The birth, enlightenment, and paranirvana of the Buddha was celebrated on May 18, 2008 with a picnic at Agri Park in Fayetteville. At least 50 guests attended, including representatives from the Buddhist Meditation and Spiritual Support Group, Morning Star Zen Center, Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas, and Unitarian Universalist Buddhist Fellowship. Events included a blessing of the event by Geshe Thupten Dorjee of the Tibetan Cultural Institute; a meditation led by Joshua Newman, of the Buddhist Meditation group; a Dharma reading and evening bell chant led by Barbara Taylor of the Morning Star Zen Center; and the giving of the Eight Mahayana Precepts Vow for observation on the official day of Vesak by Geshe Thupten Dorjee. The precepts vow was taken by over 30 attendees.