Your Ad Here

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Inauguration of the Bhikkhuni Sasana

Inauguration of the Bhikkhuni Sasana



article_image

by Walter Wijenayake.



Today, September 22, 2010, falls the Full Moon Poya Day of Binara.


It was on such a Poya day that the Sakyamuni Siddhartha Gauthama Buddha while he was spending his fifth Vassana season in Kutagarasala of Vesalipura, when Maha Prajapati Gotami – undeterred by his repeated refusal to admit women into the order – having cut off her hair, donned yellow garments, accompanied by a large number of Sakyan ladies came on foot all the way to Kapilavasthu and begged yet again for ordainment. The Buddha, in deference to the appeal made by Rev. Ananda Maha Thera the Dhamma Bhandagarika on their behalf, relented and finally gave them permission to enter the order, subject to observance of eight chief precepts and thereby inaugurated the Bhikkhuni Sasana.


On this particular day, five hundred Sakyan ladies, along with Maha Prajapati Gotami, entered the Order of Bhikkhunis. She was the maternal aunt of Prince Siddhartha and was also his foster mother.


The Buddha laid eight major conditions (Ashta Garu Dharma) for the females to enter the order of Bhikkhunis and Maha Prajapati Gotami was allowed to become the first Bhikkhuni only if she was willing to accept them. Since she was willing to abide by Ashta Garu Dharma, she could get the Bhikkhuni Sasana established. At the beginning there were five hundred Bhikkhunis in the Bhikkhuni Sasana.



The eight major conditions


1. A Bhikkhuni has to worship a day old higher ordained Bhikkhu even if she was one hundred years old in higher ordination. She should get up from her seat and show her due respects to the Bhikkhus who observe the major precepts.


2. A Bhikkhuni should not observe the rainy seasonal precepts in an area where there are no Bhikkhus.


3. Every fortnight a Bhikkhuni has to request for ‘pohoya kamma’ from the Bhikkhus. She has to know the time she should obtain advice from the Bhikkhus.


4. When a Bhikkhuni concludes her rainy seasonal precepts observation, she has to do it in front of both Bhikkhunis and Bhikkhus.


5. A Bhikkhuni who has committed a major mistake should confess it in the presence of both Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis.


6. A Bhikkhuni has to undergo two years as special trainee and then become a higher ordained Bhikkhuni in the presence of both Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis.


7. A Bhikkhuni should not scold Bhikkhus under any circumstances.


8. A Bhikkhuni should not advise Bhikkhus, but Bhikkhus should advise Bhikkhunis.


This month Binara is considered as an important month because it was also during such a month that the Buddha had visited Thavuthisa heaven to preach Abhidhama to his mother (Mathru Divya Raja) and celestial multitude.


The main theme during this month, especially on this Poya, is meditation. The members of the Maha Sangha are expected on this poya day to enjoy in meditation and observe the rules of Vinaya (discipline) to the very letter to show their unstained devotion to the Dhamma preached by the Sakyamuni Siddartha Gauthama Buddha, since the day he preached Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta in Deer Park at Isipathana of Benares, to his former allies – the Pasvaga Mahanun (1) Kondanna, (2) Vappa, (3) Baddhiya, (4) Mahanama and (5) Assaji in quest of truth.


Buddhist meditation, or Bhavana, is the stilling of one’s mind leading to concentration (Samadhi) and one pointedness of mind (Chittekaggaatha) and finally to wisdom (Panna) if the fruits were to be realized. But a layman or a member of the Maha Sangha must have a basis of ‘Sila’(virtue) if meditation is to succeeded.


At least either the five precepts, the eight precepts or the ten precepts are necessary for a layman and parisuddhi purified precept for a Bhikkhu to successfully launch out on the deeply difficult path of meditation leading to the ultimate realization.


The practice of meditation leads to a balanced mind, a virtue of vital importance not only to the Yoghi but also to the ordinary layman.


With unstained devotion Bhikkhus observe Vinaya and spend greater part of their time in practicing meditation (Bhavana) in the Binara month of Vassana season. The Buddha is seen giving Bhikkhus suitable subjects of meditation, techniques and methods to be adopted by individuals who strive zealously and strenuously to attain nirvana.


