Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center

Buddhism for those who are new to this tradition

Mãgha Pujã Day

Objectives:

1. To offer the student about the importance of Mãgha Pujã Day
2. To offer the student about the events which happen on Mãgha Pujã Day
3. To offer the student the basic principles of Buddhism 

Consequences:

1. The student can explain the importance of Mãgha Pujã Day.
2. The student has learned about the importance events which happen on the Mãgha Pujã Day.
3. The student has learned basic principles of the Buddhist teaching.

This Mãgha Pujã celebration 2006, we would like to present you a very simple and easy as an author way of speaking. I always say that my English is Fourth language and it is poor. I can only write in the plain English. And also this is my intention for my mission in the West, because as I meet with English speaking friends in Amherst burg, Ont. Canada, one of them say that, “this is not only for the young students but for all of us too.”

What is Mãgha Pujã Day? And what does it mean by Fourfold Assembly? The fallowing conversations between my students and me would be the answer of this question. One day we sat in the Temple after lunch. Adam and his friends were ordained as novices last summer.

What is Mãga Pujã sir? Asked Adam. I explained to him and his friends that. Pay attention I will give you the answer and explain to you all. There are many important Buddhist Holy Days relating to the life of the Buddha. These days fall on the full moon day and 8th day of the waxing and waning moon.  They are Visãkha Pujã Day (Full Moon Day of Sixth Lunar month), Asãlha Pujã Day (Full Moon Day of Eighth Lunar Month), and Mãgha Pujã Day (Full Moon Day of Third Lunar Month).   

When and where this Mãga Pujã taken place sir? Austin questioned. Mãgha Pujã Day took place on the full moon day of the third lunar Month (around full moon day of March). This day took place just two years after the Buddha attained enlightenment at Bamboo grove in Rãjagrih city, Bihar State of India at the present, offered by King Bimbisãra to the Buddha and his disciples for their residence. This is the first Buddhist Temple in Buddhist world. This Holy Day commemorates two important events in the life of the Buddha, the first occurred early in the Buddha's missionary life.

When the Buddha went to Rajacaha (Rajagrih) city after the first rains retreat, at that time there were 1250 enlightened disciples who became disciples of the Buddha and they returned from their mission. They came to pay homage to the Buddha there. They assembled in the Veruvana Monastery (Bamboo Grove).  Two chief disciples of the Buddha, Venerable Sãriputta and Venerable Moggallãna, were also there.  This assembly is called the Fourfold Assembly because there were four important things about this assembly. Do you understand Austin? Yes, Sir I do. How about others? I asked. Yes, Sir, Adam said.

What is fourfold Assembly Sir? Please tell us about that asked Victoria. O. K. Keep quiet, I will explain to you, this is very important to you all as Buddhist, I said. The Fourfold Assembly is as follow;

1.  All 1250 Monks attained enlightenment.

2. They were ordained by the Buddha himself.

3. They assembled on their own without being called.

4. All of these happened on the full moon day of Mãgha Mãsa (The month of March).

On the other hand, this Day is the day the Buddha made decision in advance to pass away three months before He passed away from the eyes of people remained the Law of cause and effect for the people to practice and experience peace and real happiness for themselves for ever. And Buddhism has been practiced, and being practiced till today.

I remembered once I asked one of my friends who joined Weeklong Intensive Meditation Retreat with me at Buddhist Vihãra in Stockholm, Sweden in 1999, (May 24-30, 1999). What I asked is how do you think about Buddhism? Is it out of date or is it update or not? Then he responded to my question that, to me, he said; Buddhism is supper update, it is practical way of life, I love it, it makes sense to me, that is why I became a Buddhist.

In term of freedom to practice, one of my students at MBMC, Warren, Michigan, said that Buddhism is the “Spiritual Democratic Way of Life” (She is from Lao-Hmonks family from Lao).

How do you think with what I said. Does it make sense to you all? Yes Sir. Adam responses. But Topten curiously requests that, Can you tell us more about Buddhism? Yes, I can. As I told you before, Buddhism is the Law of Nature, Law of courses and effects. For example, if you want to be happy you have to do good by yourself, if you want to get good grad in your study you have to be good student that means you have to apply right effort, pay full attention in your study, do it one by one, not to be lazy.

If you get sick you have to go to see the doctor and get medicines and take medicine by yourself, I can not take medicine for you to get out of sickness. This is Law of courses and effects or natural law according to what the Buddha taught, Buddhism.

Wow! Salena surprised, she said, it is wonderful. “I always stay at home on the weekend, she continues, I do my home-works and help my mom do cleaning in the kitchen. She asks me more about, how my friends who go with bad gays on the weekend and now they are starting smoking and drinking? They started having different hairs styles and color. Some times they are also talking in the class rooms while teachers were teaching. What is that?

