Asalha Puja Day and Khao Phansa

Asalha Puja Day and Khao Phansa

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Dhamma,

The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta was the Buddha’s first sermon. This is the Sutta that set the Wheel of the Dhamma in motion. The 4 Noble Truths of suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering and the path to its cessation were described in this Sutta. The Buddha’s audience were five ascetics. The Buddha delivered this sermon at the Deer Park in Benares, India on the full-moon day of the eighth lunar month. ASALHA PUJA DAY is the day to reflect on this event.

After listening to this Sutta, the five ascetic realized its Truth and became the first Sangha. One of them, Anyakonthanya, fully and completely comprehended the Dhamma and there he attained Arahantship.

Also at this time the Indian rainy (monsoon) season was beginning and it was an established tradition for wandering religious persons to remain for three months at a single residence. As this was wise, Buddha accepted the practice as part the Buddhist tradition. Today the Sangha continue the practice; it is called Vassa. The ending of Vassa is marked by the Kathina ceremony.

Asalha Puja Programme

7:00 p.m.   Lighting of candles, Evening Chanting, Observance of Five Precepts and Dhamma talk about the “Four                 Noble Truths”.

7:45 p.m.  Asalha Puja procession round the Main Shrine with flowers and joss-sticks as offering to the Triple Gem.

 

All are cordially welcome to join the Asalha Puja Day 2022 Celebration.

May the Blessing of the Triple Gems bring you good health, peace and happiness!

All are cordially welcome to join the Asalha Puja Day 2022 Celebration.

May the Blessing of the Triple Gems bring you good health, peace and happiness!

僧侣雨季安居月诵经法会

二零二二年七月十三日（星期三）

亲爱的佛友

转法轮经（Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta）开示的第一篇经（初转法轮）。

内容是说释迦牟尼在印度婆羅奈的鹿野苑為五位苦行者开示：

（一）苦圣谛；（二）集圣谛；（三）灭圣谛;（四）道圣谛,为四圣谛之法。当天是阴历八月圆之日。从此以后，這一天就称为初转法轮日(ASALHA PUJA DAY)。

五苦行者听闻此经后，完全彻底的了解佛法的真谛。其中，尊者憍陈如(Anya Konthanya)，当下证悟其道并证得了阿罗汉果和成为第一位僧人之日。

當时適逢印度的雨季的开始。在传统的习俗上，寺庙会提共修行者三个月的固定住所居住。佛陀认为这是明智之举，也接纳了这习俗。如今佛教僧团依旧保留着这习俗；它被称为雨季安居（Vassa）。三个月的雨季后，僧团将以卡蒂那庆典(Kathina Ceremony) 来结束雨季安居。

初转法轮日节目大纲：

晚上7点正           点灯、诵念晚课经文、受五戒仪式、“阿莎叻哈普差节” 的意义。

晚上7点45分     “ASALHA PUJA DAY” 初转法轮日仪式开始，手花与香烛绕大殿。