Buddhism arrives in Sri Lanka! (Poson)

Bhante, Dhr. Seven, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; SundayObserver.lk

While the ruler was hunting, Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka with enlightened brother and sister missionaries, Mahinda and Sanghamitta, scions of India's Buddhist Emperor Asoka (sundayobserver.lk)

 

The full moon (poornima) Buddhist observance day (uposatha) is being celebrated in Pasadena today at the Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara under the brilliant "honey" moon.

Long ago the island of Sri Lanka -- Ceylon and Serendib -- was disputed territory, a Yakkha Kingdom, with frequent incursions by Hindu kings and the Tamil nation just miles away across the straits in India.
 

The Great Epic mentions the exploits of Rama and Sita being spirited away to its pleasant shores. Eventually Buddhist kings arose who settled the island claiming it for their own. More

• Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara
• 920 N. Summit Ave., Pasadena 91103

Vedda people, indigenous jungle aboriginals still hunting in Sri Lanka (lanka-holidays.com)

 
(W) According to the Mahavamsa, the "Great Chronicle," Prince Vijaya encountered the royalty of the Yakkhas. Great King Kalasena and Queen Gonda on the celebration of the marriage of their daughter, Princess Polamitta, in the Yakkha capital of Lankapura, conquered and subjugated them. Lankapura may have been in Arithra or Vijithapura (a fortress-city in ancient Sri Lanka). The Yakkhas thereafter served as loyal subjects with the Vijiyan Dynasty, and the Yakkha chieftain sat at an equal height to the Sri Lankan leaders on festival days. Today Yakkha refers to a vanishing and rarely seen aboriginal people dwelling in the jungle. See History of Sri Lanka
 

An island at war is no place for Dharma

(This history is disputed, and the longest civil war in Asia was fought over it, or in any case used as the pretext for a conflict that profited a few political and military leaders in spite of the fact that it killed so many and impoverished even more islanders. Tamil Hindu separatists were saying, "We've been here all along" or even "We were here first." And the Sinhalese Buddhist majority, many of them nationalists, said: "This is a Buddhist land with no room for separatists!" There would have been no need for a dispute had the majority not so poorly treated the large ethnic minority, pushing it to seek its own self-determined way. We saw the abuse with our own eyes, and while our sympathies lie with the Sinhalese nationalists, the Hindu Tamils have a legitimate gripe, and reparations need to be made for war crimes and atrocities by the state. Strangely, the same tension was playing out more than a thousand miles north in formerly Buddhist Kashmir, where Pakistan-inspired and very cruelly-mistreated Muslim separatists want only independence. India will not hear of it, nor will Pakistan. Both seek to usurp the Muslim-majority territory, like the other Kashmir to the west, and China looks on ready to pounce if either should fail: fertile ground for endless conflict).

The spiritual Plymouth Rock of Sri Lanka, Mahintale, where Buddhism landed, now the main focus of celebrations on the island (sundayobserver.lk).

Buddhism arrives in Sri Lanka (Poson)

Maya, Wisdom Quarterly; Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara; Mane l08 UK

Sri Lanka has long been important as a repository of the Buddha's teaching.

Today is the Poson (June) full moon observance day commemorating when the Arhat Mahinda together with his enlightened sister, Ven. Sanghamitta, children of the Indian Buddhist Emperor Asoka, brought the Dharma from India to the island of Sri Lanka.

They arrived in what is now the hamlet of Mihintale (Ambastala) with the monastics Ittiya Uttiya, Sambala, Bhaddasala, and the novice Sumana and the lay disciple Bhanduka.
 
The Buddhist Chronicles, the Mahavamsa, state that following the first Buddhist Council held under the patronage of King Dharmashoka, Buddhist missionaries were sent to sent countries. They were most successful in Sri Lanka as the then King Devanampiyatissa and the local people were very receptive. A revival took place in the religious, social, cultural, and economic aspects of the country with the spread of Buddhism. It was through the light provided by Buddhism that Sri Lankans could stand independently.

The full moon observance day Dharma sermon (bana) regularly organized at the Temple Trees was held at the President's House in Anuradhapura. The Chief Abbot (Sangha Nayaka) of the Ramanna school in the north-central province, Ven. Pothane Dhammananda Thera, delivered the sermon. 

(LINK)
 
Pres. Mahinda Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, ministers, and parliamentarians were present. A gold plated Buddha statue donated by the Sri Lanka-Korea Friendship Foundation for World Peace was presented to the President. The special observance day program of ITN's "Savanak Ras" was broadcast from the great royal Situl Pawwa Raja monastery today. Various religious program were organized under the patronage of Ven. Mataramba Hemaratana Thera. Meanwhile, the Sasanaloka ["Dharma-in-this-world"] program organized by Lakhanda Radio was held at Situl Pawwa monastery. Dharma books were offered to novices, while lay devotees were given white cloth and Buddha statues. ITN staff also participated in the religious program. (Source)

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June's Full Moon Observance (Poson)

Wisdom Quarterly; LABuddhistVihara.org; Lanka.com

Pilgrims crowd Mahinda's own Plymouth Rock

Poson Poya or June's full moon observance day celebrates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, the teardrop island off the south of India. 

