Full Moon ~ Magha Puja / Navam Poya / End of Kyol-che / Mahapajapati Parinibbana Day

[Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni]

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Dear friends in the path

warm greetings of mettā to you,

Today is a day where the rising full moon has special meaning to many Buddhist people and to many of you, important of recognition.

Moon this morning - 22 Feb 2016 - by Janice Clark

It's a special day for those with connection to Southeast Asian Theravada Buddhism, where this moon commemorates four great events and is known as Magha Puja or "Sangha Day" - one of the three main Buddhist commemoration days of the year. This February full moon marks the reunion of the early arahant Sangha, who had gone forth out into the world as the Blessed Buddha enjoined: "For the good of the many, for the welfare of the many." On this day of reunion, the Buddha is said to have taught the Ovāda Paṭimokkha, so fundamental in the paradigm of his teaching and that of all buddhas': to cease unwholesome actions, enter into the complete training in the wholesome, and to purify one's heart-mind.

 

the Blessed One teaching the assembled Sangha on the full moon night in the Veluvana bamboo grove

In Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhism this full moon is Navam Poya, remembered as the moon under which the Buddha appointed his two chief bhikkhu disciples, Sāriputta and Mahā Moggallāna, foremost in wisdom and spiritual power.  

Buddha crowned by flame of wisdom with chief disciples Sariputta and Maha Moggallana 

Sri Lanka

Later he also appointed two chief female disciples, Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā, they too foremost among the bhikkhunīs in these two excellent qualities.

Buddha and bhikkhunī disciples with Mahāpajapati in front and Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā Therī on either hand | Wat Thepthidaram "Temple of the Heavenly Daughter" Bangkok, from "Gratitude, Grace, Growth" blog

In South Korea, where i lived for five years, this full moon marks the end of the three-month winter retreat period or kyeol-che, where monks (bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs) go to mountain forest monastery's meditation halls for a three month-long period of intensive meditation retreat. This is the time they begin to emerge to travel, teach, seek out teachers, and integrate into the world the insights they have gained during the retreat period.

American bhikkhu Hyon Gak Sunim looking back on Seonggwang-sa Monastery 

at the end of the kyeol-che winter retreat, S Korea

For Women in Buddhism, this full moon marks the Parinibbāna (passing into final Nirvana) Day of  Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī Therī, honored as the founding mother of our Bhikkhunī Sangha, together with the leading bhikkhunī disciples Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā, and many others of the great early Buddhist women's monastic community of arahants. {read more about this here.}

Mahapajapati Gotami watercolor by Denise Morrison 

I leave you with these verses from the Gotamī Therī Apadāna, from "Lasting Inspiration" -

Mahā Gotamī addressing the Fourfold Assembly just before she and her five hundred bhikkhunī companions' Parinibbāna:

Sace mayi dayā atthi, yadi catthi kataññutā; 

Saddhammaṭṭhitiyā sabbā, karotha vīriyaṃ daḷhaṃ.
If you all have love or sympathy for me,  

And if you have gratitude,
Then, steadfast in the True Dhamma,  

Make valiant effort.
(Gotamī Therī Apadāna, v. 127)

And as the Blessed One, the Buddha, said in eulogy of her just after her  cremation: 

Ayoghanahatasseva, jalato jātavedassa; 

Anupubbūpasantassa, yathā na ñāyate gati.
[Like something that sparks or flares]  

When stuck by a piece of iron
In a fire that is blazing; 

As it gradually becomes calm and cool,  

It’s destination is not known. 

 

Evaṃ sammā vimuttānaṃ, kāmabandhoghatārinaṃ; 

Paññāpetuṃ gati natthi, pattānaṃ acalaṃ sukhaṃ.
So too for those who are completely liberated, 

Who have crossed the flood and bondage of sense pleasures,
Who have attained unshakeable bliss; 

There is no destination to be pointed out. 

(Gotamī Therī Apadāna, vv. 286–287)  

He then continued, much as he was to say three months later just before his own final passing:

Attadīpā tato hotha, satipaṭṭhānagocarā; 

Bhāvetvā sattabojjhaṅge, dukkhassantaṃ karissatha. 

Therefore, be islands unto yourselves,
With the Foundations of Mindfulness as your domain;  

Cultivate the Seven Factors of Awakening, 

And you will make an end to suffering.
(Gotamī Therī Apadāna, v. 288) 

Wishing you an auspicious full moon 

in Dhamma -

with much mettā to all,

Ayyā Tathālokā Bhikkhunī