Magha Puja Day The Light Of Peace Ceremony Wednesday, 7 March 2555 BE at Wat Phra Dhammakaya Pathum Thani Province, Thailand

You are cordially invited to join the Magha Puja Day ceremony at Wat Phra Dhammakaya!

Magha Puja Day is one of the most important Buddhist holy days in Thailand. Every temple across country  holds  ceremony to celebrate the occasion.  The ceremony at Wat Phra Dhammakaya is one of the largest held in Thailand which main Light For Peace.

The Grand Meditation Square will be filled with 100,000 candle-lights to illuminate the light of peace of every participant.

Nearly 200,000 people will practice meditation and spread their loving-kindness throughout the world in this fabulous full moon night.

About 2,500 years ago, on the day of the full moon of the third lunar month, the Lord Buddha assembled with his disciple monks at Veluvana Bamboo Grove and following four marvelous events occurred:

1. It was the day of the full moon. There were 1,250 Arahant monks who had gathered together without prior arrangement.
2. All of them were Arahant (enlightened disciple monks) and all of them had been ordained by the Lord Buddha himself.
3. The Lord Buddha delivered a sermon called the Ovada Patimokkha which includes the fundamental ideology, the moral standards and the conducts of Buddhism.

The Buddhist ideology is the ultimate objective of every Buddhist.  As outlined in the Lord Buddha’s sermon, Buddhist ideology comprises the following:

1. We should be patient in order to reach our achievement.  As our life may be burdened by suffering, we should be patient.  Furthermore, patience toward sensual desire can prevent us from sensual indulgence.
2. All the Lord Buddhas have taught that Nirvana is the state of supreme bliss.
3. Monks who kill or harm other living beings do not deserve to be monks.

Subsequently the Lord Buddha suggested the following moral standards:

1. Abstaining from misdeeds because the Law of Karma still controls us.  If we break precepts or commit bad deeds, karmic retribution will return to us either in this lifetime or during a future lifetime.
2. Doing only good deeds.  When the karma from good deeds bears fruit, our life will be joyful, prosperous and successful.
3. Purifying our mind by practicing meditation.  This is the only way that we are able to attain true happiness and Nirvana.

Finally, he recommended the conducts which his disciples should obey.

1. The propagation of Buddhism should be made without insulting or making slanderous allegations against each other.
2. The propagation of Buddhism should be made without assaulting or harming each other.
3. Buddhists should observe the precepts.  In particular, Buddhist monks must observe all 227 precepts.
4. One should be content in consuming food.
5. One should live in a tranquil place which is suitable for meditation practice.
6. One should always practice mindfulness even when standing, walking, sitting, or sleeping.

Lighting Lanterns to Cultivate Faith and Wisdom:

The light of faith and wisdom that we light up in homage to the Triple Gem represents our faithful heart with realization in the Lord Buddha’s virtues.   We humbly offer the light to worship his compassion, purity and wisdom as he knew the truth of life thoroughly.  Nothing could conceal his insight power.  As we worship him with respect, we will receive merit in return.  The merit from paying homage to the wholesome one will enable us to be prosperous and successful in our lives.  The gift of light will allow us to have beautiful eyes, superb vision, beautiful radiance, a bright mind, luminous wisdom and, ultimately, attain the Buddhahood or Dhammakaya inside ourselves.

According to the Buddhist scripture, there was once a lady who faithfully lit lanterns to pay homage to the Lord Buddha.  Later on, her good karma caused her to be reborn as a beautiful lady with a golden subtle complexion.  Radiance glowed from her body constantly.    Even when she was in the dark, she was able to see things because of her own radiance.  After she ordained to become a Bhikkhuni (female Buddhist monk), she managed to attain enlightenment quickly and went on to become a female disciple monk who was recognized by the Lord Buddha as the one who was excellent in recalling past lifetimes.

