14 Feb 2014 is Magha Puja day!
here in Thailand it is strictly observed. There will be no legal sales of alcohol and very few bars will open quietly under the radar. If anyone is wondering what this day is about, check out the info i pulled from Wikipedia.
Māgha Pūjā day marks the four auspicious occasions, which happened
nine months after the Enlightenment of the Buddha at Veḷuvana Bamboo
Grove, near Rājagaha
in Northern India. On that occasion, as recorded in the commentary to
the Mahāsamayasutta, DN-Comm 20) four marvellous events occurred:
- 1,250 disciples came to see the Buddha that evening without being summoned.
- All of them were Arhantas, Enlightened Ones, and all were ordained by the Buddha himself.
- The Buddha gave those Arhantas the principles of Buddhism, called "The ovadhapatimokha". Those principles are: - To cease from all evil,- To do what is good,- To cleanse one's mind;
- It was the full-moon day.
The Buddha gave an important teaching to the assembled monks on that day 2,500 years ago called the 'Ovādapātimokha'[1] which laid down the principles of the Buddhist teachings. In Thailand, this teaching has been dubbed the 'Heart of Buddhism'.
Thailands Observance:
- In the evening of Magha full-moon day, each temple in Thailand holds a candlelight procession called a wian thian (wian meaning to circle around; thian
meaning candle). Holding flowers, incense and a lighted candle, the
monks and congregation members circumambulate clockwise three times
around the phra ubosot (ordination hall) - once for each of the Three Jewels – the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
- tham bun: Making merit by going to temples for special observances and join in the other Buddhist activities.
- rap sin': Keeping the Five Precepts. Practise of
renunciation: Observe the Eight Precepts, practise of meditation and
mental discipline, stay in the temple, wearing white robes, for a number
of days.
Thailand celebrates Asalaha Bucha Day.
All government buildings and institutions will be closed Monday 22 July and Tuesday 23 July for the buddhist holiday known by locals as ASALAHA BUCHA DAY.
In addition all bars will be closed. Convenience stores such as 7/11 and Family Marts will be not be allowed to sell alcohol until midnight 23 July. For more information on this much respected Thai Buddah Holiday check out the article below i found on Thai Visa.
The Full Moon Day of The Asalaha (the eighth lunar month)
After The Lord Buddha enlighten on the full moon day of the sixth lunar
month (Visakha), he spent seven weeks near by the Bodhi Tree. Afterward,
he decided to teach the Dhamma to the others, even though there were
difficulties for ordinary people to understand. His former teachers were
dead, the next group of people he thought of were five ascetics called
"Pancavaggi", group of five, who, at that time, lived in a forest named
"Isippatanamarukatayawan", the deer park near Baranasi.
On the day before the full moon day of the eighth lunar month, Asalaha,
there he was. The next day, the full moon day, The Lord Buddha gave them
his FIRST SERMON called "Dhamma-cakkappavattana Sutta" or the Discourse
on Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion. Not long after that, the head
of the Five Ascetics, named "Kondanna" got "The Eye of Dhamma" and
asked for ordination from The Lord Buddha. He became the FIRST MONK in
Buddhism. The full moon day of the eighth lunar month became the day
that honored the Sangha, or the community of the monks.
ACTIVITIES TO BE OBSERVED ON ASALAHA BUCHA DAY
'TUM BOON': Making merit by going to temples for special observances,
making merit, listening to Dhamma preaching, giving some donations and
join in the other Buddhist activities.
'RUB SIL': Keeping the Five Precepts, including abstinence from alcoholic drinks and all kinds of immoral acts.
'TUK BARD': Offering food to the monks and novices (in the alm bowl).
Practice of renuciation: Observe the Eight Precepts, practice of
meditation and mental discipline, stay in the temple, wearing white
robes, for a number of days.
VIEN TIEN': Attending the Candle Light Procession around the Uposatha Hall, in the evening of the Vesak full moon day.
July 23rd
Buddhist Lent Day (Wan Khao Phansa)
The Buddhist rainy season. The rain retreat or Buddhist Lent is marked
by two major religious events : one for the entering of the rainy season
called "WAN KHAO PHANSA" and for the exit of the rainy season called
"WAN OK PHANSA" .
During the rainy season, i.e. three months, approximately July, August,
September (depending on lunar months), monks aren't allowed to sleep
outside their temple and cannot defrock. This tradition is coming from
old times when Buddha stayed in temples during rainy season to avoid
killing insects or growing seeds. It is a period for study, meditation
and to teach new monks. They are allowed to go out during the day but
they must sleep in the same temple every night during three months.
Ordination
Still many Thai men become monks before the rain retreat as it offers a three months time to study the Dharma .
A few days before "WAN KHAO PHANSA", Thai people buy big candles. These
candles should by pair. One for the buyer and one to get a mate for next
life. When buying the wax candles, the candle is decorated with dragon,
flowers and so on...
Donations
One day before the beginning of the Buddhist lent, there is Asalabucha
day .This day commemorates the first sermon of Buddha to his five first
disciples. One of them asked for being a monk. So this day is sacred
because it deals with Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Thai people gather in the temple in order to listen to the Dharma. Temples are really crowded for "WAN KHAO PHANSA".
Buddhist sermon
During the Buddhist sermon, some laymen and laywomen prepare the trays dedicated to the monks.
Giving alms
When the Buddhist sermon is finished, Thai people are queuing to fill monks bowl with food.
Giving alms
Thai people are queuing in order to give their donations to the abbot.
They offer wax candles but also monk robe, food, lotus flowers, buckets
full of useful goods and so on... A Thai greeting towards the monk (
"WAI" ) shall be done before and after the donation.
Candle donation
The Candle Wax procession ("PHITI HAE PRASAT PEUNG" ) in Ubon Ratchatani
is the most famous Candle Wax procession in Thailand. There is a night
and day parad of huge wax candles. Those wax candles are big enough to
last three months during a rain retreat season.
Soon, the abbot is submerged with donations. As usual, some laymen
gather the donations in order that new donators can offer their wax
candle.
Candle donation
After receiving the donations, the abbot blesses the crowd by sprinkling
lustral water (NAM MON) on people. Lustral water is water that has been
infused with magical powers or has received a blessing from monks.
Thais believe that those who drink lustral water or have it sprinkled on
their head, the most sacred part of the body, will be blessed.
Benediction
A thin bamboo stripes is used in Buddhist temples when abbots dip a
bunch of it in holy water and sprinkle it on the faithful congregation.
it carry the holy water well so giving the blessing of the dharma far
and wide.
"VIEN TIEN" happens in the evening. During this ceremony, people turn around the temple three times with a candle in the hand.
