - founder of the Buddhism. The Buddha's birth is also celebrated as part of Vesak to celebrate the Buddha's enlightenment and death. This year, Vesak is being celebrated on May 1, 2026.

Though Buddhism originated in North India, but spread and got entrenched into most South-East Asian countries. After bloody Kalinga war, Emperor Ashoka helped to in the process of spread Buddhism into countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Indo-China.

Later, the religion spread into the Himalayan kingdoms of Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. Also, Tibet, Mongolia, China, Korea, Viet Nam and Japan embraced Buddhism. Presently, around 95 per cent of the population in Thailand is Buddhist - the highest concentration of Buddhists in the world.

The followers of Buddhism reaffirm their faith in the five principles called Panchsheela listed as follows.

1. Never take life

2. Never steal

3. Never commit adultery

4. Never lie

5. Never consume liquor or other intoxicants

INSPIRED POEM

A gentle wish, with no desire,

To reach the light, to climb up higher.

Cast out the shadows, dark and deep,

The hurtful words, the promises to keep.

No stolen gains, no grasping hand,

Just honest toil across the land.

No broken vows, no paths that stray,

But truth and kindness light the way.

No clouded thoughts, no senses lost,

To find the peace, no matter cost.

To be pure, to be free,

This is the path, for you and me.

Must awaken bright, a Buddha's gleam,

A waking truth, a perfect dream.