Vesak Retreat

is about to
start
 Homage to
Nammo tassa the Blessed
One, the
bhagavato arahato Worthy
One, the
sammāsambuddhassa! Fully
Enlightened
One!
Homage Chanting to Budda,
Damma and Sangha &

Observing Eight (Higher) Precepts Schedule

for the day
Talk on Significance of the Day as a
Way of Life
 Who Is the Buddha?

• The word ‘Buddha’ is a title, which means

‘one who is awake’ — in the sense of having
‘woken up to reality’.
• The Buddha was born as Siddhartha Gautama
in Nepal around 2,600 years ago.
• He was a human being who became
Enlightened, understanding life in the deepest
way possible.
 Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

• Of all Poya days, the Vesak

Full Moon Poya Day is of
utmost significance as it
marks three major events in
the life of Supreme
Buddha.
• It was on a day like this
that the birth,
enlightenment and the
passing away of Buddha
took place.
 Full Moon Poya Day

• The Uposatha (Sanskrit: Upavasatha) is

a day of observance, in existence from the
Buddha's time (600 BCE), and still being kept
today by the practitioners.
• The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is
for "the cleansing of the defiled mind,"
resulting in inner calm and joy.
 Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

• Of all Poya days, the Vesak Full Moon Poya

Day is of utmost significance as it marks three
major events in the life of Supreme Buddha.
• It was on a day like this that the birth,
enlightenment and the passing away of
Buddha took place.
 Three Jewels or Triple Gem
• The Three Jewels are:
• The Buddha, the fully enlightened one
• The Dharma, the teachings expounded by the
Buddha
• The Sangha, the noble order of Buddhism that
practice Dharmas that composed of four
groups: monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen.
 Qualities of the Triple Gem

• How did the Buddha himself define these

three gems?
 Benefits
• Constant recollection of the Virtues of the
Dhamma, helps to overcome greed, hatred or
delusion in the mind.
 Nine Qualities of the Buddha

• “Iti pi so Bhagava, araham,

samma-sambuddho, vijja-carana-sampanno,
sugato, lokavidu, anuttaro-purisa-damma-sarathi,sattha-deva-
manussanam, buddho, bhagava’ti”
• “Such indeed is the Blessed One, worthy, fully
self-enlightened, endowed with knowledge and
conduct, fortunate, knower of the worlds, the
incomparable tamer of trainable men, teacher
of gods and men, enlightened, and blessed”.
 Qualities of the Dhamma

• “Svākkhāto Bhagavatā dhammo, sanditthiko,

akāliko, ehipassiko, opanayiko, paccattam
vedittabbo viññūhīti”

• “Well taught by the Blessed One is the

Dhamma, visible here and now, timeless,
open to all, learned and applied to oneself,
understood by the wise each for himself”.
 Qualities of the Sangha
• 1. Supatipanno Bhagavato sāvakasangho.
2. Ujupatipanno Bhagavato sāvakasangho.
3. Ñāyapatipanno Bhagavato sāvakasangho.
4. Sāmīcipatipanno Bhagavato sāvakasangho.
5. Yadidam cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa
Bhagavato sā- vakasangho: āhuneyyo
6. pāhuneyyo
7. dakkhineyyo
8. anjalikaranīyo
9. anuttaram puññakkhettam lokassā ti.
 Qualities of the Sangha
1. Of pure conduct is the Order of Disciples of the Blessed One,
(wholesome conduct)
2. of upright conduct is the Order of Disciples of the Blessed
One, (moral conduct)
3. of wise conduct is the Order of Disciples of the Blessed One,
4. of generous conduct is the Order of Disciples of the Blessed
One.
5. Those four pairs of persons the eight kinds of individuals: that
is the Order of Disciples of the Blessed One.
They are worthy of offerings, they are worthy of hospitality,
they are worthy of gifts, they are worthy of reverential
salutations, an incomparable field of merit for the world.
Refuge in the Three
Jewels
• The Budda, the teachings of the Buddha, the Dhamma,
along with the Sangha, provides true refuge from the
suffering of distraction and ignorance arising from
ignorance in life.

• Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels is taking great comfort in

understanding that awakening is possible for any human
being.
Why practice the teaching of Buddha?

• Various reasons
• To achieve enlightenment
 What do one gain through entering the
stream?

• “Stream-enterer", "stream-winner", is a person

who has seen the Dharma and consequently, has
dropped the first three fetters (Pāli: samyojana,
Sanskrit: saṃyojana) that bind a being to rebirth,
namely self-view (sakkāya-ditthi), clinging to
rites and rituals (sīlabbata-parāmāsa), and
doubts about the teaching (Vicikitsa).
 Paṭhamasāriputtasutta (SN55.4)

• Sāriputta explains to Ānanda that someone

who has the four factors of stream-entry—
experiential faith in the Buddha, the teaching,
and the Saṅgha, and ethical conduct—is a
stream-enterer, destined for awakening.
 Ratana Sutta

Yaṁ kiñci vittaṁ idha vā huraṁ vā

Saggesu vā yaṁ ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ
Na no samaṁ atthi Tathāgatena
Idampi Buddhe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu

“Whatever treasure in this world or in other

worlds; or whatever precious jewel is in the
heavens, none is equal to the Buddha. In the
Buddha is this precious jewel”.
 Ratana Sutta
4. Khayaṁ virāgaṁ amataṁ paṇītaṁ
Yadajjhagā Sakyamunī samāhito
Na tena Dhammena samatthi kiñci
Idampi Dhamme ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“The calm Sakyan sage found the undefiled
dispassionate, deathless, Nibbāna; there is nothing
equal to that state. In the Dhamma is this precious
jewel. By this truth may there be well-being”!
 Ratana Sutta
6. Ye puggalā aṭṭha sataṁ pasatthā
Cattāri etāni yugāni honti
Te dakkhiṇeyyā Sugatassa sāvakā
Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni
Idampi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu

“The Eight Persons praised by the wise, these Four Pairs are the
gift-worthy disciples of the Well-Gone-One. Gifts given to them
yield abundant fruit. In the Saṅgha is this precious jewel. By this
truth may there be well-being!”
 Ratana Sutta
7. Ye suppayuttā manasā daḷhena
Nikkāmino Gotama sāsanamhi
Te pattipattā amataṁ vigayha
Laddhā mudhā nibbutiṁ bhuñjamānā
Idampi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“Those who are well trained, freed from all defilements, and with
minds firm in Gotama Buddha’straining, upon attaining Nibbāna,
they plunge into the Deathless, freely enjoying the liberation they
have gained. In the Saṅgha is this precious jewel. By this truth
may there be well-being!”
 Ratana Sutta
8. Yathindakhīlo paṭhaviṁ sito siyā
Catubbhi vātebhi asampakampiyo
Tathūpamaṁ sappurisaṁ vadāmi
Yo ariyasaccāni avecca passati
Idampi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“As a stone post firmly grounded in the earth, cannot be shaken
by the four winds, so is the superior person, I say, who clearly
sees the Noble Truths. In the Saṅgha is this precious jewel. By
this truth may there be well-being!”
 Ratana Sutta
9. Ye ariyasaccāni vibhāvayanti
Gambhīrapaññena sudesitāni
Kiñcāpi te honti bhusappamattā
Na te bhavaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ ādiyanti
Idam’pi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“Those who comprehend the Noble Truths, well taught by the
Buddha of deep wisdom, no matter how negligent, would not take
an eighth existence. In the Saṅgha is this precious jewel. By this
truth may there be well-being!”
 Ratana Sutta
10. Sahāva’ssa dassana sampadāya
Tayassu dhammā jahitā bhavanti
Sakkāyadiṭṭhi vicikicchitañ ca
Sīlabbataṁvā’pi yadatthi kiñci
Catūhapāyehi ca vippamutto,
Cha cābhiṭhānāni abhabbo kātuṁ
Idampi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
“For one who has attained to right view, three fetters are at once abandoned:
self-centered view, doubt and clinging to wrong practices. Freed from the four
planes of misery, he is incapable of committing the six major wrong-doings
that lead to hell. In the Saṅgha is this precious jewel. By this truth may there
be well-being!”
 Ratana Sutta
14. Khīṇaṁ purāṇaṁ navaṁ natthi sambhavaṁ
virattacittā āyatike bhavasmiṁ
Te khīṇabījā avirūḷhicchandā
Nibbanti dhīrā yathāyaṁ padīpo
Idampi Saṅghe ratanaṁ paṇītaṁ,
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu
• The liberated ones ’old kamma is destroyed with no new arising, their
minds not drawn to future birth. Their old seeds destroyed with no more
growing. The Arahants fade out just as this lamp has done. In the Saṅgha
is this precious jewel. By this truth may there be well-being!
 Ratana Sutta
• Yaṁ Buddhaseṭṭho parivaṇṇayī suciṁ
Samādimānantarikaññamāhu
Samādhinā tena samo na vijjati

• That purity praised by the Buddha called concentration with immediate

result; that concentration has no equal.
 Ratana Sutta
• Ye puggalā aṭṭha sataṁ pasatthā
Cattāri etāni yugāni honti
Te dakkhiṇeyyā Sugatassa sāvakā
Etesu dinnāni mahapphalāni

• The Eight Persons praised by the wise, these Four Pairs are the gift-
worthy disciples of the Well-Gone-One. Gifts given to them yield abundant
fruit. In the Saṅgha is this precious jewel. By this truth may there be well-
being!
 Ratana Sutta
• Vanappagumbe yathā phussitagge
Gimhānamāse paṭhamasmiṁ gimhe
Tathūpamaṁ Dhamma varaṁ adesayi
Nibbāṇagāmiṁ paramaṁ hitāya
• Like woodland groves in blossom in the first heat of summer, is
the sublime Dhamma taught by the Buddha leading to
Nibbāna, and giving the highest happiness.
Observing Eight (Higher) Precepts

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.

2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.

3. Abrahmacariya veramani. sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual activity.
Observing Eight (Higher) Precepts

4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.

5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani

sikkhapadam samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating
.
drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

6. Vikalabhojana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from eating at the
forbidden time (i.e., after noon).
 Observing Eight (Higher) Precepts

7. Nacca-gita-vadita-visukkadassana mala-gandha-vilepana-
dharana-mandana-vibhusanathana veramani sikkhapadam
samadiyami
I undertake the precept to refrain from dancing, singing, music,
going to see entertainments,
wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying the body with
cosmetics
.

8. Uccasayana-mahasayana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a
high or luxurious sleeping place.
Observing Eight (Higher) Precepts

2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami

I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which
is not given.

(1) Property belonging to.another.

(2) Awareness that the property belonging to another.
(3) Having an intent to steal.
(4) Engage in stealing.
(5) Completion of the theft.
 AN 8.41
• Uposatha Sutta: The Uposatha Observance
 The
retreat
BREAK
. will
resume
soon
 The

Noble
.
retreat
in
progress
Silence