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Maghapuja Buddhist Valentine Day
Maghapuja Buddhist Valentine Day
Maghapuja Buddhist Valentine Day
By
Ven. S. M. Sujano
Bud says: Good afternoon, Chilly ! Happy Magha Puja: a Buddhist Valentine day
Bud says: Magha puja is one of the important full moon days in the Buddhist
calendar, which celebrates by the Buddhist that honours the Sangha, or the
meritorious deeds and practice meditation. Among the full moon days there
are three main days that Buddhist celebrates widely. They are:
1. Vesak full moon; celebrates the Buddha was birth, enlightened and
entered mahaparinibbana,
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
2. Asalha full moon; the day Buddha delivered his first sermon and the
3. Magha full moon. So, today is Magha Puja day, one of the most
important Buddhist days, also known as the day of Dhamma or The day of
Chilly says: Really! Today is Magha Puja? How do you translate it?
Bud says: Magha puja is a short form of Maghapunnamipuja, worship on the full
Magha is the name of the third month in lunar calendar; Punnami means
the full moon day and Puja means to pay respect or to worship. So, Magha
Puja means to worship or pay respect in the third month of lunar calendar.
(2) All monks were ordained by the Buddha directly (Ehi Bhikkhu category)
(3) They came to join together in one place without prior appointment
(4) It was the Full moon day of Magha lunar month and the Buddha gave
believed that the confirmation of two chief disciples of the Buddha and the
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
are also happened to be on the full moon day of Magha lunar month.
Chilly says: Oh! it’s very interesting to know about it. How does Caturasannipata day
come?
Bud says: Caturasannipata is a pali word, which is the combination of two words:
Catu means four, Anga means factors and Sannipata means together or
close. Therefore, it means the day when the four factors happened at the
same time.
the place where Buddhists from around the world visit as part of one of the
different villages and cites starts from Isipatana Deer Park, in the town of
Benares, where he was able to convinced 5 ascetics after the end of the first
sermon on turning the while of the dhamma. They were followed by other
55 young boys headed by Yasha. The Buddha sent his newly formed
way out of suffering. The Buddha himself travelled to enlighten the fire
before coming back to the city of Rajagaha, the city of promise that he did
with the king Bimbisara, while he was in search of truth. Similarly, other
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
message. So, the Great assembly with the fourfold wonder on the full moon
Chilly says: Did the Buddha preach any doctrine on this occasion?
Bud says: Yes, the Buddha taught fundamental teachings of his dispensation on that
confused and have difficulty to understand them due to the vast number of
doctrines he delivered. Someone says Buddha’s main doctrines are the Four
Buddhism is to teach for good, avoid evil actions and purify mind. Let’s see
Do not do any evil, do good deeds and purify your mind is the teaching of today
Chilly says: I’ve heard about it. This is a very important doctrine of the Buddha. Isn’t it?
Bud says: Yes! The Buddha instructed further that patience, to restrain and to resist
the Buddha said that one who hurts other is not called righteous or decent.
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
Chilly says: wow… really! They are very important doctrines. Are they only for the
monks or for the lay people too? Even though, I think, these are for monks
but useful for all Buddhists. Especially, limitation of taking food is a major
Bud says: Although, the Buddha instructed these to monks, but it is applicable to all.
Further, the teachings of the Buddha, in reality, are how to learn and
All human beings wish happiness and successful in their life. Thus,
their hunger but we can eat regardless of time or things, except medical
precautions.
Bud says: All beings are looking for peace and happiness. From the time we were
born we face different kinds of suffering. Nobody wants to suffer and have
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
‘where is happiness? How happiness arises? How does one get happiness?’
things.
Chilly says: How can we do good things? Would you please give some examples?
Bud says: To do good things normally means to avoid any bad actions - bodily,
verbally and mentally. Although, the Buddha did not elaborate what is evil
and what is good at the beginning due the discourse was given to
enlightened noble ones who obviously know well enough. Nevertheless, the
Buddha explained in detail about it, so that other people might be able to
means to love yourself much more than others. Furthermore, to respect and
Buddhism is love in both the spiritual and physical sense. Therefore, one
who loves himself never does any bad actions, which then reflects back to
them. Because, according to law of karma every action gives a result. Good
actions give good results and bad action give bad results. So, the Buddha
intoxicants.
