{"id":516864,"date":"2023-03-02T12:06:16","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T05:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/?post_type=buddhism_meditatio&p=516864"},"modified":"2025-04-25T22:42:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T15:42:11","slug":"%e0%b9%84%e0%b8%97%e0%b8%a2-the-genius-of-the-buddha-seen-from-magha-puja","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/th\/%e0%b9%84%e0%b8%97%e0%b8%a2-the-genius-of-the-buddha-seen-from-magha-puja\/","title":{"rendered":"The Genius of the Buddha Seen from Magha Puja"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/span> International Buddhists are celebrating Magha Puja by meditating (photo credit: https:\/\/www.maghapuja.org\/)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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He summarized his teachings into three sentences, making it easier for his followers to practice and propagate his noble insights<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u0e2d\u0e23\u0e34\u0e22\u0e2a\u0e31\u0e08 4 (Four Noble Truths<\/a>) Buddha<\/a> was a great man – the first genius to have discovered the direct Path<\/a> to supreme happiness that everyone can attain even in this life. By giving advice and preaching sermons centered on the Way, he worked tirelessly and continuously for 45 years from the time of his Enlightenment<\/a> (acquiring the <\/em>Three Knowledges<\/em><\/a>, and liberation from suffering and the mental toxins that are its cause<\/em>) to his Parinibbana<\/a> (the state of ultimate peace that follows the death of a Buddha<\/em>), for a better life of other people. He was regarded as \u201cBuddha\u201d (awakened one or the one who possessed extraordinary wisdom<\/em>). And he left Buddhasasana<\/a> or Buddhism as a legacy to the world.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nowadays, there are over 500 million Buddhists in more than 50 countries worldwide<\/a>. Israeli historian Prof. Dr. Yuval Noah Harari called Buddhism the first universal religion in his book \u201cSapiens, A Graphic History, the Birth of Humankind\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the Buddha passed away more than 2,500 years ago, Buddhists worldwide as well as many non-Buddhists, who have experienced happiness and peace thanks to his teaching, celebrate important events in his life. Some important dates in the Buddhist calendar are Vesak Puja (to commemorate the Buddha\u2019s birth, enlightenment and nirvana<\/em>), and Magha Puja (to celebrate the formation of the Buddhist community<\/em>.)\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the first full moon of the third month of the lunar calendar, Buddhist celebrate Magha Puja<\/em> day, which is considered the second most important Buddhist festival after Vesak Puja<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> Magha Puja<\/em> celebrates a gathering of 1,250 of the Buddha\u2019s disciples, or bhikku<\/em><\/a>, more than 2,500 years ago, an event which is regarded as the first large gathering of the early Buddhist community. This event took place at Veluvan, known today as Venu Van Park in Nalanda District of Bihar State in India. During this gathering, the Buddha summarized his teaching to the bhikku<\/em>, exhorted his followers to undertake the compassionate missionary work, and laid down rules for monks to observe in the community, which was founded for the welfare, benefit and happiness of the members of the new community as well as for people outside the group in general.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, Magha Puja day falls on Monday, March 6th<\/sup>. For Buddhists, this will be a day to meditate, make merit, and gather at the temple. Read on to find out about the history of this special day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Venu Van is the place where the Buddha preached Ovada Patimokkha (picture courtesy: Mr. Theerawas Bampenbunbarami)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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A pavilion with the Buddha statue inside is erected at Venu Van (or Veluvana) believed to be the garden where the Buddha proclaimed a summary of his teaching to 1,250 disciples on Magha Puja Day (photo credit: https:\/\/bit.ly\/3Lo1Si8) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The Month of Magha and Its Long-held Importance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Magh was already considered a sacred month long before it entailed a Buddhist holy day. For example, in the Mahabarata, one of two major Sanskrit epics dating from ancient India, statements about the importance of Magh can be seen as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n

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He who gives gingelly as a gift to Brahmins (Hindu priest) during this month will never go to hell<\/em>;<\/span><\/p>\n