From this story, we can conclude that the act of worship to the Triple Gem is indeed the opportunity to develop our own mind by realizing and welcoming the wholesomeness of the Triple Gem into our own heart, similar to opening the lid of a crystal jar to receive drops of clean rain from the sky.  We do not only believe in what we do, but we also understand why we do it.  This is why the act of worship allows us to cultivate both faith and wisdom simultaneously.

Ven. Sanitwong Wuttiwangso, Assistant Director of Public Relations Division, Dhammakaya Foundation said, “Dhammakaya Foundation and Dhammakaya Temple under the patronage of Phrathepyanmahamuni (Dhammajayo bhikkhu), Abbot of Dhammakaya Temple organize ‘Dhammajaya Dhutanga’ Project in cooperation with 25 Associated Organizations to welcome the New Year 2012.  The project is one of the efforts intended to revive the spirit of the disasters, remove the natural disastrous trouble and bless the nation with the power of merit.  The Dhutanga event is scheduled to start on 2^nd January and lasts till 25^th of January 2012 by 1,127 monks.  The activities are comprised of walking on pilgrim, chanting prayers, meditating practice and spreading loving kindness within the area of 6 recently inundated provinces: Pathum Thani, Ayuthaya, Supanburi, Nakornpathom, Nonthaburi and Bangkok.  The total distance is up to 365 kilometers long.”

Ven. Sanitwong added, “In the Buddha time, there was once a natural disaster in the city of Vesali causing many people’s lives.  The citizens also suffered greatly from the outbreak of cholera and the epidemic of devils.  They so agreed to invite the Lord Buddha and His 500 disciple monks to bless the city.  Before their arrival, people of the city cleaned and decorated streets and places beautifully with flowers to welcome their noble guests.  With the power of the Lord Buddha, the disaster was obviated.  The sick regain their normalcy.  The devils were dispersed.  The celestial King Sakka and other important celestial beings came to have an audience with the Lord Buddha at this particular time causing the land being blessed by their celestial power.”

“The 2011’s worst flood crisis has caused vast and serious damages to all Thais.  In order to relieve people’s troublesome feeling, the Dhutanga monks follow the footstep of the Lord Buddha by performing the pilgrimage to nurture the disasters’ mind and bless the land at the same time.”

Medias are invited to report this event on Monday 2^nd January 2012, the starting date of the ‘Dhammajaya Dhutanga’ at Dhammakaya Temple.  The daily pilgrim walk starts at 09:30 a.m. till 05:30 p.m.  The whole schedule of the 24-day route is detailed as follows:

