Maghapuja Day

Maghapuja Day

"Maghapuja" is a Pali (and Sanskrit) word consisting of two elements – Magha and puja, which mean "the third lunar month" and "worship" respectively. So, the whole word means "worship on the full-moon day of the third lunar month in commemoration of the Great Assembly of Disciples".

According to Buddhist scriptures, nine months after Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, on the full-moon day of the third lunar month, a total of 1,250 fully enlightened disciples of the Buddha, who were in the party of Uluvela Kassapa, Natee Kassapa and Gaya Kassapa 1000, and in the party of Sariputta and Mogallana, 250, from various places spontaneously assembled at the Bamboo Grove Monastery (Veluvana) in Magadha to pay their respects to their Teacher. This meeting is considered to be one of the most significant events in Buddhist history
This was a special assembly which took place at the Bamboo Grove monastery (Veluvana) and contained four unique and extraordinary features, namely:

It was the full moon day of the month Magha.
Monk disciples assembled to see the Buddha, all by themselves, without any prearrangements.
All these monks were Arahants who had attained enlightenment with the six fold super knowledge.
All of them were the Buddha's direct disciples having been ordained by the Lord himself.

At the fourfold assembly the Buddha gave the monks an important discourse summarizing his teachings into three main principles, namely:

(1) not to do any evil; (sabbapapassa akaranam)
(2) to do good; and (kusalassupasampada)
(3) to purify the mind. (sacittapariyodapanam)

These three principles are fundamental in the Buddha-dharma (Buddhist Doctrine).

In modern language, it is called 'Maghapuja' or 'Jaturongasannipata, fourfold assemply' as explained above. In that those days, the Buddha presented to his disciples, the Ovadapatimokha, which is the core teaching of Buddhism. This is regarded as the first settlement of Buddhism.

The Buddha himself chose Magadha City to settle Buddhism because he once promised Bimbisara King that when he attained the enlightenment, he would return to teach him. Magadha also being a big city, was an important pulling factor that persuaded the Buddha to settle down so that he may spread his teaching to help its many citizens. Bimbisara himself had a deep faith in the Buddha and offered the Buddha the Bamboo Grove as the first temple.

So this day is regarded as the first official settlement of Buddhism. From the time of King Rama IV of Thailand, up until this day, on the day of Maghapuja, the King will perform the royal ceremony. In the morning, 30 monks are invited to have breakfast in the Royal palace, Wat Phrasrirattanasasataram, in the evening, the king will light the candles and the incense, and the head of monk will give the five precepts and performs chanting, Ovadatimokha and sutta. Once this has been done, the King will then lit a total of 1,250 candles, representing the total number of Arahunts who had in history, attended the assembly around the main temple and performed the circumambulation.

It must also be noted that, Maghapuja day is also known as the Sangha Day because of the big Sangha assembly that took place. Such proliferation on Dhamma was done as a way of leading the monks to follow and also pass on such teachings to future monks and lay people alike, for generations to come.

The Buddha had preached three Gathas as following:

According to the canon, the first Gatha, is comprised of the following:

1. The practice of enduring patience is of the greatest importance.

2. Nibbana, as proclaimed by the Buddha, it is the realm of true happiness. In Nibbana there is no physical pain, no emotional suffering, no birth, no death, no aging; only pure happiness. Nibbana is the ultimate level of joy. To enter Nibbana one must purify his or her mind through meditation. One must eliminate all defilement in his or her mind, for example, one must leave behind all thoughts of greed (avarice), hatred, delusion, arrogance, murder, and lust for the flesh. After all defilements have been eliminated and the mind becomes pure, one can then enter Nibbana, and gain true happiness. The ideal of obtaining Nibbana should be the goal of all Buddhists.

3. A monk must never cause suffering or trouble to others. Another term often used is, Samana, a person whose mind is so peaceful and calm, they never create problems or cause suffering to others.

The second Gatha, the three fundamental principles of Buddhist doctrine are:

1. Never do evil.
2. Always do good.
3. Purify the mind through meditation on a regular basis.

The third Gatha, the method of propagation is comprised of the following:

1. Never insult others.
2. Never harm anybody or anything.
3. Always observe strict self-discipline in living; such as always eating in moderation, dressing appropriately to protect the physical body from the extreme weather.
4. Always be diligent about observing and practicing the monk’s rules.
5. Always have a place of tranquility in your mind to support meditate.
6. Always be diligent in the practice of meditation.

