The Theme Of Maghapuja Day

Every year on the full moon of the third lunar month, the Buddhapadipa temple celebrates Maghapuja Day. This is deemed a special day as an large assembly of monks took place at the Bamboo Grove monastery (Veluvana). Four sets of extraordinary occurrences took place which made the day all the more auspicious:

It was the full moon day of the month Magha.
Monks, who were all disciples of the Buddha assembled before him without any prearrangements.
Every one of the monks were Arahants who had attained enlightenment with the six-fold super-knowledge.
All of the monks direct disciples of the Buddha and had been ordained by the lord himself.

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

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

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

The activities on Maghapuja Day at the Buddhapadipa temple:Lay devotees flocked to the temple early in morning. After observing the 5 precepts, many listen to a sermon delivered by the monks. Many visitors had served food to the monk and others took part in various forms of meritorious activities.

As a gesture of faith and respect in the Holy Triple Gem; the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, many people did a circumambulation around the temple (walking around the main temple three times).

In the afternoon, there was the residential monks performed the Ovadapatimokha chanting. Later an LBA member did a public reading of a sutta. A Dhamma talk was also given by an impromptu guest speaker (Ms. Edna Lake) and a closing was done by the monks with a chant of the Metta sutta, to spread loving kindness to all beings.