• 2 Jan 2012            Dhammakaya Temple – Pathum Thani University, Pathum Thani Province
• 3 Jan 2012            Pathum Thani University – Klong – Kwang Temple, Pathum Thani Province – Nonthaburi Province
• 4 Jan 2012            Klong -Kwang Temple – Triparasimakhet Temple, Nonthaburi Province – Nakornpathom Province
• 5 Jan 2012            Triparasimakhet Temple – Pai Roang Wuaw Temple, Nakornpathom Province – Supanburi Province
• 6 Jan 2012            Pai Roang Wuaw Temple – The Memorial Hall, Supaburi Province
• 7 Jan 2012            Meditation Activity at Lotus Land, Supanburi Province
• 8 Jan 2012            Lotus Land – Song Phi Nong Temple, Supanburi Province
• 9 Jan 2012            Song Phi Nong Temple – Pai Roang Wuaw Temple, Supanburi Province
• 10 Jan 2012         Pai Roang Wuaw Temple – Triparasimakhet Temple, Supanburi Province – Nakornpathom Province
• 11 Jan 2012         Triparasimakhet Temple – Klong -Kwang Temple, Nakornpathom Province – Nonthaburi Province
• 12 Jan 2012         Klong -Kwang Temple – Bang Pai Temple, Nonthaburi Province
• 13 Jan 2012         Bang Pai Temple – Boat Bon Bang Ku Wiang Temple, Nonthaburi Province
• 14 Jan 2012         Meditation Activity at Boat Bon Bang Ku Wian Temple, Nonthanburi Province
• 15 Jan 2012         Boat Bon Bang Ku Wiang – Bang Pai Temple, Nonthaburi Province
• 16 Jan 2012         Bang Pai Temple – Klong -Kwang Temple, Nonthaburi Province
• 17 Jan 2012         Klong -kwang Temple – Bang Pla Temple, Nonthanburi Province – Nakornpathom Province
• 18 Jan 2012         Meditation Activity at Bang Pla Temple, Nakornpathom Province
• 19 Jan 2012         Bang Pla Temple – Narapirom Temple, Nakornpathom Province
• 20 Jan 2012         Narapirom Temple – Karnjanapisake School, Nakornpathom Province -Bangkok
• 21 Jan 2012         Karnjanapisake School – Taling Chan Kalyanamitr Center, Bangkok
• 22 Jan 2012         Taling Chan Kalyanamitr Center – Pak Nam Bhasichareon Temple, Bangkok
• 23 Jan 2012         Taling Chan Kalyanamitr Center – Bang Rak Yai Temple, Bangkok – Nonthaburi Province
• 24 Jan 2012         Bang Rak Yai Temple – Thian Tha Wai Temple, Nonthaburi Province – Pathum Thani Province
• 25 Jan 2012         Thian Tha Wai Temple – Dhammakaya Temple, Pathum Thani Province

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For more information, please contact Phra Jiraphat Kittibhatdho, mobile: 085-0976775, Ms. Benjamas, mobile: 081-4503412, or Ms. Anuthida, mobile: 080-5571588.  Thank you.

Phra Sanitwong Wutthiwangso, Head of Public Relation Division, Dhammakaya Temple, unveiled that Dhammakaya Temple and Foundation initiated by the Most Ven. Phrathepyanmahamuni (Dhammjayo Bhikkhu), the abbot of Dhammakaya Temple and the president of Dhammakaya Foundation, cooperated with 24 associate organizations and 6 flooded provinces as well as Bangkok and its surrounding area arrange the “Dhammachai Dhutanga” Project. This project is to relieve Thai flood victims’ minds and bless the country to be better.

The activities are divided to be 3 phases.

• The first one was over 100 monks meditated and walked at the Grand Meditation Stadium, Dhammakaya Temple, 4 km long, on Sunday December 11^th, 2011.
• The second one is  over 150 monks perform dhutanga, 15 km long, from Dhammakaya Temple past Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, then go to Chiang Rak Road and have a temporary rest at Traphang Temple and finally, they walk to Pathumthani University.  They perform this phase on Monday December 19^th, 2011.
• The last one is during January 2^nd – 25^th, 2012.  Over 1,000 monks perform dhutanga and meditate in the 6 flooded provinces which are Ayutthaya, Suphanburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok. The total distance is 356.6 km.

Phra Sanitwong said that when there were big disasters in the Buddha Time in Phaisali city.  People had troubled and passed away from the natural disaster, ghosts or cholera, the survivals invited the Lord Buddha as well as over 500 monks to help.  The residents cleaned their roads and decorated them with flowers.  Because of the Lord Buddha’s power, all of disasters ended.  The sick people got well and the ghosts went away.  King Indra and big celestial beings came to pay homage to the Lord Buddha, so there were blessings happening to all residents.

The big flood disaster in 2011 had damaged and made Thai people troubles very much, so the monks, who are joining this project are the real monks, have strong intention to perform dhutanga following the Lord Buddha’s way.  We do it to relieve the flood victims’ minds and to bless Thailand better.

On Monday December 19^th, 2011, it is the second phase and the distance is over 15 km long.  There are over 100,000 congregations, residents and students preparing over 700,000 rose petals to pave for welcome the monks along the dhutanga way.  This is to express their respect to the Triple Gems.

