Magha Puja Day

Note: the following is informational only...I have tried to explain Dharma,  Precepts, and Magha Puja as I have been able to research...this information  is general based knowledge and may or may not be how this Temple interprets the beliefs or practices ...and is only provided to the general public to grasp an understanding of the teachings and reason for the Magha Puja ceremony. As always, this web site tries to educate the general public on happenings at the Temple and is NOT to be considered the spokesperson for the Temple.

In Buddhism,  DHARMA  incorporates the teachings and doctrines of the founder of Buddhism, the Buddha.

DHARMA Teachings encompasses ideas such as duty, rights, character, vocation, religion, customs and all behavior considered appropriate, correct or morally upright

The Dharma is one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism in which practitioners of Buddhism seek refuge, or that upon which one relies for his or her lasting happiness. The Three Jewels of Buddhism are the Buddha, meaning the mind's perfection of enlightenment, the Dharma, meaning the teachings and the methods of the Buddha, and the Sangha, meaning the monastic (monks) community who provide guidance and support to followers of the Buddha.

MAGHA PUJA,  Thai: มาฆบูชา) is an important Buddhist festival celebrated on the full moon day of Māgha in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. The spiritual aims of the day are: not to commit any kind of sins; do only good; purify one's mind. Magha Puja is a public holiday in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand and is an occasion when Buddhists tend to go to the temple to perform merit-making activities.


3-Day Schedule--Magha Puja      Wat Punyawanaram     Melbourne, Florida

Friday, February 19, 2016
                                                           6 pm  Practice of Renunciation (Nekkhamma)*
                                                                       Observe the 8-precepts **...practice of meditation and mental disciplines.
                                                                       (if possible, participates are asked to wear traditional white robes)

 Precepts can be defined as rules or principles for actions...a guide or rule for moral actions.

* Note: In religion, Renunciation often indicates an abandonment of pursuit of material comforts, in the interests of achieving spiritual enlightenment. In Buddhism, the Pali word for "renunciation" is nekkhamma, conveying more specifically "giving up the world and leading a holy life" or "freedom from lust, craving and desires.

** Eight Precepts: In addition to the Five Precepts listed below that all Buddhist try to live by, some Buddhist  being zealous in improving their conduct and being detached from things deemed to be relatively futile, observe three more precepts for  one day each week.  These additional precepts are:  (1) Abstain from listening or playing music, songs, wearing flowers, jewelry and other ornaments...(2) Refrain from lining or seating on high and luxurious places. (3) Abstain from eating after noon time.

Saturday, February 20, 2016  (All times are estimates...subject to change)
                  
                                                               5-7 am                Sitting meditation...Chanting...and Walking mediation.   
                                                                7 am                    Breakfast
                                                       8:30-10:30 am         Dedication of "Five Precepts Village" *
                                                      10:30 am- 1 pm        Alms offering to monks...then lunch for members and our guest.
                                                              1  -3 pm                Meditation
                                                              3 -5 pm                  Dhamma Teachings...Break/Refreshments
                                                              5 -6  pm                Time for self-meditation practice
                                                         6 - 10:30 pm            Evening Chanting...Dhamma teaching...and Meditation
                                                             10:30 pm              Close

* Note: The Five Precepts  constitute the basic code of ethics undertaken by ("lay followers") of Buddhism. The precepts in all the traditions are essentially identical and are commitments to abstain from:  (1) harming living beings, (2) stealing, (3) sexual misconduct, (4) lying and (5) intoxication. 

Sunday, February 21, 2016  (All times are estimates...subject to change)

                                                              5-7 am                Sitting meditation...Chanting...and Walking mediation.   
                                                                7 am                    Breakfast
                                                      8:30-10:30 am        Meditation
                                                10:30 am- 12:30 pm   Alms offering to monks...then lunch for members and our guest.
                                                              12:30  pm          Dhamma Teachings... followed by candle procession around temple *
                                                                   2  pm              Close

*  Note: On the  Magha full-moon day, (Sunday/apx. 12:30 pm ) each temple in Thailand holds a candlelight procession called a wian thian (wian meaning to circle around; thian meaning candle). Holding flowers, incense and a lighted candle, the monks and congregation members circumnavigate clockwise three times around the phra ubosot (ordination hall), once for each of the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
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