Maghapuja Day is important in yet another respect. It is said that in the last year of the Buddha's life, just three months before his passing away, he had made a prophecy about the day he would pass away or parinibbana and had made such announcement to his disciples. The speech is known as the "Rejection of Life to the Aggregates," and it also took place on the full moon of the third lunar month, or Magha. To Buddhists, the timing of the speech raises the sacredness of Maghapuja day to a much higher level.

To sum up the teachings of the Blessed one on this day is never, do any evil (morality), always do or cultivate good (concentration) and purify the mind (wisdom) through regular practice of meditation.

Modern day Maghapuja Day, worshiping activities consist of faithful Buddhists flocking to the temple in the morning, to observe the five precepts, listen to a sermon, serve food for the monks, meditate or take part in other forms of meritorious activities. They also perform circumambulation, by walking around the main temple or a Buddha image three times, as a gesture of faith and respect for the Holy Triple Gem.

The Buddhapadipa Temple, the Young Buddhist Group and the Lay Buddhist Association have great pleasure in announcing that celebration of Maghapuja Day will be held at the Buddhapadipa Temple on Sunday, 4th March 2007. Maghapuja Day celebrates the spontaneous gathering of 1250 Arahants, on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March), to hear the Buddha's discourse on the main code of his teachings.

Programme

09.30	Gathering in the basement of the Uposatha Hall
10.00	Lighting of candles and incenses
10.15	Circumambulating the Uposatha three times Chanting and taking the five precepts, followed by a Dhamma talk in Thai and English by the Venerable monks.
10.45	Chanting of the Jayamangala Gatha by the Venerable Monks, followed by offering food (Takbat) by devotees
11.00	Lunch for the Venerable Monks
12.00	Lunch for the lay people
13.30	Chanting of the 'Ovadapatimokkhapatha' (the main code of the teaching) by the Venerable Monks
13.45	A Sutta reading by a member of the Lay Buddhist Association
14.00	Guest speaker ***
15.00	Meditation and chanting followed by suffusing of loving kindness
15.30	Tea, coffee and soft drinks, then close.

Trays of non-perishable food for takbat (giving alms) can be purchased in the Ubosatha Hall. All proceeds will go to the Temple fund. All are welcome, please bring your friends. If you are unable to attend it but wishing to make a donation, please make a cheque PAYABLE TO THE BUDDHAPADIPA TEMPLE.

The Buddhapadipa Temple
The Young Buddhist Group
The Lay Buddhist Association

***

– Sunday 17^th February 2008

DHAMMA TALK (in English) by Martin Evans (Amaravati Lay Buddhist Association)

To be held on Sunday 17^th February 2008 at 1.00 p.m. in the lower meditation hall in Buddhapadipa Temple

Martin Evans has kindly accepted the invitation of the Lay Buddhist Association to give a Dhamma talk on one of themes of the talks of Ajahn Chah. All visitors and LBA members are warmly invited to attend this talk which will be held in the lower meditation hall in Buddhapadipa Temple (Rear Entrance).
The afternoon will begin with a Sutta Reading selected by Martin. He will then talk for about 1 hour. All are most welcome to attend.

The late Ven. Ajahn Chah is a great Thai Master in the Forest Tradition who was the Abbot of Wat Ba Pong. His own teachers were Ajahn Tong Rath and Achan Mun. From them comes a legacy of immediate and powerful Dhamma, directed not towards ritual Buddhism or scholastic learning, but toward those who wish to purify their hearts and vision by actually living the teachings of the Buddha.

Martin Evans first became interested in Buddhism in the 1970’s, studying under the late Ven. Vajiragnana, former head of London Buddhist Vihara and Sangha Nayake of Great Britain.
He moved to Hemel Hempstead in 1979 and was one of the first local lay supporters of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, when it was established, and has been a supporter of the Thai Forest Sangha there ever since. Committed to the practise of mindfulness and insight meditation as taught in the Forest Sangha tradition, he has not sought to practice under any other Buddhist traditions. Whilst not a Pali scholar, he has learnt the basics of Pali and leads a small Lay group translating suttas for pleasure and greater understanding. Over the years he has become an established lay teacher for ALBA..
Martin works as Head of Finance of a Charitable Housing Association. He is on the Finance Committee at Amaravati, is the Accountant of the London Buddhist Vihara and Treasurer of a number of charities, including the Rahula Trust.

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