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
Chilly says: umm! I never thought about it. It means that normally, we are speaking of
Bud says: yes, you are right. Valentines Day in the west is very famous and gradually
getting ground in the east. The significance of the day is love that mostly
celebrated among lovers. Sadly, its influence among the youth in east has
been developed into the day that they open their virginity to their loved one,
which is one of the hiding problems in Asian countries. They are loosing
their own respect on the name of love and forgot how to love and respect
Chilly says: but there is a kind of person, who hurts others in order to love themselves.
Bud says: Actually, our present world is burning with the unlimited desire to fulfil.
normal in terms of wining for the official post, enjoyment and other
activities. On the other hand, if someone hurts in return, what do they feel?
happiness. Not for long and they will be alike others soon.
Chilly says: Um. You are right but as you said, if we want to survive in present world,
we have to fight to get something. Most people say nothing is free in the
world and we have to fight for it. However, entertained on another’s suffer
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
Bud says: Yes, you are correct on one side; however, we should not take it only from
this one side. There are a number of people who became world famous and
well respected throughout the world. They never hurt others and respect
other’s lives. Pure love and compassion work better than forcing. Horse
riders train horses as a part of his life and are full of love for the horse,
which shows the respect to the horse and horse also tries its best to win the
game as the owner wishes. If it does not win the game the owner thanks
him and trains him more instead of blaming him. Looking at the Buddha’s
life when he got to join the horse race competition, he did not force the
of life, if we are on the right path and do not hurt others one way or another.
with respecting oneself and others. There are many examples of those who
hurt without immediate consequence, but then suffer at the end a lot one
So whenever they realized that these works are good and are not
hurting others. It is good to do, which is helpful to the self and others. It
makes them happy and peaceful. It means them avoid doing evil deeds;
Now, you got two in one and the last is when you love yourself, it
means that your mind will be pure and calm all the time as you face now,
that's it. Once you love yourself purely then you will see the way of
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
liberation and will practice for it. However, doing good things should be in
Chilly says: oh! How is it? A proper place, not anywhere, would you please clarify bit
more?
Bud says: The house or the temple or the country, where the situation is good for
everywhere, if you do, the result won’t be good as you expected either.
Such as when you are in a bad place or situation your mind will not be in
meritorious acts. Even, if you have those thoughts, but your whole mind
will not able to accept it due uncomfortable environment. So, when mind is
not pure and clear, how can action be pure and good? It says that ‘when
mind is pure, land will be pure.’ Therefore, one of the highest blessings, the
Buddha says, is living in a right place, which will help us to improve both
spiritually and physically. This is among one of the highest blessings said
Likewise, this is national holyday in Sri Lanka, Laos and Thailand, where
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
in the main chapel of the temple. After the chanting, they walk with lighted
candles and incense in their hand around a temple for three times. Further,
one of the invited monks will give a short sermon on significance of the day
Chilly says: I didn't know it before Ajahn ! Thank you very much for your sharing.
Bud says: Um! It is my pleasure to share it with you. It’s been a wonderful discussion.
Bud says: Wish you all the best and may you achieve supreme happiness of Nibbana.
Maagha Puja
Now let us chant the preliminary passage in homage to the Awakened One, the Blessed
One:
Today is the full moon day in the month of Magha, the date on which the Tathagata —
the Worthy One, Rightly Self- awakened — held the four-factored meeting of his
disciples and gave the Patimokkha Exhortation.
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Published in “Puendham; friends in dhamma,” Issue 47, Year 14; January – April 2010,
The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, UK
At that time, 1,250 monks — all entirely free of defilements, all recipients of the Come-
Bhikkhu ordination by the buddha, all unnotified of the meeting — came to the Blessed
One's presence in the Bamboo Forest on the afternoon of the full moon day in Magha.
In that meeting, the Blessed One led an utterly pure full moon observance and gave the
Patimokkha Exhortation.
This was the only time our Blessed One held a four-factored meeting with his disciples,
1,250 monks, all entirely free of defilement.
Now, on this same date — the full moon day in Magha — remembering the Blessed
One, even though he long ago gained Total Liberation, we have come to this memorial
to him.
We take these offerings — candles, incense, & so forth — and make our bodies a vessel
for them.
Reflecting on the Blessed One's virtues as they actually are, we will circumambulate this
image shelter [stupa] three times, paying homage to him with the offerings we hold.
Although the Blessed One, together with that Community of his Noble Disciples, long
ago attained total Liberation, they are remembered through their virtues.
May he accept the offerings we hold, for the sake of our long- term welfare & happiness.
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