If one takes food only once a day during the whole of this month, one will be born very rich in the next birth<\/em>;<\/span><\/p>\n

He who bathes at Prayag<\/a> (or Prayagraj city in India) during this month will be free from all sins.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Etymologically, Magha Puja<\/em> was shortened from the old phrase Magha Maasam Puja<\/em> meaning worship in the month of Magh<\/em>. The word Magha<\/em> itself comes from a Sanskrit<\/em> word Magham<\/em>, which can be separated into two parts \u2013 Ma and Agham<\/em><\/a>. Ma<\/em> means not present and Agham<\/em> means evil, grief, sin and suffering. Magham<\/em> therefore means no evil, grief, sin and suffering is present. People of this faith believed that Magha maasam<\/em> (month of Magha<\/em>) is the month which is highly meritorious, auspicious and free from any sin or suffering. In this month, devotees observed the tradition of worshiping the Sun God, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Ganesh. And on the last day of Magha<\/em> month (Magha Purnima<\/em><\/a> in Sanskrit), they worship ancestors, observe a day long fast, and take a holy dip in rivers including Ganga, Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Yamuna,\u00a0 Tapti and others to purify themselves of sins. The faithful worshiped or celebrated this Magha<\/em> month greatly in Magha Mela<\/em><\/a> in the past, and they do so even today in Kumbha Mela<\/em><\/a> which is a major religious pilgrimage, rituals, social practices and festive events.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Devotees gathered at Prayag City to take a holy bath during the Kumbh Mela in January 2022. (Photo credit: https:\/\/bit.ly\/3KG54VZ)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Buddha\u2019s Version of the Worship in the Month of Magh \u2013 Magha Purnima Puja <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After his Enlightenment, the Buddha began to teach the Way leading to supreme happiness. He gained a lot of followers quickly. He first converted the group of five ascetics who had been his one-time spiritual companions. They became his first enlightened followers (arahant<\/em><\/a>i) and the first Buddhist monks (bhikkhu<\/em><\/a>) that formed the first members of the company of Buddhist monks (sangha<\/em><\/a>.) In a few months – after this first conversion -, the Buddha instructed his liberated disciples to proclaim the teachings saying, \u201cMonks, wander forth for the welfare<\/strong>, benefit<\/strong> \u0e41\u0e25\u0e30 happiness<\/strong> of the many people, out of compassion<\/strong>\u2026<\/em>\u201d As a result of their hard work, there were more than 1,000 new converts in the first nine months.<\/span><\/p>\n

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All of these new Buddhist converts had been mendicant-ascetics belonging to a variety of belief systems. Some came from high-caste background and were familiar with the vedic<\/em><\/a> \u0e41\u0e25\u0e30 brahmanical<\/em><\/a> rituals, but others had been farmers and merchants with no inside knowledge of any religious system at all. But many of them used to observe Magha Mela<\/em> or Magha Puja<\/em> in their old faith.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Therefore, when the time for Magha Puja arrived in the first year of the Buddha\u2019s ministry itself, these 1,250 Buddhist monks came to see the Buddha since they did not worship gods or take a river dip to purify their minds of sins anymore. And on the last day of Magha Puja<\/em> month \u2013 Magha Purnami<\/em>, the Buddha called an assembly of them at Venu Van Park and delivered the \u00a0\u200c\u201cOvada\u200c-patimokkha<\/a>\u201d\u200c\u00a0\u200csermon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Buddha addressed a gathering of the 1,250 disciples on Magha Purnami Puja day at Venu Van (or Veluvana in Pali) (Photo credit: https:\/\/bit.ly\/3GYt9ov)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Ovada-patimokkha summarized the ideal goal of Buddhism, the principles of Buddhism, and the compassionate missionary method of Buddhism, which was composed in three stanzas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. The ideal goal of Buddhism<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    The goals as outlined in the sermon comprises three parts, namely:<\/span><\/p>\n

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