:: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

Asalhapuja Day Celebrations at The Buddhapadipa Temple Sunday 13th July 2008

The Buddhapadipa Temple, The Young Buddhist Group and The Lay Buddhist Association held the Celebration of Asalhapuja Day at the Buddhapadipa Temple, Wimbledon, London SW19 5HJ. It celebrated the First sermon of the Buddha which was delivered to the five Ascetics at the Deer Park in Isipattana, which is the modern day Sarnath. As a result of this famous Sermon the Sangha was created for the first time.

Here is the importance of Asalhapuja day

1. It was the day that the Buddha gave the first sermon about the middle path leading to the cessation of suffering.
2. It was the day the Sangha was created and it was from then on that they worked together to spread the Buddha's teachings, up until today.
3. It was the day that the Triple Gem was finally complete.

The Day of celebration started from 9.30 am. The morning session, people joined dana, donation activity, Dhamma talk and offered lunch to the venerable monks at 11 am. After that they joined in lunch together.

In the afternoon session, at 1.30 pm, the venerable monks chanted the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta. After that, at 1.45 pm, a member of the Lay Buddhist Association read Sutta and at 2.00 pm, a guest speaker, Ajahn Sundara form the Amaravati Monastery Nuns' Community gave a dhamma talk. The day was completed with meritorious activities and all participants enjoyed.