Today the poya begins at 12.30 p.m. and concludes at 02.47 p.m tomorrow. Today is set apart to observe Sil.

http://www.island.lk

Binara Marks Peak Of Wassana Kalaya

Binara Marks Peak Of Wassana Kalaya



http://www.dailymirror.lk

Significance of Binara Poya

Significance of Binara Poya



article_image

by Premasara Epasinghe



Buddha was a Philosophic genius, rolled into a single vigorous and radiant personality. He was a lover of men, women, animals and environment. He had things to say that no man or women, after 2500 years of bustling and hustling and chattering round the fountain of knowledge. Greater perhaps than his wisdom, was the example he set. He was a great teacher, philosopher, who in a way, emancipated the women folk in India by granting equal opportunities with men and the establishment of Bhikkuni order (order of the nuns). This event took place on a Binara Pura Pasalosvaka Poya Day. Today (Wednesday 22, September 2010) we celebrate this event. All temples will be flocked to the capacity. There will be Dana, Seela, Bhavana, and special religious ceremonies will be conducted.In the ancient times, India was known as the "Jambudipa" "The Island of the Rose-Apple". During this era, Indian society never recognised the strength and the value of women. Men were superior. This was their belief those days.



Establishment of Bhikkuni Order


The most significant event that happened on Binara Pura Pasalosvaka Poya day was the establishment of Bhikkuni Order (Admission of Nuns to the Buddhist Order). On the initiative of the Maha Prajapati Gotami, after many requests by her, the Buddha allowed the woman folk to enter the order.


Who is Maha Prajapati Gotami? She was the sister of Queen Mahamaya, mother of Prince Siddharta Gautama. She is the aunt of the Prince. Following Mahamaya’s passing away, seven days after the birth of Prince Siddharta, it was Maha Prajapati Gotami who brought up Prince Siddharta. According to the history of Buddhism, Maha Prajapati Gotami was the first Bhikkuni in Buddha Sasana. She entered the Order with five hundred princesses on a Binara Pura Pasalosvaka Poya Day and thus began the Bhikkuni Order.



Negotiator - Ananda Maha Thera


The Buddha turned down her request of entering the order thrice. The Buddha left the city of Kapilavastu and proceeded to Vesali and resided at Kutagara Hall. In the meantime, Maha Prajapati Gotami, with five hundred Princesses shaved their heads, wore as yellow robes, met Venerable Ananda Thera - the "Dharmabandagarika", Buddha's Cousin. Son of Amitodana, the brother of Suddodana. Ven Ananda Thera was a personal attendant to Gautama Buddha, whom everybody liked. Maha Prajapati Gotami, humbly requested Ven. Ananda to speak to the Enlightened one, and grant them permission for them to enter the Bhikkuni Order.Once again, Buddha turned down their request, made by Ananda Thera. Both Prajapati Gotami, thought Ven. Ananda Thera, consistently appealed to the Blessed One to grant permission. Considering kind appeals, at last Buddha granted permission to women folk to enter the Sasana. This permission was granted on a Binara Full Moon Poya Day.



Eight conditions - Garudharma


The enlightened one laid down eight important rules and conditions called Garudharma, or Code of Conduct, the Bhikkunis (Nuns) were instructed strictly to follow them.


They are:(1) A Bhikkuni (Nun), even she attained the Upasampada or High Order, even 100 year ago, she should honour, worship a Buddhist Monk who obtained the High Ordination on that very day without considering the seniority. In this case, the date of the seniority was immaterial.(2) The Bhikkunis should not perform Vas, or Rainy Retreat, where there are no Buddhist Monks.(3) Every fortnight, Bhikkunis should take advise regarding the performing of the Buddhist monks.(4) Bhikkunis should end their period of Vas Season or Rainy Retreat in front of an assembly of Bhikkus.(5) A Bhikkuni, who performed a wrongly act, should performed duties for six months and look after both Bhikkunis and Bhikkus.(6) A Bhikkuni should train as a novice for a period of a year and obtain her Higher Ordination (Upasampada) in the midst of a Bhikku Assembly.(7) For no reasons or other a Bhikkuni (Nun) should not insult a Bhikku.(8) Bhikkunis should never advice the Bhikkus but Buddhist monks are allowed to advise Bhikkunis or Nuns.