 

The Dharma arrived in the 3rd century BCE, and the festival is of great historical and religious significance for Buddhists. 

 

Poson, held on the full moon day of June, commemorates when the arhat Mahinda, the enlightened Buddhist son of Emperor Asoka of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism.

 

The main center of celebration is Mihintale, named after Ven. Mahinda, the ancient monastic complex where the royal missionary monastic preached the first sermon to the king and at Anuradhapura, the ancient capital. Large crowds of devoted pilgrims will converge. Mass religious observances and illuminated pageants are part of the celebrations.

For Sri Lankan (Sinhalese) Buddhists, Poson is second only to Vesak in importance. More

"Poson" at Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara

Lanka.com; Wisdom Quarterly; Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara

 

Poson full moon observance day is a festival celebrated on the Buddhist island of Sri Lanka.

It marks the  arrival of Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE. It is therefore of great historical and religious significance to the island's majority Sinhalese Buddhists, if less important to the nation's many Tamil Hindu, Indian and Maldivian Muslims, British and Portuguese Christians, and a tiny marginalized minority of indigenous aborigines, the Veddas.

 

The full moon day of June commemorates the arrival of an enlightened emissary from India, the arhat son of Emperor Asoka. Over 2,000 years ago Arhat Mahinda converted Sri Lanka's King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism.

The center of celebrations is Mihintale, the ancient monastic complex where the royal missionary monk along with his enlightened sister gave a sermon to the island's ruler. Anuradhapura, the ancient capital, is also a place where large crowds of pilgrims converge. Mass religious observances and illuminated pageants are part of the celebrations.

For the island's Buddhists, this sacred day is second only to Vesak. Long lines of devotees dressed in white climb the many steps to the top of Mihintale stone outcropping -- a kind of Plymouth Rock (Mihinthalaya) -- first to the temple then to the pagodas (dagabas) adorned in the nearby hills. The top of the rock is where Arhat Mahinda delivered his initial discourses.
  

This area is called the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. With the establishment of a monastic order (Sangha) all the elements of a civilized society began to emerge: the art of writing, art, architecture, canals, reservoirs, song and dance forms, literature, all with royal patronage.

  

[Oh wait, all of these "civilizing" elements were here before. But the Sinhalese trace their dominant culture to the civilizing influence of the Dharma's appearance on the island; they even trace their genes back to northern and northwestern India so as to make them Buddhist-Buddhists and somewhat nationalist in character, which has been quite harmful to the other inhabitants of the island.]

Many religious activities are organized during Poson such as virtue (sila) campaigns, Bodhi tree rituals, dana-salas (freely donated food and refreshments), devotional songs, parades, and lanterns.

  
Many temple fill with Eight Precept devotees and pilgrims from all over the island to mark the event. The devout are clad in pure white -- just as in the Buddha's day -- with no adornments like make up on their way to temple. There they spend the next 24 hours actually practicing the Dharma in quiet contemplation or meditation.

   

Meanwhile, the rest of the village gathers on temple grounds after sunset to participate in less spiritual activities -- like reading sacred books, listening to saffron-clad monastics recite sutras (bhana), relate ancient stories from the Buddha's past lives (jatakas), or chant protections (parittas).

  

During the Poson Festival the selling of alcohol and animal flesh is usually prohibited, and slaughterhouses are closed. Emperor Asoka made such decrees in ancient India (Bharat) as well after becoming a Buddhist. More

Karmapa: Research Theravada, Mahayana

AsianTribune.com, June 17, 2011; (Images: Kalimpong News blog)

Four-storey-high Thangka of the Buddha on display at Mela ground (Kalimpong News)

NEW DELHI, India - Spiritual leader His Holiness 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorge of Sikkim called on Buddhist scholars to undertake research on the doctrines of Theravada and Mahayana schools of Buddhism and introduce a uniform set of Buddhist teachings, values, and principles for the betterment of the world.

Buddhist monastics gather under Thangka, Sikkim state, India (Kalimpong News)

Addressing the celebrations of Saga Dawa (Buddha Purnima, "Buddhist full moon observance day celebration") of Sikkhim Buddhists on Poson full moon day (June 15) at the National Museum in New Delhi, HH Karmapa said that a common Buddhist doctrine would be immensely beneficial to humankind living in today’s conflict-ridden world.

The spiritual head of Sikkhim monastery said that Buddhist scholars from India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, and other Buddhist countries should undertake research on Buddhist principles of different sects to incorporate common values in a uniform doctrine acceptable to all.

Buddha purnima celebrated in Diwakar, June 2011 (Kalimpong News)

“It will benefit the people all over the world who seek answers, clarifications, and solutions,” he said. His Holiness said that the germination of positive and good motivations leads to ultimate bliss and enlightenment. He added that the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha is as relevant today as it was when initially preached by the Sage of the Sakyas about 2600 years ago in India. More

June Full Moon Day Buddhist Fest (L.A.)