They are learning bad things, I said. They did not pay full attention in their study. They are putting diseases in their own bodies, they do not love themselves. They do not love their parents. They do not respect their teachers. It is not good to do that. You do not learn that, just observe and make a note, not to fallow. Do you understand Salena? Yes Sir said Salena. Thank you very much. 

What are the basic principles of Buddhism Sir?

Tell us the easy ones. Okay, I will tell you. I said. Get ready and take notes all of you.

Basic Principles of Buddhism

Basic Principles of Buddhism are as follows.  When the 1,250 enlightened Monks assembled together.  The Buddha took this opportunity to proclaim the foundation or the principles of Buddhist teachings, as follows:

1. SABBAPÃPASSA AKARANAM:  Not to do any bad deeds

2. KUSALASSUPASAMPADÃ:      To do good deeds

3.  SACITTA PARIYODAPANAM: To purify the mind from impurities

 These are the basic Principles of Buddhism. These also were known as “Ovãda Pãtimokkha” (the fundamental principles of Buddhism, a Universal Law). Salena! If all people from all walks of lives were to follow these principles of Buddhism, we, human communities would have peaceful and happy lives indeed. Our communities would be wonderful place to live in.

We can expect a peaceful family, peaceful community, peaceful nations, and peaceful world.  This first event happened in the early part of the Buddha's mission. The fallowing doctrines are very important for all of you to study and practice. These are known as keys for success.

The second set of event took place in the last year of the second part of the Buddha's life, on the full Moon day of the third lunar month (March). The Buddha delivered a sermon named IDDHIPÃDA DHAMMA, the Basis of Success. They are as follow; 

1. Good will, good intension, chantha

2.  Effort, viriya  

3. Thoughtfulness, citta, and

4. Investigation, vimangsã.

Whatever we do, if we put good intention, good will, proper effort and patience, proper concentration, and investigation, or examination, and testing, we should be succeeded in our daily work. As the students if you all are following these principles of Buddhism, you should be succeeded in your study. This is scientific way of life from Buddhism, more we studied more we become humane. It shown that Buddhism shown the world how human beings may be developed to become perfect human beings, from basic morality, mind training through meditation practice, and wisdom training. This natural and scientific way of training and practice in this very life recovered by human being, the Buddha, for the benefits of human beings for peace and real happiness of human and all living beings.

The Buddha informed Venerable Ananda that he had decided to pass away on the full Moon day of the sixth lunar month (May) three months later. These two important events occurred on the full Moon day of Mãgha month (late February early March), at Pãval Cetiya, Vesãli, Vaisãli city, northeastern India. 

We pray homage to the Three Treasures of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha on the full Moon day of Mãgha Month. It is, therefore, called Mãgha Pujã Day.  

The Buddhists all over the world observe this Holy Day. Here in Buddha Vihãra, The Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center, MBMC, we will observe Mãga Pujã on February 12, 2006. You are all cordially invited to come and join the service, please remind your parents to come too.    

One day before Mãgha Pujã Day, people clean up their houses, villege roads, cities for whole day for a better sanitation, and good environment. Next day in the morning, people offer food to the Monks, and many making meritorious deeds engaging in making-merit on a grand scale.

In the afternoon, they give food to poor and handicapped people. Then they go to the monastery observe the Five or Eight Precepts, listen to a sermon, Dhamma talks. 

In the evenings everyone participates in the Candlelight Ceremony. They assemble on the monastery grounds with flowers, incense sticks, and lighted candies in their hands.

They walk completely around the Main Chapel where the image of the Buddha is located keeping their right sides towards the Main Chapel as a sign of respect. They do this three times.

As they walk they remember the virtues of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, and pay respect to them.  They also respect fully commemorate Iddhipãda Dhamma Sermon and the Parinibbãna decision by Lord Buddha as reviewed above. Some of them may spend over night in the temple for meditation practice.

 We, as a Buddhists, should pay respect to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha by following the three principles of Buddhism in our daily life; namely;

    1. Not to do any bad deeds

    2.  To do good deeds and 

    3. To cleanse the mind from impurities.

 At Buddha Vihãra, the Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center, this year, 29750 Ryan Rd., Warren, MI 48092, we will be observing this very important Day on February 12, 2006. You are cordially invited to participate in this program from 10:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Lunch will be served to all congregations free of charges, donation is always welcome. When you grow up you may learn more about Buddha Teachings and practice meditation for your own peaceful and happy family life.

Thank you very much Sir. We learn a lot today, we enjoy our conversations. Oh you are all welcome. I think it is the time for me to get ready for evening chanting and meditation some new friends come to join us in meditation practice today.

We will meet again next month. Your parents are waiting over there.

Thank you sir, Sãdhu Sãdhu. All of them said, Bye, Bye.

We expected the fallowing consequences:

1. The student can explain the importance of Mãgha Pujã Day.

2. The student has learned about the importance events which happen on the Mãgha Pujã Day.

3.  The student has learned basic principles of the Buddhist teaching.