Buddha gave equal opportunity to women in Indian Society Freedom


The "Honourable Eight Rules of Ethnic & discipline indication of the Buddhist order that was maintained during the period of the Blessed One. These set of rules were laid for Bhikkunis to maintain discipline in the Sasana. The ancient Indian Society never gave equal opportunities in the society to women earlier. It was the Buddha, the great Mahapurisha or Great Teacher, that paved the way for their freedom.


The great "Dharmabandagarika" Ananda Thera, explained those "Eightfold conditions" laid by the blessed one to Maha prajapati Gotami and stated," if you accept and agree to follow the rules and regulations laid by Buddha, the Blessed One will grant permission for you all to enter the Bhikkuni Sasana or order.



Maha Prajapati in cloud nine


Maha Prajapati Gotami, the great kind hearted stepmother of Prince Siddharta Gautama Buddha, was in cloud nine. She was very happy in achieving her objective or mission at last. "Ven Ananda Thera Sir just as young men and women, bathe and adorn themselves with heaps of Jasmine flowers and then wear garlands of flowers, to do I accept the conditions laid down by the Gautama Buddha - the Enlightened one". She turned to the direction of the blessed one. She turned to the direction of the blessed one and worshiped.Thus, began the Bhikkuni Sasana or Order of the Nuns in the Buddha Sasana. It was a landmark in the history of women in the world. This great event took place on the day of Binara Pura Pasalosvaka Poya Day.Even today, all Buddhists in Sri Lanka and abroad celebrate this event on Binara Poya and take part in Buddhist Religious activities. The Buddhist Temples are filled to the capacity. Many observe Sil; listen to Dhamma Sermon; engage in seela; social activities, give alms to the needy poor people, free cattle who are to be slaughtered, and perform many religious acts on the peaceful and severe Binara Poya Day.



Sangamitta established Bhikkuni Sasana


With the advent of Buddhism to Sri Lanka during King Devanampiyatissa's era, the daughter of the Great Emperor Asoka's only daughter Sangamitta, brought the Bo-Sapling-Jayashri Mahabodhi to Anuradhapura and thus establish the Bhikkuni Sasana-Bhikkuni Order in Sri Lanka. It was her brother, Arahat Mahinda, who brought the greatest gift to Sri Lanka - Buddhism. Later Sangamitta, Asoka's sister, was responsible in establishing Bhikku Order or Bhikku Sasana in Sri Lanka. Today, very silently, sans any publicity, the Sri Lankan Bhikkunis contribute their share for the propagation in spreading the Message of Buddhism. Most of them are found in Buddhist Sacred areas, such as Anuradhapura, Kataragama, Kirivehera, Polonnaruwa, etc. They live very peaceful lives, performing religious rituals, delivering Dhamma Sermons, engage in Meditation and they play a prominent role in performing Bodhi Poojas. They live in Aramayas. The grateful Buddhist pilgrims in these areas provide alms to them. Once, Buddha in S.IV: 250 defined a virtuous women thus.


Such a virtuous lady, who possesses religious devotion, cultivates virtue, is endowed with wisdom and learning, makes a success of her life in this very existence. May all beings be happy. May the Triple bless you! The strong disbelief held by men in women's spiritual attainments, even after the recognised success by statement made by Buddha to Gotami when she visited him on the eve of death.


"O Gotami perform a miracle in order to dispel the wrong views of those foolish men who are in doubt with regard to the spiritual potentialities of women". This illustrates the spiritual strength of woman.

http://www.island.lk

THE TEACHER OF RIGHTEOUS LIVING : Anagarika Dharmapala



THE TEACHER OF RIGHTEOUS LIVING

The 146th anniversary of the birth of Anagarika Dharmapala

By Berni Wijesekera

http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/images/1(14).jpg

The 146th anniversary of the birth of Anagarika Dharmapala fell on September 17. The entire Buddhist world commemorated it. The Mahabodhi Society celebrated it as a national hero’s day in Bihar, in Varnasi (Isipatana). Born to a rich family from the South, the Hewawitharana clan of H. Don Carolis, Anagarika being fully aware with the misery of the masses gave up a luxurious life to share his life with the poorest of the poor. Because of the downfall of Buddhist education during the colonial rule he fought a relentless battle to give Buddhist education its rightful place, while always believing and respecting all other religions. He had his early education at S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and later at St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena.

