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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Vesak Day, one of the most important and sacred |
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| 8 | 9 | | holidays to Buddhists worldwide, commemorates the life, |
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| 9 | 10 | | enlightenment, and death of the Buddha; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Born between 400 and 560 B.C., the Buddha, or |
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| 11 | 12 | | Siddhartha Gautama, was the son of an Indian king; after leaving |
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| 12 | 13 | | behind his home and his royal title to become an ascetic, he |
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| 13 | 14 | | resolved to find an end to human suffering, which led to him |
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| 14 | 15 | | identifying the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path |
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| 15 | 16 | | toward enlightenment; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Some 2,500 years later, followers of Buddhism honor |
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| 17 | 18 | | the legacy of the religion's founder on Vesak Day; depending on the |
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| 18 | 19 | | country where it is celebrated, the holiday occurs on the first full |
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| 19 | 20 | | moon of May, or on the full moon of the fourth lunar month; many |
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| 20 | 21 | | observe the holiday by reaffirming their commitment to the moral |
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| 21 | 22 | | precepts of Buddhism, performing good deeds, and devoting time to |
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| 22 | 23 | | chanting and meditation; other customs include lighting lanterns, |
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| 23 | 24 | | decorating with flowers, and enjoying traditional Asian dishes; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, A multitude of Texans have found inspiration and |
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| 25 | 26 | | spiritual guidance in the Buddhist faith, and many worship at |
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| 26 | 27 | | temples and meditation facilities located in cities across the |
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| 27 | 28 | | state; in addition, the Buddhist community in Texas benefits from |
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| 28 | 29 | | the contributions of numerous organizations that work to support |
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| 29 | 30 | | followers of Buddhism and to preserve the religion's rich and |
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| 30 | 31 | | vibrant history; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, The teachings of the Buddha have inspired millions |
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| 32 | 33 | | of people around the globe to strive for inner peace and to |
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| 33 | 34 | | demonstrate greater compassion, tolerance, and understanding in |
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| 34 | 35 | | their lives, and it is fitting to acknowledge the great importance |
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| 35 | 36 | | of Vesak Day to Buddhists who reside in the Lone Star State and |
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| 36 | 37 | | beyond; now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | Legislature hereby recognize the significance of Vesak Day to |
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| 39 | 40 | | people of the Buddhist faith and extend sincere best wishes to the |
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| 40 | 41 | | state's Buddhist community for a festive and meaningful observance. |
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