Rohatsu is a
Zen festival that marks the day that
Buddha reached
enlightenment, as he gazed upon
Venus and was
awoken from
meditation. That was the most
wonderful moment, in which he realised the
solution to the troubles of all humans.
During Rohatsu, Zen Buddhists attempt to emulate the state of mind of Buddha at the moment of his enlightenment. On December 8, many Zen Buddhists go to the rohatsu sesshin determined to experience the same as Buddha did on that day.