The Buddha’s Birthday — why is it special?

Two thousand five hundred and forty-four years ago, when the World-Honored One was born in India, he looked around, walked seven steps in four directions, and pointing one finger to heaven and one to Earth, he roared out, “Above Heaven and below Heaven; only I am the most Honored.”

When Venerable Master Wun-Mun (d. 949) heard this, he bellowed out: “If I were there, I would have beaten him to death, and fed him to the hungry dogs, to give peace to all the world.”

Why did the Master say that? If you can bring a word to it, you would know what is the special meaning of Buddha’s coming to this world. But if not, even though you are building thousands of temples and pagodas for the Buddha, it is only like respecting an idol of the devil, and you gain no benefit towards enlightenment. Buddha means Enlightenment. If somebody asks me, I would like to answer: “It was Easter a few days ago.”

Everybody celebrates the Buddha’s birthday.
But the Buddha said: “Never have I been born
nor have I died.”
I asked the white clouds of the Sublime Summit,
“Which one is correct?”
They replied, “Today is the day the flowers
are blooming and the birds are singing.”
Tak Tak Tak!   (The sound of the Dharma Stick.)