Happy Uposatha Day!

[retrofuturist]

Greetings everyone,

Happy Uposatha Day for today (or whichever day it falls on your chosen calendar)!



Metta,
Retro.

[jcsuperstar]

isnt it only full moon days? i know the other day i wanted to go out with my girlfriend but she couldnt eat as she had taken the 8precepts...

[Ben]

Hi jc

isnt it only full moon days? i know the other day i wanted to go out with my girlfriend but she couldnt eat as she had taken the 8precepts...

Here's a calendar: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dham ... a2009.html

[Ben]

Received this morning from Nirodha Trust which I thought I would share with you...

Message For Bak Full Moon Poya Day
(By dhammaruwan)

Today is the Bak (pronounced similar to the word “buck”) Poya Day, the first full moon day in the Sinhala year. The special significance of this day is that the Great Compassionate Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the second time all those years ago on a Bak Full Moon Poya Day.

The Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka was made 9 months after his enlightenment. The second visit was 5 years later. It was made to settle a fight between two Naga Kings; Chulodara (small belly) and Mahodara (big belly), who were fighting over a gem-studded throne.

Upon Buddha’s arrival, the two kings offered the gem-studded throne to the Buddha. The Buddha, then, preached the Dhamma to these kings while sitting on this gem-studded throne. After listening to the talk, the two kings came to the realization that fighting for material gain is not a wise thing to do. When the Buddha left, the two kings constructed a pagoda to enshrine this gem-studded throne, this pagoda can still be seen today when visiting Sri Lanka.

Thus, on this Poya day, we can think back on how much time we spend in our lives to gain material things, though we may not be fighting for a gem-studded throne. It may be developing our careers, acquiring more wealth and money, and even developing ideas and thoughts that eventually lead to material gain and security. The question we must ask ourselves on this day is: “Is material gain worth the fight?”

Day by day, we do not gain in youth, rather we get closer and closer to one single reality, Death. Each passing second is a step closer to our passing from this world. So, if these kings can leave their fight over something as precious as a gem-studded throne, perhaps, on this Poya day, we can leave aside our differences, our ambitions and fights for material pleasures and develop the thought of renunciation. Even doing this for one day, allows us to gain enormous benefit and kusala kamma.

[retrofuturist]

Thanks for sharing, Ben.

Metta,
Retro.

[Ben]

Hi Retro

Its actually quite serendipitous. Last night I wrote a response to Ven Apichatto's post on the right livelihood thread where I waxed not-so-lyrical about my attitude where I feel I have renounced my desire for success and position and to focus instead on the things that really matter in my life while picking up any work I can (within the bounds of right livelihood). When i hit the send button I got a message indicating the server was down. And lo and behold, this morning I receive the above message from the Nirodha Trust on the subject!
Metta

Ben

[David N. Snyder]

The Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka was made 9 months after his enlightenment. The second visit was 5 years later.

Great Dhamma talk!

I have heard that there is no physical, archeological evidence that the Buddha was ever in Sri Lanka, nor is there any reference in the Pali Canon. Apparently, it is one of those "legends" for which we may never know for sure.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Happy Uposatha Day for today, Tuesday, July 7th... or whenever it is on your full moon calendar.



Metta,
Retro.

[Cittasanto]

Shaved my head bald especially

[Dmytro]

Happy Dhamma day!

"This day, sometimes called "Dhamma Day," commemorates the Buddha's first discourse, which he gave to the group of five monks with whom he had practiced in the forest for many years. Upon hearing this discourse, one of the monks ( Ven. Kondañña) gained his first glimpse of Nibbana, thus giving birth to the Noble Sangha. The annual Rains retreat (vassa) begins the following day."

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dham ... tml#asalha

[appicchato]

Shaved my head bald especially

You're not alone...

[nathan]

To baldly go...

[Cittasanto]

I am working on transfering the pic from my phone to put it as my avatar I am slightly tired of the old pics (Been using them for 2/3 years now) and don't have many

[Cittasanto]

managed it
http://manapa.multiply.com/photos/album ... ures_of_me
I have just taken them myself so done my best for posture on the 30 second and stuff for the image of me meditating but obviously that is a cheat pic.

but yes the eyebrows went as well

[David N. Snyder]

Happy Asalha Puja Day!

A very important day, with special significance here.

Asalha Puja commemorates the first [re] turning of the "Dhamma Wheel" with the first sermon by the Buddha on the Dhamma in this dispensation.

And here at Dhamma Wheel we aim to continue turning the Dhamma Wheel, all credit to Buddha, of course.

[piotr]

Hi,

Fruitful Uposatha to all of you!

If you're Firefox user, then you can install free add-on Sun Cult, which will allow you to track the moon phases in the browser toolbar. There is also public calendar with moon phases, which you can subscribe at Google Calendar (Gmail account is required).

[Cittasanto]

Its not been a year has it???

Happy Asalha Puja Day!

A very important day, with special significance here.

Asalha Puja commemorates the first [re] turning of the "Dhamma Wheel" with the first sermon by the Buddha on the Dhamma in this dispensation.

And here at Dhamma Wheel we aim to continue turning the Dhamma Wheel, all credit to Buddha, of course.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Manapa,

Its not been a year has it???

Not the site Dhamma Wheel, if that's what you mean. That anniversary is on New Year's Eve (or thereabouts... timezones complicate things!).

Metta,
Retro.

[David N. Snyder]

Its not been a year has it???

Happy Asalha Puja Day!

A very important day, with special significance here.

No, not yet. I just meant that the Asalha Puja Day and this forum both commemorate the "turning of the Dhamma Wheel."

The first sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, mentions the turning of the Dhamma Wheel and actually translates (somewhat) to turning the wheel of Dhamma.

And here the name of our forum is Dhamma Wheel.

[Cittasanto]

Hi Retro & Dhamma
didn't realise I joined on the first day just shows how much attention I pay to the season, dates etc

Greetings Manapa,

Its not been a year has it???

Not the site Dhamma Wheel, if that's what you mean. That anniversary is on New Year's Eve (or thereabouts... timezones complicate things!).

Metta,
Retro.