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.