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Saturday, 16 February 2008 |
Asalha Puja Day (July)The Asaha Puja Day is one of the most sacred days in Buddhism. It is observed on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eight lunar month (July). It is an anniversary of the day on which Lord Buddha delivered his first Sermon to his five disciples at the Deer Park in Benares over two thousand five hundred years ago. The day also marks the beginning of the worship of the Triple Gems, namely: the Lord Buddha, His Teachings and His Disciples. To observe this auspicious day, Buddhists all over the country perform the merit making and observe Silas. There are many activities in the family during this holiday like cleaning the house, hoisting the flag, and setting up an altar for religious ceremonies. Family members discuss problems in the family by taking the middle way as a guiding principle to abstain from sin, and reduce the way of ruin. They are practicing the Dhamma in the temple, observing the precepts, praying to the triple gem, listening to the sermon and joining a candle procession around the temple not only as the family's activities but also as schools. In school, teachers and students mount exhibitions, prepare posters or picture notebooks on the religious holiday. They also help students in organizing essay contests, and Dhamma Quiz programs so that they have an opportunity to describe the importance of the day and explain the Dhamma and they also introduce activities to demonstrate good and bad conduct, and toplan activities which will improve the students' behavior. Various of institutions like schools and universities, including public and private organizations organize a colorful candle procession leading to a temple where the offering of the candles where be made. Some Buddhist followers consider the beginning of Buddhist Lent as a time for making resolution such as refraining from smoking or observing five precepts throughout the three-month Raisins Retreat. The Buddhists understand the importance of Asalha Bhucha Day, and the principles of Dhamma and Pavarana, and the way to practise them. They do a good preparation for the Buddhist Lent to consider the value of the way of life along with the principles of Dhamma and Pavarana. The Buddhists can practice their faith and get a good understanding on the importance of Buddhism. The Buddhists can be good religious people who understand the duties of the Buddhists in a right way.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 27 June 2008 )
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 05 March 2008 |
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 Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of Lord Buddha(563 BCE-483 BCE), who was born as Siddhartha Gautama, a Shakya prince in Lumbini, Nepal. The teachings preached by Lord Buddha subsequently turned into a religion, known as Buddhism.
The core of Buddhism lies in the purification of mind and soul by realising the truth and getting rid of the worldly desires. Basically, it were the principles of Karma in the doctrine of Buddhism that made the religion one of the major ones in the world.
Buddhism After The Buddha - The role of Ashoka
It was after the Buddha's death that the school of Buddhism spread slowly in India and then subsequently, throughout the world. However, it was at the time of the the Indian emperor Ashoka that Buddhism took a pace to reach its height. After the tragic Kalinga war, Ashoka decided to follow the path of non-violence or 'ahimsa' and converted to Buddhism. He promoted the doctrines of Buddhism not only in his empire as Dhamma but in other regions as well. It was his promotional campaign that led to the construction of the Buddhist religious monasteries and stupas, which further facilitated the spread of Buddhism in countries like Sri Lanka, Tibet, China and Japan.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 07 March 2008 )
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The Spread of Buddhism Outside India |
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Wednesday, 05 March 2008 |
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 During the third century BCE, Buddhism was spread by Ashoka(BCE 270 - BCE 232), the third and the most powerful Mauryan emperor, who created the first pan-Indian empire. After the battle of Kalinga, Ashoka felt immense grief due to the huge loss of lives during the war and thus decided to follow the path of Buddhism. After this, he began to implement Buddhist principles in the administration of his kingdom and named the new code of conduct 'Dhamma'. Here, in order to inform everyone about his new political and ruling philosophy, he got edicts (proclamation) inscribed on stone pillars and placed them throughout his kingdom, which are present even today.
Ashoka not only helped in spreading the religion within India but outside India as well. The main reason for the spread of Buddhism into Southeast Asia was the support of the emperor Ashoka himself. Teams of missionaries were sent by him all over the Indian sub-continent, i.e. to Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Previous Burma), and other neighbouring areas so as to send the message of Buddhism. The missionaries sent by Ashoka to the other countries were well received by them and the conversions took place easily because of the influence and the personal power Ashoka exercised.
The spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
Ashoka’s most successful missions were headed by his son Mahindra, who travelled to Sri Lanka along with four other monks and a novice. This mission turned out to be so successful that the king of Sri Lanka himself became a Buddhist, and Mahindra then supervised the translation of the Theravada canon (written in the Pali language) into Sinhala, the Sri Lankan script. He also helped in finding a monastery named Mahavihara, which became the main supporter of the Theravadin orthodoxy in Sri Lanka for over 1,000 years.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 08 March 2008 )
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