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| November 6, 2014 |
By Walter Wijenayake
The Full Moon Poya Day of Il on which
the Sakyamuni Siddhartha Gauthama Buddha set forth His first group of sixty
disciples for the propagation of Dhamma falls today.
The Buddha, after spending 49 days
near and around the Bodhi tree under which He attained Enlightenment at Buddha
Gaya, proceeded to Issipathana in the Deer Park in Benares and preached first
sermon the Dhamma Chakkappavattana Sutta to the five ascetics Kondanna,
Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji all of whom well understood the Dhamma of
the Buddha and realised the truth that in this world there is suffering, the
cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering and the path that leads to the
cessation of suffering that provides complete emancipation.
On that particular Full Moon Poya
Day, when He dispatched those Arahant Bhikkus He advised them to:
‘Charita Bhikkave charikam
Bahujana hithaya
Bahujana sukhaya
Atthaya hithaya
Deva manussanam
which means
‘Wonder forth O’Bhikkus for the
welfare and happiness of all begins, devas and men’
The Buddha also advised them to let
two Bhikkhus not follow the same route.
On this process, the Buddha Himself
went in a different direction, on the same purpose, with his alms bowl hanging
on one of his shoulders.
It was also on such a Full Moon Poya
Day that the Venerable Sariputta Maha Thera, one of the two chief disciples or
Agga Sravaka of the Buddha attained Parinibbana.
This particular day also marks the
receiving of Vivarana (invitation to become Buddha by the Bodhisatva Maithriya,
FROM THE Gauthama Buddha.
The sending off of Maha Theras to
different parts of India and neighbouring countries, by the Maha Thera
Moggaliputtatissa at the conclusion of the third Buddhist Council at
Pataliputta, for the propagation of Buddha Dhamma.
The Jatila Dhamanaya or the
conversion of three ascetic brothers – the Kasyapas known as Nadi Kasyapas,
Gaya Kasyapa and Uruvela Kasyapa together with thousands of others who
assembled near Gayasirasa (modern Bothgaya).
The Cheevara Masaya or Katina Masaya
season of one month which concluded the ‘Vas’ season commenced on the Full Moon
Poya Day of Esala ends today.
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