Best wishes on this Asalha Puja

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[Monkey Mind]

Happy Asalha Puja, everyone. I spent it at the monastery, hearing some good Dhamma talk.

This day, sometimes called "Dhamma Day," commemorates the Buddha's first discourse, which he gave to the group of five monks with whom he had practiced in the forest for many years. Upon hearing this discourse, one of the monks ( Ven. Kondañña) gained his first glimpse of Nibbana, thus giving birth to the Noble Sangha. The annual Rains retreat (vassa) begins the following day.

 

[catmoon]

Does the NKT observe this event? I ask because the group I've been attending hasn't mentioned anything.

[Caz]

Does the NKT observe this event? I ask because the group I've been attending hasn't mentioned anything.

Not that i know. 

[Yeshe Zopa]

My best wishes to all who celebrate this.

The NKT Summer festival is on, so I guess no centres are operational except Manjushri, the HQ, and their programme does not include it.  They do celebrate other events in Buddha's life, but I can't remember which.

Celebrating the occasion in a monastery is a great way to do it.  I don't go to events at centres which are obviously just fundraisers using this or that anniversary as an excuse, so the monastery would suit me as well.

I personally enjoy a celebration, but have never managed to get my head around why it is at all relevant to celebrate births, anniversaries, or days when some historical figure was supposed to have achieved something (but probably didn't or at least not on that day).  I think few people celebrate death, which could be leading to a better rebirth, so I'd put that on an equal footing.  I do celebrate events, however, for an easy life. ;)

I think life would be a lot simpler to have one week for Buddha, one week for Jesus, one week for Mohammed, one week for Mahavira, Guru Nanak etc.   I doubt that there are 52 major religious figures so we'd have a few weeks going spare if Maitreya pops up, and plenty of single days for minor celebrations.

And I would adopt the Indian model - whatever your religion, you may join in and celebrate everyone else's too. Just watch out for Holi!

I spent today with HYT puja and a different type of poojar (doggie poo jar sample to the vets), the latter of course being an act of 'cherishing others'.  LOL

[gregkavarnos]

Sorry for piping in a little (about a month) too late but...

In the tibetan traditions it is called chokhor duchen and was celebrated on thursday july 15th.  The effects or outcomes of all actions carried out on this day (as with all duchen) are multiplied 10,000,000 times!

I spent this day (the 15th), as with all auspicious days practicing my ass off.  I make a point of doing the buddha sakyamuni sadhana on these days.


PS Asalha puja (full moon of the eighth lunar month) coincides with the anniversary of gampopa so I spent this day (the 27th) practicing my ass off, making a point of including gampopas guru yoga!

[Yeshe Zopa]

Sorry for piping in a little (about a month) too late but...

In the tibetan traditions it is called chokhor duchen and was celebrated on thursday july 15th.  The effects or outcomes of all actions carried out on this day (as with all duchen) are multiplied 10,000,000 times!

I spent this day (the 15th), as with all auspicious days practicing my ass off.  I make a point of doing the buddha sakyamuni sadhana on these days.


PS Asalha puja (full moon of the eighth lunar month) coincides with the anniversary of gampopa so I spent this day (the 27th) practicing my ass off, making a point of including gampopas guru yoga!

It's maybe not too late.  Google throws up a pretty random assortment of dates, but they don't say which calendar each is based on.  How about this for a selection?! :

#
Buddhist Holidays - calendar of Buddhist holidays 2010
28 May 2010 ... July 15, 2010: Chokhor Duchen (Tibet). Tibetan pilgrims Guang Niu/Getty Images. Chokhor Duchen commemorates the Buddha's first sermon and ...
buddhism.about.com/od/.../tp/buddhistholidays.01.htm - Cached - Similar
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Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies - Chokhor Duchen ...
18 Jul 2007 ... A special tsok offering will take place in honor of Chokhor Duchen on Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 from 5:00 – 6:00 PM at Namgyal Monastery ...
www.namgyal.org/events/details.cfm?id=61 - Cached - Similar
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Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar: Heart Sutra In Massachusetts for ...
13 Jul 2010 ... Ogyen Tulku has returned to the United States from Taiwan, and at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday the 15th of July -- Chokhor Duchen - will be ...
tibetanaltar.blogspot.com/2010/07/heart-sutra-in-massachusetts-for.html
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Chokhor Duchen - Tues August 5 | Latest News
The second of the major Tibetan Buddhist festivals marking the four important events in the life of of Shakyamuni Buddha is Chokhor Duchen or the First ...
www.buddhahouse.org/.../Chokhor-Duchen-Tues-August-5.html - Australia - Cached
#
Jul & Aug Issue - Palyul Nyingma Buddhist Association
Chokhor Duchen, also known as the Anniversary of Lord Buddha's Turning of the Dharma Wheel for the first time, falls on 29th Jul (Saturday). ...
www.palyulsg.org/newsletter%20-%20jul%20&%20aug.htm - Cached - Similar
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Chokhor Duchen | ZWENCHUA
4 Jul 2010 ... The first turning of the Wheel of Dharma (4/6/2010 according to Tibetan Calendar) For seven weeks after his enlightenment, Buddha did not ...
zwenchua.com/blog/?p=275 - Cached
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Life Of Lopsided 8: Chokhor Duchen
24 Jul 2009 ... This coming Saturday, 25th July 2009 is Chokhor Duchen. Chokhor Duchen is the day that Buddha Shakyamuni first turned the Wheel of Dharma. ...
lol8.blogspot.com/2009/07/chokhor-duchen.html - Cached - Similar