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For more information, please contact Phra Jiraphat Kittibhatdho, mobile: 085-0976775, Ms. Benjamas, mobile: 081-4503412, or Ms. Anuthida, mobile: 080-5571588.  Thank you.

Dhammakaya Foundation, which is located adjacent to one of the irrigation canals, is sending all resources including its funds, equipment and manpower to offer flood relief to the victims as well as preventing the main city from further flooding. Up until the 14^th of October, the foundation has been providing aid to over 100,000 households in 23 provinces.

Your kind generosity to help brothers and sisters of this world are more valuable during this time of crisis more than you can imagine. Your care can help relief this national disaster. Your hand can outreach to the heart of the victims.

All contributions to the flood-relief fund are welcomed simply by providing the following:

You may contribute to the flood-relief fund by providing the following:

• Dry food, such as instant noodles and canned food,
• Clean water,
• Boat with paddles,
• Life vest,
• Medicine,
• And of course monetary support in the form of donations.

The donations should be made to Phrarajbhavanavisudh at the following account.

Dhammakaya Foundation
Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited (SCB)
Klongluang Branch
SWIFT Code : SICOTHBK
Account Number: 3142554751
Mobile: +66-8-8277-7988 (English Speaking)

The purpose of this MOU is to collaborate with the three universities mentioned previously for a research project entitled “Theravada Buddhism: Continuity and Varieties”, which is a project related to the original teaching of Theravada Buddhism.

Therefore, please kindly join and witness the signing of the MOU. Should you need more information, please contact Ms Pimonpan +66-8-4648-5994.

Starting from 6:00 AM, there will be an alms-giving ceremony for 1,111 monks at Wat Klang Tanarintr, Baan Pang sub-district, Promburi province. The ceremony not only has Phradhammapariyatmolee as the presiding monk, but the senior monks of 6 different provinces will also show their presence.

1. Phradhammapidok from Saraburi
2. Phrathepsuwanmolee from Suphanburi
3. Phratheprattanakorn from Ayutthaya
4. Phrarajkittimethee from Singhburi
5. Phrarajpariyatsuthee from Lopburi
6. Phrarajsuwanwethee from Angthong

The residents of Baan Pang, as a co-organizer, would like to invite everyone to prepare food for the alms-giving ceremony. If you would like to support the event, please call 082-357-9592.

After the alms-giving, there will be a guided meditation led by Luang Por Dhammajayo from 09:30 at the Dhammakaya temple, Pathum Thani. At 10:30, the congregation will have an opportunity to offer medicine to the monks of the Dhammakaya temple and its centers throughout the world. The medicine offering ceremony will take place at Sapha Dhammakaya.

In the afternoon, those who are interested may join a seminar for this year’s kathina ceremony “Dhammachai Kathina” at Kaew-Sarapadnuk Convention Hall, Sapha Dhammakaya.

Map to Wat Klang Tanarintr, Baan Pang sub-district, Promburi province

August 27th, 1969, a full moon day on the ninth month of the lunar calendar, was an auspicious day as Mr. Chaiyaboon Suthipol donned the saffron robe and became a monk, as he had wished, at the chapel of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen. He received the monastic title “Dhammajayo”, which means “The victor through Dhamma”. Since then, the sun of peace started to shine. The full story is available here.

In Budddhism, a lady who take refuge in the triple gem and supports the Buddhist activities is called an Upasika. Since Lord Buddha’s time, Upasikas have played an important role in patronizing the temples and the monks and are considered a part of the four main groups of Buddhists: Bhikku, Bhikkuni, Upasok, Upasika. An example Upasika worth mentioning is Maha Rattana Upasika Visakha, who built Bubbharam, an important Buddhist temple.

Upasika Kaew is a morality training program for ladies to explore the eight precepts and follow the Middle Way, which is a path of enlightenment and purity. The ladies who take part in this program will learn about disciplines and learn to keep their body and their mind pure and bright. This training program will improve the morality level in both Thailand and Buddhism as a whole.