Moral force

He represented a dynamic moral force that united all races and dedicated his entire life to serve the poor sans caste, race or religion. With his inborn wisdom to overcome ignorance, he said in a newsletter, in Sahanapur, Punjab (India) that though there was enough food to feed all, caste, creed and other such obstacles were making millions suffer. His compassionate heart and dedication in eradicating poverty opened the eyes of the affluent Western world to help poor nations to face this issue. Next to Dr BR Ambedkar, Anagarika Dharmapala proved to be the greatest Buddhist missionary who was involved in services to humanity.

Anagarika, besides lecturing in the Dhamma, firmly rooted the Mahabodhi Society concept in India, instilling the concepts of righteous living, respecting parents, elders, benefactors, rich or poor without consideration to race. He also encouraged vegetarianism.

Life in Buddha

Gaya, Varnasi

Nursed and nurtured by the Mahabodhi Society in Buddhagaya, the Head Priest Pelawatte Sri Seewalee and his juniors are doing an excellent job in carrying on his work. There is a school for all, irrespective of their cast or creed where Sinhala, English and the mother tongues of students are used. Pirith is chanted in Sinhala.

Principal from

Royal College

Mr. Upali Gunasekera, speaking on Anagarika Dharmapala, maintains that the work carried out by the great leader, who sought social justice and strove to improve Buddhist education in the country, was instrumental in inculcating moral and spiritual values in the young of this country.

He says: “The Anagarika had instilled strong values against killing animals for food, again a significant principle of the Buddha. We cannot forget the immense work carried out by him for Buddhism and its future both in Sri Lanka and in India.”

The Principal of Nalanda College, Colombo 10

Mr. Ranjith Jayasundera, said that Anagarika Dharmapala, created a renaissance in Sinhalese and Buddhist education. He is a national hero who should be remembered for all time. He had a vision to serve humanity by coaxing them to emerge from dark valleys, to be courageous and truthful. The Anagarika commanded respect even at international religious forums.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/images/hhh.jpg

“Today schools like Ananda, Dharmaraja, Nalanda, Mahinda, Dharmasoka, Maliyadeva wouldn’t exist if not for his vision. One can’t do great things but small things with loving kindness” was Mr. Jayasundera’s view.

Buddha and the end of earth : Solar eruptions in 2012, and what the Buddha said 2600 years ago

Solar eruptions in 2012, and what the Buddha said 2600 years ago

By Dr. Keerthi Jayasekera

Extreme solar eruptions could disrupt communications, power grids and other technology on Earth by 2012. These eruptions are expected to increase in frequency and intensity towards the next solar maximum cycle which peaks in 2012, up from the current minimum of its 11 year active cycle.

Warning

“Whether it is terrestrial catastrophes of extreme space- weather incidents, the results can be devastating to modern societies that depend in a myriad of ways on advanced technological systems,” warned Daniel Baker, Director, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Colorado university in Boulder.

Such conditions can produce solar storm electromagnetic fields that induce extreme currents in electric wires, disrupting power lines, causing wide-spread blackouts and affecting communication cables that support the Internet. It also produces solar energy particles and the dislocation of the Earth’s radiation belts, which can damage satellites used for commercial communications, global positioning and weather forecasting. “Obviously the Sun is Earth’s life blood,” said Richard Fisher, Director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA headquarters in Washington.

Besides emitting a continuous stream of plasma called the Solar Wind, the sun periodically release billions of tons of matter called the Coronal Mass Ejections. These immense clouds of material, when directed towards Earth, can cause large magnetic storms in the magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. Such space weather can affect the performance and reliability of space-born and ground-based technological systems reported a National Academy release.

What Buddha taught
The scientific data thus available to us, does not speak well for the inhabitants of Planet Earth. But this is the reality that mankind is faced with. All what Lord Buddha taught in his 45 years long ministry was for man to train his mind to view reality as it is. In this context a journey back in space and time to the era of the Buddha 2600 years ago is needed to see what the Buddha said about the universe. This exercise would be both interesting and pertinent in order to make up our minds to face this reality. The relevant information and answers are all to be found in Buddhist Cosmology.

