Poson Poya full moon - with gratitude for the gift of this day
883 views
Skip to first unread message
Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni
Jun 13, 2014, 12:10:31 AM6/13/14
to Dhammadharini Google Group post
Dear friends,
As the moon reaches full, i wanted to share with you a little of the specialness of this particular full moon day and night. And to wish a happy Poson Poya day to all of our Sri Lankan venerable sisters and teachers, and to all of our Sri Lankan friends.
In Sri Lanka, this full moon is known as Poson (pō-sön). "Poya" (poi-uh) is the full moon lunar observance day.
This Poson full moon is special. It commemorates the day in the 3rd century BC on which an awakened bhikkhu disciple of the Buddha's, the Arahant Mahinda (aka Mahendra), arrived in Sri Lanka from India and first taught the Dhamma. He first taught the king, then others, and they had a great appreciation for his teaching. It changed their lives. His sister Sanghamitta (Sanghamitra) came a few months later, and together they laid the foundations for the great tradition of Theravada Buddhism that has been passed down to us today.
Let me tell you the story, as i've heard it.
One day the king and some of his men were out hunting in a magnificent spot. A great deer was seen, and the king prepared his arrow -- the kill was his right.
But then, up on a high rock, he saw something else appear. A radiant being, followed by others. Monks, draped in saffron robes, shaven headed. The first ever seen in that country. Awakened monks, led by a monk who was practically glowing.
King Devanampiyatissa sees Arahant Mahinda while hunting
The king forgot the kill and approached with awe and interest, this far more unusual sight.
This below is a picture of the real mountainous rock Missaka in the sanctuary known as "Mahintalhe", with monks climbing up it. Likely, thousands of people climbed the more than thousand steps up this rock today.
Returning to our story ~
Seeing that he was ready, the arahant Mahinda greeted the king:
Samana mayam Maharaja
Dhammarajassa savaka
Tam eva anukampaya
Jambudipa idha gata.
"We are samanas (peaceful ones/monastics), great king,
Disciples of the king of the Dhamma
Out of tender compassion for you
We've come from the Rose Apple Continent (India)."
The venerable Mahinda then began to share a teaching of the Buddha's with the king. This teaching has been passed down to us in the Majjhima Nikaya. It is the 27th of the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, the Culahatthipadopama Sutta translated by venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi as the "The Shorter Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint".
In this teaching, using the analogy of a woodsman trying to track a big bull elephant (perhaps a symbol of royal power?), the Buddha explains how a disciple comes to complete certainty in the truth of his teaching. The sutta presents a full account of the gradual step by step training in the path of awakening.
Fortunately, you can find venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi's talks on the gradual training as expressed in this sutta online here: {http://bodhimonastery.org/a-systematic-study-of-the-majjhima-nikaya.html}. And venerable Ajahn Brahm's teaching on this sutta here: {http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/downloads/item/465-mn27-culahatthipadopama-sutta.html}. What a great blessing these can be made freely available!
Because, there under the mango tree, the king "Beloved of the Devas" gained great benefit. And because of this, and all those who have passed these teachings down to us, we have been able to benefit too.
Not long after, a lot of people began to gain benefits and further benefits from the teachings arahants Mahinda and his sister Sanghamitta were sharing. They were generous and diligent in their progressive sharing of what the Buddha taught. And it is their tradition which we believe to have been preserved in Sri Lanka, and passed down to us today.
For this, i feel awe. And much gratitude.
Many people are celebrating remembering this event today and over the full moon night tonight. Many people taking this day as a day and night to meditate, to listen to and contemplate the Dhamma. To draw near to what they feel is sacred and of true and deep meaning in human life. And to themselves grow and ripen in the path, like the hanging mangos, bathed in the sun. I would like to invite everyone to do the same, regularly.
I am glad that the Buddha's teaching is alive in this world. And that there are sanctuaries where both deer and humans and all forms of life can feel safe. With gratitude to those who have passed it down to us, i hope that this peaceful Dhamma can be shared widely, for the welfare and well being of not only humans, but of all forms of life, out of tender love and compassion.
We have these treasures we have inherited, the treasures of our humanity. Let's do our best to live these truths as fully as we can, and also do whatever we can to help others, for the sake of the children and grandchildren of all of us, all living beings.
"Young Buddha Meditating in Forest"
Happy Poson Poya full moon.
May we all realize awakening.
With thoughts of love for all forms of life,
Ayya Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni
as the Poson Poya full moon rises
--
Listen to the reading of the shorter elephant's footprint sutta in English here: http://www.audtip.org/home/mn/mn027.
Art and photos:
1. King Devanampiyatissa sees Arahant Mahinda while hunting | courtesy tagsystems.blogspot.com
2. Monks climbing up the Mahintalhe | courtesy buddhachannel.tv
3. Mahinda speaking to the king with deer | courtesy of onlanka.com
5. "Young Buddha Meditating in Forest" by Usha Shantharam
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages