This month carries a particularly sacred and powerful energy, as we are blessed with the celebration of Wesak and the birthday of Lord Gautama Buddha in several traditions.

In the esoteric teachings of Alice Bailey, Wesak is observed at the Taurus full moon, which in 2026 falls on 1st May, when many come together in meditation to receive an impulse of energy directly from Source, as the Christ and the Buddha connect energetically and anchor their pure energies into the Earth. It is a time for enlightenment, purpose, and to align your will with the will of Source and the divine plan.  I love to reaffirm:

“I stand in my power and fulfil my highest destiny.”

In other countries, including South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Taiwan, the celebration falls on 24th May (8th day of the 4th month in the lunar calendar), where devotees honour the Buddha through lantern festivals, bathing rituals, and acts of compassion.

My friend and colleague Rose shared that in Taiwan she usually writes sutra, meditates and goes to a vegan restaurant with her family.

My friend and colleague Eric Chua (Xun Reiki) shared that when he was working in Thailand, during the Vesak period, there would be many food stores open for that period, selling only vegetarian food. And they all disappear after the season. In many Thai  temples, it is also a very big celebration, where people go to temples to do merit making by making donations to the temples and to the monks.

My friend and colleague Paula shared that in South Korea, some temples are in the mountains and for Buddha’s Birthday are beautifully decorated. Families go and pray, bringing their grandparents, bowing 108 times, and the children dance in hanbok. Seokga Tansinil (석가탄신일) is the official Korean name for Buddha’s Birthday. In modern South Korea, it’s an official public holiday, often also called Bucheonim Osin Nal (부처님 오신 날), meaning “The Day the Buddha Came.”

In many Buddhist countries such as Singapore and Malaysia, as well as in Nepal—the sacred birthplace of the Buddha—this festival is celebrated on 31st May, often marked by temple ceremonies, offerings, and candlelit devotion, especially in Lumbini.

Eric Chua (Xun Reiki) shared that in Singapore, the Chinese Buddhist culture will do prayer pujas, and some of them will be very physically intensive, praying to remember the Buddha, walking 3 steps and kneeling down to bow 1 time. They will continue this for many hours.

Although the dates vary, the essence remains the same: a time when the light of the Buddha pours onto Earth, uplifting humanity and offering each one of us the opportunity to open our hearts wider, enlighten our minds, expand our consciousness, and step more fully onto our path of service.

Click here for my Wesak meditations and workshops.

Click here for a recent Wesak meditation recorded by Diana Cooper.