Saturday Evening, May 05, 2012
Start from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM-Pay Respect to the Triple Gem and Undertake the Five Precepts
-Invite the Monks chanting Paritta
-Perform the devotional acts and offerings to the Buddha
Sunday Morning, May 06, 2012
-9:00 am: Arrival of guests
-9:30 am: Paying respects to the Triple Gem and taking the Five Precepts.
-10:00 am: Putting alms into alms-bowl, Food offering to th Buddhist Monks.
-10:30 am: Dhamma Lecture given by the monk.
-11:30 am: Blessing given by the monks, Lunch of monks.
-12:00 am Communal Lunch. Click Here to get Flyer
Visakhha Puja Day
marks the Buddhism Trinity or three important incidents occurred in the
life of Lord Buddha on the same day. They happened on the same day on
full moon of the sixth lunar month. The three significant separate
events are:
- The Buddha was born on this day. Buddha was born into a royal family in what is now Nepal.
- The Buddha achieved "The Enlightenment(NIRVANA) on the same day
- He passed away at age 80 in India.
In his early years he lived a life of
luxury and was shielded from the life of misery that most of the
kingdom’s people lived in. At the age of 29 he left this life of luxury
and studied the practices of Brahmin ascetics who denied themselves all
but the most vital essentials of life. Eventually he rejected this
practice and practice the "middle way" – a simple rational life of
moderation. At the age of 39 he attained enlightenment. His discovery is
referred to as the four noble truths:
- The Noble Truth of Suffering
- The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering
- The Noble Truth of Extinction of Suffering
- The Noble Truth of the Path leading to the Extinction of Suffering
He spent the remainder of his life
wandering from place to place teaching his discoveries. Typical
activities would include: Going to temple for special observances and
listening to Dhamma teaching, giving food to the Monks, and Keeping
the Five or Eight precepts.
The way of celebrating Visakha Puja is similar to the celebration of Magha Puja.
May peace and happiness be upon you and all beings in the universe!