mettavalokanaya_international_buddhist_magazine_september_2020

Asalha Bucha
The Dhammachakka Day….
Asalha Bucha Day, which falls on
the 15th waxing moon day of
the 8th lunar month is a very
important day in Buddhism
as: 01. This is the Day that the Lord
Buddha delivered the first sermon
to the five ascetics (“Pancavaggi”) at
“Isip-pa-ta-na-ma-ruka-ta-ya-wan”
Forest, Varanasi in India. 02. The first
Sermon of the Lord Buddha was the
Dhammachakka ppavattana Sutta,
which gives an explanation about the
Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and
the Noble Eightfold Path. 03. Kondañña,
the Lord Buddha’s first disciple, became
enlightened as the first Stream-
Winner (Sotāpanna). He was the first
monk ordained by the Lord Buddha in
Buddhism. 04. It is the day the Triple
Gem was born, which includes the
Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha
(monastics).
On this auspicious occasion of
Asalha Bucha - The Dhammachakka
Day, The International Buddhist
Confederation (IBC), supported by
Ministry of Culture, Govt of India
organized the global celebration of
Asadha Poornima (also known as Esala
Poya in Sri Lanka and Asanha Bucha in
Thailand): the sacred day of Dharma
Chakra Parvattana on 4th July 2020 at
Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi , India.
We can say this is the Global
Launching of Dhamma Chakra Day as
many Supreme heads of Sangha of
various countries and Eminent masters
delivered the speech for video messages.
In this occasion Hon’ble Guests are
present and address name as follow:
01. Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Hon’ble
President of India. 02. Shri Narendra
Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
(Video address) 03. Shri Prahlad Patel,
Hon’ble Minister of Culture & Tourism.
04. Shri Kiren Rijiju, Hon’ble Minister of
Youth, Sports & Minority Affairs. 05. Dr
Vinay Sahasrabuddhe,MP and President
of ICCR. 06. H.E Mr Gonching Ganbold,
Ambassador of Mongolia to India. 07.
Ven Dr Dhammapiya, Secretary General
of IBC
There are also, Chanting of
Dhamma Cakka Pavattana Sutta by
Theravada and Mahayana Sangha and
ceremonies from the Mulagandhakuti
Vihara temple, Sarnath and Mahabodhi
temple, Bodhgaya. The World Alliance
of Buddhists (WAB) also organized
WAB Zoom Meeting to commemorate
this auspicious occasion on 4 July B. E.
2563 (2020), 6-9 pm which participants
joined Dhammachakka chanting in
various version such as Myanmar, Sri
Lanka, India, Bengali, Thai, ect.
At Wat Phra Dhammakaya,
Patumthani, Thailand, there are also
the big celebration of Dhammachakka
Chanting of 2,477,777,777 rounds
( 2,477 million and 7.7 lac rounds)
at Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya (One
Million Buddhas Pagoda) which all 200
Dhammakaya branches around the
world Chanting together and live stream
on GBN application (Global Buddhist
Network). Dhammakaya Disciples
around the world officially started
Dhammachakka Chanting since Asalha
Bucha on 19 July B. E. 2559 (2016) and
continuous chanting until now.
Dhammachakka ppavattana
Sutta,The first Sermon of the Lord
Buddha, which gives an explanation
about the Middle Way, the Four Noble
Truths, and the Noble Eightfold Path is
very important Suttra for Buddhism.
Some masters said that if Buddha
taught Dhammachakka Sutta only we
can say that his enlightenment and
propagation is completely perfect. As
Dhammachakka pavattana Sutta has
included the core of Buddha’s Dhamma
already.
Here are the 10 benefits you can
gain when you keep up the chant. 01)
Soothe & Calm the Mind: The holy
passages contained in this Sutta have
the power to soothe, calm and ready
the mind for meditation. 02) Purify the
Mind: When we chant the Sutta with
total presence, our act of chanting then
resembles meditation, which cleanses
and purifies the mind. Taints and flaws of
our mind will begin to be removed. 03)
Spiritual Connection: We are spiritually
one with the Buddha when we chant the
Sutta with respect, undivided attention
and appreciation for his virtues and
unconditional love for humanity. It
is as if we are having an audience
with the Buddha. 04) Enlightenment:
Chanting the Sutta reminds us of the
core teachings of the Buddha, which
leads to liberation from suffering and
attainment of Nibbāna. 05) Everyday
Wisdom: The daily chanting of the Sutta
in the evening and/or morning helps us
to realize if what we did or what we plan
to do will lead to the end of suffering or
cause more suffering. 06) Honor: As we
chant, we are also making the merit of
honoring the Buddha. Thus, we shall
be blessed with honor. 07) Pleasant
voice: As we chant, we are using our
voice to express his virtues. Thus, we
shall be blessed with a pleasant voice.
08) Blessed and Protected: Every time
we chant the Sutta, our mind will be
blessed. Our mouth will be blessed. Our
ears will be blessed. All of our physical
body will become auspiciously blessed.
09) Dispel “Bad Luck”: Negative karmic
retributions that have followed us
through existences as results of our
unwholesome deeds will be rectified
and diluted. Strong ones will become
weak and weak ones will cease to
take effect. 10) Draw “Good Fortune”:
The purity of our mind resulting from
the Sutta chanting will accelerate the
fruits of good deeds and draw positive
circumstances into our lives.
So, every day all Buddhists and
everyone should chant Dhammachakka
“Real benefits of
Dhammachakka
Pavattana Sutta”….
together at least once a day. Let the
Dhammachakka Chanting purify
our minds until we attain the eye of
Dhamma. Let the Dhammachakka
Chanting be the voice of the world. Let
the Wheel of Dhamma set in motion
the incalculable power of purity that
can overcome all difficulties. Let us all
cultivate peace in our minds for the
benefit of a sustainable and peaceful Thailand
world.
Most Venerable
Palawadhammo (Dr.
Pornchai Pinyapong)
14 l Mettavalokanaya l September l 2020 2020 l September l Mettavalokanaya l 15