Man is not alone

According to Buddhist cosmic perspective man is not alone in the universe. The human world, Earth is not the centre of the universe. Earth is also not the only place for beings to live. According to Buddhism, there are a large number of other beings living in the universe. Buddhism recognizes the vastness of Space and the immensity of Time. Both Time and Space is relative. There are millions and millions of worlds in the universe. In the Anguttara Nikaya it is said: ‘As far as these suns and moons revolve, shedding their light in space, so far it extends the thousandfold world systems. In it are thousands of suns and thousands of moons, thousands of earths, and thousands of heavenly worlds. There is said to be thousandfold minor world systems,…Thus Buddhism recognises world systems. According to Buddhism, all conditioned things are impermanent. Therefore millions of world systems are not everlasting. There are ‘Samvatta’ (rolling on or forward evolution), and ‘Vivatta (rolling back, or devolution). They are in the process of evolution and devolution. There are no beginnings or endings in a world as they are constantly changing.

Appearance of other suns
Time is not the same everywhere. In one Buddhist discourse, it is mentioned that 50 earthly years is equal to one day in a certain heaven and 1600 earthly years is equal to one day in yet another heaven. Hence the Buddhists use Kappa (aeons) to describe a very long period of time. It is reported in a Sutta that the Ven.Ananda was listening to a discussion between the Buddha and two Brahmin friends, Vasettha and Bharadvaja at the mansion donated by Visaka in Savatthi. He did not interrupt the discussion because he wanted the two Brahmins to get their problems resolved. In the evening when the Buddha was alone, Ananda approached him and questioned: “Sir, you explained to Vasettha and Bharadvaja how the evolution of the world and human society could have taken place gradually after a period of dissolution. But, Sir, you did not explain how the world would dissolve. May the fortunate One explain it for the benefit of the community?”

The Buddha said: “Ananda, there will be a time when there will be no rainfall for years and all form of life, seeds and products and herbs will be burnt up and completely destroyed. Then after a long period of time the second sun appears. When the second sun appears the rivulets and small lakes will dry up. With the appearance of the third sun the great rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Acirawati, Sarabhu and Mahi will dry up.

When the fourth sun appears the great lakes which are the sources of the great rivers–lakes like Anotatta, Sihapapatna, Rathakara, Kannamunda, Kunala, Chaddanta and Mandakini will dry up completely.

After another long period of time a fifth sun will appear when the waters of the oceans to the depth of miles will evaporate and the oceans will recede. In the end, whatever water there would be in oceans would be like what one can see in the hoof prints of cows after the rains. This then would be followed by the appearance of a sixth sun. With it, this great Earth and the great Mount Sinaru will start emitting smoke. Finally, Ananda, with the appearance of the seventh sun the great Earth as well as Mount Sinaru will burn up and not even the ashes will be visible. This Ananda, is the manner in which this world will gradually die. Remember, it happens during an incalculable period of time and the period it takes to re-evolve is similarly incalculable.”

“Dust thou art…”

The closest that one could get to visualize what earth would look like when the 6th sun appears as said by the Buddha would be to look at photographs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan after the atom bomb was dropped over them during the second world war–all what was there, plants, animals, buildings reduced to ash! It reminds one of the Biblical saying: ‘Dust thou art, to dust thou shall return’. The victims of these atomic explosions are still suffering with the after effects of the injuries and illnesses sustained at that time.

The signs
Already, the effects of global warming due to environmental pollution caused by man, has caused weather patterns to change. Polar ice caps have begun to melt. Water levels in the oceans are on the rise. Tsunamis can occur again. Volcanic eruptions, excessive rain, widespread floods and accompanying health hazards and relatively new diseases like AIDS and viral infections are on the increase. Malfunctioning nuclear reactors in Bhopal, India and Chernobyl in Russia have had its devastating effects on the surrounding populations. What would be the consequences of a nuclear explosion in a nuclear bomb storage area if it were to happen accidentally? The affected area on Earth will look as if the 6th sun has appeared and has had its effects!

In 2012, if solar eruptions would cause a large mass of solar matter to break off and form a solar mass with properties of the sun and were to get in to an orbit and begin to go around planet Earth, then it would have the effects of the first sun as told by the Buddha. Buddhism recognizes the reality of the external world. The Buddha has clearly pointed out in a Sutta that the first beginning of this world is not observable.

Source: Internet report–Washington Jan 13 (IANS)

http://www.dailymirror.lk

About Buddhism

Today's Visitors