How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?

by **Mawkish1983** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:57 am

It's Bhikkhu Bodhi's birthday today (happy birthday). It got me thinking... do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis do anything for their birthdays?

by **Paññāsikhara** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:22 am

Wake up, walk, sit, talk, eat, crap, breath, lie down, sleep.
That sort of thing.

Every day is a holy-day. ;-)

by **Cittasanto** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:47 am

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.

by **chownah** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:03 pm

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.
chownah

by **David N. Snyder** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:07 pm

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.

by **LauraJ** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:41 pm

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.

That is interesting. I admit, if I were practicing under an abbot I would want to give a gift on his birthday.

:anjali:

by **David N. Snyder** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:58 pm

LauraJ wrote:That is interesting. I admit, if I were practicing under an abbot I would want to give a gift on his birthday.

Yes, definitely, Dhamma gifts are wonderful presents for monks and nuns, such as requisites, essentials, temple dana, books, etc.

by **karuna_murti** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:21 pm

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.

by **salmon** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:21 am

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. :tongue:

But he took it in good faith. Offered lunch (birthday cake included), then he gave us blessings in return.

How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?

How do Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis acknowledge birthdays?

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