Monthly Archives: May 2013
Vesak Day Blessings – What is Vesak Day?
What is Vesak Day?\r\n\r\nThe day of Vesak or Baisakha Puja is the day of worshiping or merit making for Buddhists all over the world. On this sacred day Buddhist commemorate three great events, the birth of the Buddha, his Enlightenment and his Mahaparinibbana or passing away on same day of full moon day of this month. Buddha’s main teachings is not to do any evil, cultivate good things and purify one’s own mind. However, the core foundation of Buddhist teachings is called Four Noble Truths (Catu ariya sacca) :\r\n\r\n1) The fact that unhappiness exists (dukkha)\r\n\r\n2) The cause of that unhappiness (samudaya)\r\n\r\n3) The fact that unhappiness may cease (nirodha)\r\n\r\n4) The Way leading to the cessation of unhappiness (magga).\r\n\r\nThese Four Noble Truths are the foundation of all the teachings of the Buddha. The Way to end suffering is following the Middle Way. In his second sermon, the Buddha taught something unique: that Impermanence is a fact; that the experience of suffering is our reaction; suffering which we can reduce only if we develop selflessness / egolessness(non-soul identity) which the Buddha termed anatta.\r\n\r\nIn November 1998 all the buddhist countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Nepal, India etc. proposed agenda for ‘International recognition of the day of Vesak’ to the United Nations. On 15th Dec. 1999 the UN’s General assembly adopted the resolution for the international recognition of the day of Vesak (Buddha Jayanti). Since, UN celebrates this day every year at its head office in New York and other regional centres all over the world.\r\n\r\nPresently, not only the buddhist but other faiths also celebrate this day with great joy by practicing moral ways and purifies the mind, which is the way (buddhamarga) to achieve real happiness and peace within.\r\n\r\nOn this auspicious day of Vesak Day every human being should take an oath to cultivate good, purify the mind for real happiness and peace and thus pay homage to the Buddha by practicing it. May this holy day bring you good thoughts and good deeds always.\r\n\r\nBhavatu Sabba Mangalam\r\n\r\nMay you be happy and peaceful.\r\n\r\nVenerable Sujano
FollowHow to Practice Metta Meditation
How to Practice Metta Meditation:\r\n\r\nMetta meditation was one of the three types of meditation that the Buddha taught. Metta is practiced to share merit and good fortune with all other sentient beings. It is best practiced for a short time after you have just finished mediating. Below is a guide to how you could practice metta:\r\n\r\nEnsure you are calm, relaxed and if you have just sat for meditation, just rest for a few minutes and ensure you have no physical pains in your body and your mind is calm.\r\n\r\nWith your eyes and mouth gently closed, start to observe your breathing.\r\n\r\nAs your are observing your breathing then start to think slowly and calmly in your mind the following thoughts with kindness:\r\n\r\nMay I be truly happy, truly peaceful, truly liberated, (repeat this three times),\r\n\r\nMay my teachers and preceptors be truly happy, truly peaceful, truly liberated, (repeat this three times),\r\n\r\nMay my mother and father be truly happy, truly peaceful, truly liberated, (repeat this three times),\r\n\r\nMay my friends, family, relatives and enemies be truly happy, truly peaceful, truly liberated, (repeat this three times),\r\n\r\nMay all beings, big or small, human or non human, near or far, dead or alive, of this world or another, of the ten directions be truly happy, truly peaceful, truly liberated, (repeat this three times),\r\n\r\nHope this helps\r\n\r\n4Benefit_of_all