"Irrigators route the waters; fletchers fashion arrows; carpenter carve wood; the wise control themselves" - the Buddha

Poson is the full moon (eight precept) observance day in June. While eight precepts are observed every new and full moon, June marks a very special observance for Sri Lankans around the world, particularly in Los Angeles. It commemorates the day Buddhism came to the Buddhist island.

The great King Asoka, an Indian emperor who went from conqueror and slaughterer to great Buddhist benefactor. He lived 200 years after the Buddha. And his daughter and son, Sanghamitta and Mahinda, were fully enlightened monastics.

They traveled to the island and set up a citadel of the Dharma that has survived and preserved the message of the Buddha to this day. The Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara in Pasadena and Maithree Vihara in Sunland and Lankarama Temple in La Puente/City of Industry [as well as Sinhalese temples throughout America] will hold celebrations on Sunday, June 19th.

All are welcome, with exotic food and refreshments served at noon, meditation, monastic chanting, and the opportunity to observe the precepts. (Come dressed in white according to ancient Indian custom).

• Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara (8:30 am - 5:30 pm)
  
• 920 N. Summit Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103
• (626) 797-6144 labuddhistvihara.org

• June 26 at Dharmavijaya.org on Crenshaw Blvd., L.A.
  

Moon over Russia: lunar eclipse (video)

(RussiaToday) The bright midsummer full moon of June (Poson) has all but disappeared into darkness around much of the world -- with the longest lunar eclipse in a decade now underway. RT filmed some stunning footage of eclipse in Moscow.

Red moon in June vs. partial lunar eclipse earlier in 2011

Buddhist June Full Moon ("Poson")

Ven. Chandawimila, Ph.D. (Singapore) and Wisdom Quarterly

The regular biweekly phases of the moon indicate the new and full moon observance days

The Poson full-moon observance day celebration is one of the major Buddhist ceremonies in Sri Lanka, second only to Vesak (or "Buddhist Xmas").

This special ceremony commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka from India. It is done out of gratitude to the arhat (enlightened being) Mahinda, son of the emperor Ashoka. The emperor sent a missionary expedition to the island consisting of arhats:

Ittiya, Uttiya, Sambhala, Bhaddasala, Samanera Sumana, and Upasaka Bhandhuka arrived in Sri Lanka on the full moon day of June in the year 236 of BCE. The emperor and the Sri Lankan King Devanampiyatissa ("beloved bydevas") were royal friends who had never met. So close were they that the emperor sent his son.

Arhat Mahinda is beloved in Sri Lanka with a special epithet "Second Buddha Maha Mahinda" (Anubudu Mihindu). This is not an exaggeration because arhat Mahinda was the one who introduced Theravada Buddhism to Sri Lanka. If Theravada Buddhism exists in the world today, it is because of him.

Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos are the major Theravada countries in the world today. Sri Lankan culture is based on Theravada Buddhism. Written and spoken language, the scriptural language Pali, arts, architecture, and culture are the heritage of Buddhism arriving on the island.

While Vesak is universally celebrated, Poson is unique to Sri Lankan Buddhism because it marks the historical beginning of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Buddhists who live in other countries celebrate it around the world: Singapore has a very big celebration as well as Los Angeles' many Sri Lankan temples.

Sri Lankan king meeting the missionary arhat Mahinda

During Poson people place an emphasis on practicing the Dharma (pratipatti puja) observing the Eight Precepts at monasteries and Dharma centers. Various offerings (giving dana) is practiced as well. On the island, hundreds of thousands of people visit Mihintale, the historical rocky monastery, where King Devanampiyatissa met Mahinda for the first time.

Among various meritorious deeds performed on Poson, there are:

• Observing the Eight Precepts
• Poson Parade
• Offering free food and drinks

Observing additional precepts is one of the major parts of every full moon observance day. Many government schools organize Eight Precept programs for students during Poson week, which happens nowhere else in the world.

Pilgrims love to climb a rock (Mihintalava) on which Mahinda landed with his missionary group. It is said that the seven members had developed psychic powers through meditation and arrived on that rock neither by land nor sea. They appeared by means of psychic power.

Apart from these events, there are many other meritorious activities going on all over the country:

• visiting hospitals
• donating blood
• social service
• helping the needy
• freeing cows from slaughter

Offering lights in the name of the Three Gems and Mahinda is one of the major events at Mihintale Monastery, where the entire area is illuminated with traditional oil lamps and electric lights. This display reflects the light of wisdom he brought to Sri Lanka, a land that became a great preserver of the Dharma.

Buddhism Goes from India to Sri Lanka

Offering flowers: Sri Lankan devotees offer flowers at a temple in Colombo, on one of the island's key Buddhist celebrations marking the day that Buddhism was brought there from neighboring India over 2,500 years ago (AFP/Lakruwan Wanniarachchi).

Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees perform rituals during Poson full moon day religious observances at a temple in Kelaniya, a suburb of capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 18, 2008. Poson full moon day commemorates the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena).