How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
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How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
It's Bhikkhu Bodhi's birthday today (happy birthday). It got me thinking... do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis do anything for their birthdays?
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Re: How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
Wake up, walk, sit, talk, eat, crap, breath, lie down, sleep.
That sort of thing.
Every day is a holy-day.
That sort of thing.
Every day is a holy-day.
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Re: How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
Yes, they (or some) do celebrate there birthday.
Ajahn Sumedho celebrated his 72nd (?) a few years ago, and the Abbot of Chithurst celebrated one while I was at amaravati, many of the monks and laymen went there for it, I didn't so don't know what went on, wish I had, but I didn't want to go there for the occasion when I didn't know him!
Edit
I also heard from one of the lay guests who used to be a monk at WPN about times he visited (with others) famous monks (in the wider forest tradition) for their Birthdays, but he mainly talked about them as inspiring people rather than the celebrations.
Ajahn Sumedho celebrated his 72nd (?) a few years ago, and the Abbot of Chithurst celebrated one while I was at amaravati, many of the monks and laymen went there for it, I didn't so don't know what went on, wish I had, but I didn't want to go there for the occasion when I didn't know him!
Edit
I also heard from one of the lay guests who used to be a monk at WPN about times he visited (with others) famous monks (in the wider forest tradition) for their Birthdays, but he mainly talked about them as inspiring people rather than the celebrations.
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He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
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He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
Re: How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
If we have all been reborn through countless lifetimes then I guess that the odds are that we were born on each and every day of the year in one of our previous rebirths so I guess we should celebrate every day as our birthday.
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Re: How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
Some monks and abbots do. I went to a Thai temple once and it happened to be the abbot's birthday. There were piles of presents and most of them were wrapped, so I have no idea what they could have been? It looked a little too materialistic for my taste. I suppose they could have been some essentials, but with the wrapping paper it could have been anything.
Re: How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
That is interesting. I admit, if I were practicing under an abbot I would want to give a gift on his birthday.David N. Snyder wrote:Some monks and abbots do. I went to a Thai temple once and it happened to be the abbot's birthday. There were piles of presents and most of them were wrapped, so I have no idea what they could have been? It looked a little too materialistic for my taste. I suppose they could have been some essentials, but with the wrapping paper it could have been anything.
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Conquer the angry man by love. Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness. Conquer the miser with generosity. Conquer the liar with truth. -The Dhammapada
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Re: How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
Yes, definitely, Dhamma gifts are wonderful presents for monks and nuns, such as requisites, essentials, temple dana, books, etc.LauraJ wrote: That is interesting. I admit, if I were practicing under an abbot I would want to give a gift on his birthday.
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Re: How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
last saturday I attend a small ceremony to celebrate a birthday of a bhikkhu.
just usual puja, but we pour some water on his hand.
just usual puja, but we pour some water on his hand.
Re: How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?
We all made an extra effort to attend puja on that day (and be attentive, too!). And we sang Happy Birthday...much to the bhikkhu's embarrassment. But he took it in good faith. Offered lunch (birthday cake included), then he gave us blessings in return.
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