Magha Puja Day

2556 BE (2013)

Offering Lights to Brighten Your Life

Monday, 25 February 2556 BE

At Wat Phra Dhammakaya Pathum Thani Province, Thailand

WBSY Offers “Noble Peace Award” to Phrathepyanmahamuni at Magha Puja 2013

Magha Puja is considered to be one of the most important Buddhist holy days, as it marks the occasion of our Lord Buddha transmitting the Ovada-pattimokkha sermon to his enlightened disciples. This sermon is regarded as the central teachings and heart of Buddhism, and was conveyed in order to establish a collective direction for the Sangha community to all follow in harmony. Four main incidents took place at this auspicious event: 

1. All enlightened monks that the Lord Buddha had previously sent abroad for disseminating Buddhism, which at the time was 1,250, had to gather together at the Veluvana Mahavihara ‘Bamboo Groove’ without prior notification or arrangement.
2. All members of the meeting had to have been ordained through “Ehi Bhikkhu Upasampada”, or directed by the Lord Buddha Himself.
3. All members of the meeting must have attained Arahantship, together with the 6 Abhiñña Supramundane Powers
4. The night of the assembly was to be under the full moon of the 3^rd Lunar month.

Because these four miraculous conditions were met, another name was given to the event, “Jaturongkhasannibat”, meaning ‘an assembly of four circumstances’. It is held as an occasion where the Buddhist people came together in noble purpose. They came to unite in faithful reflection on the beautiful teachings of the Lord Buddha, and to participate together in purifying acts of generosity, self-discipline, and mental cultivation with body, speech, and mind.

This year, Magha Puja comes on Monday the 25^th of February. Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani province of Thailand will hold an alms-round ceremony, guided meditation sessions, and perform a candle lighting ceremony of over 100,000 candles, from 06.00 to 20.00 of the day. All events are considered as an offering of homage and reverence to the Lord Buddha, and to uphold the great traditions and customs of Buddhism.

Meritorious events are set to begin at 06.00 with the alms-round offering to over 2,000 monks in the Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya. From there, at 09.00, Most Ven. Phrathepyanmahamuni (Luang Por Dhammajayo) Abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple will guide everyone through a meditation session. English and Chinese languages will be available. Afterwards, at 11.00, the ceremony for offering food and necessities to the monastic community will commence.

 In the afternoon, from 13.00, various awards ceremonies will begin. These include: Royal awards of His Majesty the King of Thailand; honorary awards from the Annual Dhamma Quiz ‘Path to Progress’ which this year had over 5,600,000 participants in its 31^st consecutive year; and the 7^th Annual World-PEC awards. At 15.00 there will be the ceremony of offering Most Ven. Phrathepyanmahamuni the ‘Noble Peace Award’ by the World Buddhist Sangha Youth (WBSY), along with a Dignitary (Honorary) Award for contribution to Mes Aynak presented on behalf of the Association for the Protection of Afghan Archaeology by Mrs. Nadia Tarzi.

 Moving into the evening, at 18.00 Most Ven. Phrathepyanmahamuni (Luang Por Dhammajayo) will initiate the circumambulation and candle lighting ceremony of over 100,000 candles, with a mind in veneration of the Lord Buddha. Gathering together hundreds of thousands of people from around the world for this cause, the ceremony and day’s activities will end at approximately 20.00.

The grand prize of the Noble Peace Award, established by the World Buddhist Sangha Youth to commemorate the 2600^th anniversary of the Lord Buddha’s Enlightenment, is presented only to one individual out of 39 international nominees who have dedicated themselves towards to the progress of Buddhism and the development of peace in the world.

The honorific plaque from the Association for the Protection of Afghan Archaeology (APAA) is presented to Most Venerable Phrathepyanmahamuni in recognition of his collaborative effort with APAA to successfully submit a petition to UNESCO to protest against the copper mining at Mess Aynak, where a precious 2,000-year-old Buddhist site was discovered. Through his leadership, the Dhammakaya Temple and the Dhammakaya Foundation was able to quickly collect and exceed the goal of 50,000 petitioners.  The copper mining project was summarily suspended and postponed for at least another year.

Schedule of Events

Morning & Afternoon at the Dhammakaya Meditation Hall

• 06.00-08.30 : Almsgiving Ceremony
• 08.40-11.15 : Morning chanting / Meditation Practice, led by Luang or Dhammajayo (Phrathepyanmahamuni), the abbot. / Offering midday meal to the monks
• 13.30-15.00 : Luang Por Dattajeevo (Phrabhavanaviriyakhun), the vice abbot, presents awards to    the winners of Path of Progress Dhamma Quiz Contest / Luang Por Dattajeevo presents World-PEC awards to the winners.
• 15.00-16.00 : Meditation Practice and sermon, led by Luang Por Dhammajayo

Evening Session at the Dhammakaya Cetiya

• 18.00 : Meditation Practice, led by Luang Por Dhammajayo / Light of Peace Illumination Ceremony
• 19.00 : Circumambulation Ceremony
• 19.45 : Luang Por Dhammajayo leads the congregation to make resolutions, spread loving kindness, and pay homage to the Triple Gem
• 20.00 : End of Ceremony.

(English Translation is broadcasted through radio channel FM 94.75MHz, foreign visitors may borrow a device from our service center at pillar M 27 of the Dhammakaya Meditation Hall)

For contact details, please contact (6684) 721-2126 or (662) 831-1000