Therefore, the Religion, Art and Culture Commissioners of the House of Representatives, Wat Phra Dhammakaya, the Dhammakaya Foundation, the Village Leader Association of Thailand and the International Buddhist Society as well as the other patrons are going to organize this 100,000 mass Upasika Kaew training program from 8-15 March, 2553 B.E. at training temples every province across Thailand. The aim is not only to improve ethical conduct of Thai ladies to be good citizens of the society they belong, but also to help revive the morality of the world.

Objectives

• To educate morality and ethics through Buddhist teaching and thus make Buddhist ladies understand how to become true Upasika,
• To revive morality as well as Buddhist tradition to be as propereous as in the Lord Buddha’s time and
• To develop sustainable peaceful community and country by simply improving their ethical conducts.

Training Period

Between 8-15 March 2553 B.E. (8 days) at the training temple of every province in Thailand

Important Dates

Application closing date: 8 March 2553 B.E.

Advisory Committees

Committtees

Wat (derived from the Sanskrit word Vattaka) represents a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos.

Organizing Committees

Note: The year is displayed in the Buddhist Era. The equivalent Christian Era is 2010.

In Budddhism, a lady who takes refuge in the triple gem and supports the Buddhist activities is called an Upasika. Since Lord Buddha’s time, Upasikas have played an important role in patronizing the temples and the monks and are considered a part of the four main groups of Buddhists: Bhikku, Bhikkuni, Upasok, Upasika. An example of an Upasika worth mentioning is Maha Rattana Upasika Visakha, who built Bubbharam, an important Buddhist temple.

Upasika Kaew is a morality training program for ladies to explore the eight precepts and follow the Middle Way, which is a path of enlightenment and purity. The ladies who take part in this program will learn about discipline and it is repetitive to keep their body and their mind pure and bright. This training program will improve the morality level in both Thailand and Buddhism as a whole.

Therefore, the Religion, Art and Culture Commissioners of the House of Representatives, Wat Phra Dhammakaya, the Dhammakaya Foundation, the Village Leader Association of Thailand and the International Buddhist Society as well as the other patrons are organizing this 500,000 mass Upasika Kaew training program from 16-29 April, 2553 B.E. at training temples every district across Thailand. The aim is not only to improve ethical conduct of Thai ladies and be good citizens of the society they belong, but also to help revive the morality of the world.

Objectives

• To educate morality and ethics through Buddhist teaching and thus make Buddhist ladies understand how to become true Upasika,
• To revive morality as well as Buddhist tradition to be as propereous as in the Lord Buddha’s time and
• To develop sustainable peaceful community and country by simply improving their ethical conducts.

Training Period

Between 16-29 April 2553 B.E. (15 days) at the training center of every province in Thailand

Important Dates

Qualifications

The participants

1. Ladies between the age 15-65,
2. Buddhist,
3. In good physical health,
4. Can keep 8 precepts throughout the program,
5. Can live a simple lifestyle according to the program.

How to apply

You may

1. Apply through the call center (+66-2-831-1234) or +087-707-7771 to 3,
2. Apply online at www.dmycenter.com,
3. Apply at the training center every district throughout Thailand,
4. Apply through the program district coordinators nearby,

Advisory Committees

Committtees

Wat (derived from the Sanskrit word Vattaka) represents a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos.

Organizing Committees

Note: The year is displayed in the Buddhist Era. The equivalent Christian Era is 2010.

Māgha Pūjā or Makha Bucha is an important religious festival celebrated by Buddhists on the full moon day of the third lunar Month for over than 2500 years old. It marks the four auspicious occasions which happened nine months after the Enlightenment of the Buddha near near Rājagaha in Northern India.

1. It was the full-moon day.
2. There were 1,250 Sangha followers, that came to see the Buddha that evening without any schedule.
3. All of them were ordained by the Buddha himself.
4. All of them were “Arhantas’,the Enlightened One.

The Buddha gave those 1,250 Arhantas principles of the Buddhism, called “The ovadhapatimokha” describing purpose, principles, and procedures to the synergy of the spread of Buddhism for the peace and happiness of mankind.

Alms-giving Ceremony

Start early in the morning on Makha Bucha day with Tak Bard, offering food to the monks in the alm bowl. The ceremony takes place in the ourdoor Grand Meditation Square at Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya. Withness the gathering of many thousands of monks from “the 100,000 monks mass ordination program from every village in Thailand” who will be present at the Cetiya, and tens of thousand Buddhists who will be joining the ceremony. The mass parade of thousands of monks on their Alms rounds will be the never before seen and unforgettable sight for those who participate, as if the whole land is showered with warm light of Dhamma. Like the Most Venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh (Ven. Dhammajayo Bhikkhu) said that no image is more beautiful than the images of crowds of people who gather to do merit. These images are historic and will be flowed into your heart as if the gentle stream of goodness is there to keep you happy and serene all day.

Mass meditation and lunch offering

Later in the morning, the Most Venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh (Ven. Dhammajayo Bhikkhu), the abbot of the Dhammakaya temple will be leading the mass pray and meditation for the purification of those who participate. The program is followed by Lunch Offering Ceremony to the monks.

National Dhamma Quiz Award 28 and World-PEC Award

The afternoon program is presided by the Most Venerable Phrabhavanaviriyakhun (Ven. Dattajeevo Bhikkhu), the vice abbot of the temple, in order to deliver the 28th National Dhamma Quiz and the WORLD-Peace Ethic Contest (World-PEC) Awards to both Thai and international winners.

The awards will also be delivered by internationally recognized guests who will participate in the ceremony. Through out the program, it will be filled as if orchestrated by the applause of the crowds to honor the winners. Followed by a photo session of the winners with the Most Venerable and other distinguished guests, and the speech by the Most Venerable.

The annual illumination ceremony at Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya

“I’m the candlelight
I am a kind of brilliant light
I am like a glorious light
My mind inside is candle bright”

The sunset over the horizon, giving way to the moonlight. The lantern of the night sky which is now decorated by brilliant light of the hundreds thousands of lanterns, lit by the monks and all participants, as if to say that the light of Dhamma has shone inside everyone’s mind. Hundreds thousands of lantern light being lit fabricate the shining sea of Dhamma that casts the darkness of the night sky away, as well as marking the light of enlightenment for mankind.

Ordination has been a part of the Thai Buddhist culture for centuries. At least once in a Thai gentleman’s life, one must be ordained as a Buddhist monk to observe the monastic life, learn about morality and ethics through Buddhist teachings and practice meditation. An ordination will complete a Thai man’s life who is morally qualified for living a peaceful life and becoming a good citizen of the society he belongs.

Thai gentleman, at the age 20, can ordain as a Buddhist monk, who will leave a comfortable life behind and voluntarily choose live a simple life. Ordination in Thai (บวช) means to refrain from living as a householder and committing bad conducts. In contrast with a householder’s life, Buddhist monks have only minimum necessities which are absolutely essential for their survival. These allow them to stop searching outward for happiness and begin looking inward for the genuine peace of mind.

As a part of the Moralily Revival Project in Thailand initiated by Luang Phaw Dhammajayo Bhikku, the abbot of the Dhammakaya temple, a 100,000 monks mass ordination is organized for the first time in the Thai history. The objective is to strengthen the ethical level and improve moral conducts in Thai community by allowing 100,000 gentlemen across the country to be true monks for 49 days. The project is hosted by the Dhammakaya Temple as well as the other 330 temples from every part of Thailand.

Advisory Committees

Committtees

Wat (derived from the Sanskrit word Vattaka) represents a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos.

Organizing Committees

Schedule

Note: The year is displayed in the Buddhist Era. The equivalent Christian Era is 2010.