Vesak is the time for all of us to reaffirm our faith and confidence in the Triple Gem.
Vesak is the time for us to commit ourselves to walk the Dhamma’s path, to sow the seeds of enlightenment in our hearts and to cultivate wisdom the compassion so as to be able to reach out to help sentient beings in times of need.
Vesak is the time for us to open our hearts to cultivate the compassionate love and cherish the good wish for all that all beings to be well and happy and to pray for the peace, harmony, and stability of this world we live in and to extend goodwill to all irrespective of race, of colour, creed or religious beliefs.
Bhante Mahinda gave this timely reminders in his recorded video Vesak B.E. 2554 message for all.
Recalling the significance of this thr
ice blessed day of the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha, Bhante traced how each of these events were special and held deep meaning for us till today.
“The birth of the Buddha was a very special occasion. It marked the culmination of the all the great virtues and qualities which the Buddha had perfected from life to life,” he said.
“These virtues or perfections are perfections of dana or generosity, sila (morality), nekkhama (renunciation), panna (wisdom), viriya (effort), khanti (patience), sacca (truthfulness) , adhithanna (resolution), metta (loving kindness), upekkha (equanimity).”
Bhante said the nature of the Buddha’s birth was not an ordinary one. Before he was born as Siddharta Gautama, he was in Tusita Heaven as a great Boddhisatta. He was able to choose the proper time, the place, the country, the family, the clan as well as the mother to whom he is to be born.
Ordinary human beings do not have such privilege but because of the virtues practiced from life to life and perfected, he had the great privilege which indeed made his birth special.
The enlightenment of the Buddha, added Bhante, was also an unique event. “It opened path of deathlessness. It showed the way how mankind can cross that ocean of samsara, the cycle of birth and death, to put an end to old age, sickness and death, once and for all.”
On the full moon day of May
in the place now revered as Bodhgaya, Northern India, wisdom dawned upon the Buddha under the bodhi tree. Three important insights arose in him – in the first insight during the first watch of the night (from 6 pm to 10 pm), he saw his previous lives in great detail; in the next watch (between 10 pm and 2 am), he saw how beings die and are born according to their karma; and in the third watch (between 2 am and 6 am), he had the insight of how to put an end to the defiling tendencies of greed, hatred and delusion.
This knowledge or insights have been passed down in a form of a formula known as Paticca Samupaddha or Dependent Origination which explains how suffering arises and ceases. With these three insights, the Buddha was free, having overcome the pains or cravings and attachments. His mind was liberated and the Buddha was endowed with various spiritual powers and unique abilities to teach and enlighten others.
“That is the uniqueness of the enlightenment of the Buddha, which opened the way for human kind to go beyond the shores of suffering to put an end to the cycle of birth and death and overcome old age, sickness and death,” Bhante emphasised.
The third event is referred to as the Maha Parinabbana or the great passing because the Buddha did not die like an ordinary human being. The Buddha passed away with great clarity of mind.
Bhante explained: “We are told how in his reclining posture, his mind was composed. He was able to raise his mind from the first level of mental absorption, from the first jhana, to the second, to the third, to the fourth, and then right up to the eighth jhana. From the eighth jhana, he was able to bring his mind back to the first jhana and from the first, to the second, to the third and to the fourth and then he entered Maha Parinabbana.
“His mind was absolutely clear. He had no more clinging and attachments. No more fear. No more confusion whatsoever. This is how the Buddha he passed away – in a great and unique manner. “
Bhante also reminded us of the very important message that the Buddha left for the world.
Vaya Dhamma Sankara
All component things are subject change or transient are all component things
Apamadena Sampadetha
Work out your deliverance with heedfulness, with mindfulness
Bhante emphasised that it is important that “we all heed this message that the Buddha left for the world as we live in this time of great change and uncertainty”.
Vesak is the time for us to commit ourselves to walk the Dhamma’s path, to sow the seeds of enlightenment in our hearts and to cultivate wisdom the compassion so as to be able to reach out to help sentient beings in times of need.
Vesak is the time for us to open our hearts to cultivate the compassionate love and cherish the good wish for all that all beings to be well and happy and to pray for the peace, harmony, and stability of this world we live in and to extend goodwill to all irrespective of race, of colour, creed or religious beliefs.
Bhante Mahinda gave this timely reminders in his recorded video Vesak B.E. 2554 message for all.
Recalling the significance of this thr
ice blessed day of the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha, Bhante traced how each of these events were special and held deep meaning for us till today.“The birth of the Buddha was a very special occasion. It marked the culmination of the all the great virtues and qualities which the Buddha had perfected from life to life,” he said.
“These virtues or perfections are perfections of dana or generosity, sila (morality), nekkhama (renunciation), panna (wisdom), viriya (effort), khanti (patience), sacca (truthfulness) , adhithanna (resolution), metta (loving kindness), upekkha (equanimity).”
Bhante said the nature of the Buddha’s birth was not an ordinary one. Before he was born as Siddharta Gautama, he was in Tusita Heaven as a great Boddhisatta. He was able to choose the proper time, the place, the country, the family, the clan as well as the mother to whom he is to be born.
Ordinary human beings do not have such privilege but because of the virtues practiced from life to life and perfected, he had the great privilege which indeed made his birth special.
The enlightenment of the Buddha, added Bhante, was also an unique event. “It opened path of deathlessness. It showed the way how mankind can cross that ocean of samsara, the cycle of birth and death, to put an end to old age, sickness and death, once and for all.”
On the full moon day of May
in the place now revered as Bodhgaya, Northern India, wisdom dawned upon the Buddha under the bodhi tree. Three important insights arose in him – in the first insight during the first watch of the night (from 6 pm to 10 pm), he saw his previous lives in great detail; in the next watch (between 10 pm and 2 am), he saw how beings die and are born according to their karma; and in the third watch (between 2 am and 6 am), he had the insight of how to put an end to the defiling tendencies of greed, hatred and delusion.This knowledge or insights have been passed down in a form of a formula known as Paticca Samupaddha or Dependent Origination which explains how suffering arises and ceases. With these three insights, the Buddha was free, having overcome the pains or cravings and attachments. His mind was liberated and the Buddha was endowed with various spiritual powers and unique abilities to teach and enlighten others.
“That is the uniqueness of the enlightenment of the Buddha, which opened the way for human kind to go beyond the shores of suffering to put an end to the cycle of birth and death and overcome old age, sickness and death,” Bhante emphasised.
The third event is referred to as the Maha Parinabbana or the great passing because the Buddha did not die like an ordinary human being. The Buddha passed away with great clarity of mind.
Bhante explained: “We are told how in his reclining posture, his mind was composed. He was able to raise his mind from the first level of mental absorption, from the first jhana, to the second, to the third, to the fourth, and then right up to the eighth jhana. From the eighth jhana, he was able to bring his mind back to the first jhana and from the first, to the second, to the third and to the fourth and then he entered Maha Parinabbana.
“His mind was absolutely clear. He had no more clinging and attachments. No more fear. No more confusion whatsoever. This is how the Buddha he passed away – in a great and unique manner. “
Bhante also reminded us of the very important message that the Buddha left for the world.
Vaya Dhamma Sankara
All component things are subject change or transient are all component things
Apamadena Sampadetha
Work out your deliverance with heedfulness, with mindfulness
Bhante emphasised that it is important that “we all heed this message that the Buddha left for the world as we live in this time of great change and uncertainty”.
Well done Bhante.
ReplyDeletewish you well and healthy, long life for the benefit of many.
From:
Victor Lim Chee Seong
Harmony Emporium / harmonybest.com