Makha Bucha Day February 9, 2009
Today is one of the most important holidays in Thai Buddhism, celebrating 2 events in the life of the Buddha. This holiday is celebrated on the night of the full moon of the third lunar month (usually the full moon of February).
This holiday celebrates the Buddha’s famous sermon in which he expounded the meaning of his message to 1250 of his monks (give up evil, cultivate good and cleanse the mind). And 45 years later on the same day, foreseeing that in 3 months he would reach Nirvana, thereby escaping rebirth, he told his Dhamma that individuals and organizations should:
- enjoy work or responsibility,
- be diligent in work,
- concentrate on the job while working,
- check all unfinished work thoroughly.
Everyone is invited to join in at a Thai temple (wat) on Makha Bucha Day in walking with the lay people, holding candles and circling the Bhot to celebrate this holy Buddhist day in Thailand. Thai Buddhists gather at the temple at sunset to “wian tian“, i.e. circumambulate the Bhot, or the major religious structure in the temple complex where monks are ordained, while holding a lighted candle. This is a way of showing respect to what is called the “triple gem”: the Buddha, his teachings and doctrines (Dhamma) and the monkhood (Sangha) he founded.
See more detailed information at: Chiangmai-Chiangrai.com
Tags: buddhist holiday, thai holiday
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