The Mighty Bodhi

30/01/2016

23/01/2016

Today is Duruthu full moon Poya Day.The important significance of Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day, marks Gautama Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka.
During the sixth century B.C. in the ninth month after his enlightenment, nine months after his Enlightenment, the blessed one visited Mahiyangana. His mission was to restore peace, to create a state of freedom from war or violence. The old chronicle Mahavamsa records and states "To free the beautiful land from the evil doing Yakkas"

At that time of the Buddha’s first visit to this country was inhabited by Yakkhas who were humans and descendents of Rawana and his brother Vibhhishana. The descendants of the Naga tribe were the prehistoric inhabitants of Lanka.

The Yakkhas and Nagas were in constant confrontation and there is a belief among Buddhists that God Summana Saman invited the Buddha to put an end to this hostility. It was on this invitation that the Enlightened One set foot on the Mahiyangana Mahanaga Grove.

At that time the Yakkhas had gathered there for a meeting. The Buddha stood in the sky above Mahanaga Grove where the Yakkhas were meeting. The Buddha stood there radiating rays of light from his body more pleasant, clear, calm and gentle than the moon light. A rainbow-like halo emanated around the Buddha.

The Yakkhas thought the Enlightened One was an invader and were not prepared to listen to him. Instead the Yakkha soldiers took up arms. It was time for the Buddha to subjugate Yakkhas. He set forth a terrible drought, heavy rains and thunder storms which the Yakkhas could not endure. They were terrified and realizing the Buddha was a supernatural being and turned submissive. They obeyed the Buddha and begged his pardon.

The Buddha laid his piece of cloth –Pathkada– on the ground, sitting on it he called the Yakkha and Naga leaders and admonished both parties. Thus Buddha was able to create peace among them. According to legends the Yakkhas who dispersed went to ‘Giri Divayina’ not being able to understand the words of the Buddha.

Meanwhile legends tell us the Devas and Nagas assembled at the Maha Naga Grove in large numbers and took refuge in the Triple Gem. Among them was God Sumana Saman. Legends say God Sumana Saman was a member of the Deva tribe from the central hills of Sri Lanka. This God attained “Sowan” or the first of the four paths or sages leading to Nirvana. God Saman begged for a relic to worship and the Buddha gave him a lock of his hair –the Hair Relic– God Sumana Saman received the Hair Relic in a gold casket.

Miyuguna Seya which is also known as the Mahiyngana Dagaba was built at the site of the Mahanaga Grove in Minipe where the Buddha subjugated the Yakkhas. This was the first dagaba to be built on this land.

God Sumana Saman who built this Dagaba enshrined in it the ‘Kesa Dhathu’ –Hair Relic– which he received from the Thathagatha. Forty-five years later Arahant Sarabha Thera, a pupil of Arahant Sriputta Maha Thera brought the “Greeva Dhathu” –the Collar bone Relic– and had it enshrined in the dagaba. He had the dagaba reconstructed to a height of twelve cubits.

King Devanampiyatissa’s brother Uddhaculabhaya, constructed the thirty cubit tall Kanthaka Cethiya over the earlier dagaba. King Dutugemunu had it reconstructed to a height of eighty feet. This Dagaba was renovated from time to time by various kings such as Dhatusena, Sirisangabo and Agbo.

Recently this Chethiya was renovated by the Mahiyangana Chethiya Wardhana Samithiya.

It is during the month of Duruthu that the Duruthu Perahera of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya is held. This variegated perahera (with caparisoned elephants, Kandyan, Low country and Sabaragamuwa dancers and other performers) is probably only second to Sri Dalada Mligawa Esala Perahera held in the hill capital.

With the first visit of the Enlightened One this country was purified and our motherland was made suitable soil for Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera to establish Buddhism. We, the present population of this country are fortunate to have pure Buddhism in our land.

The teachings of Buddha are deeply imbued with the spirit of peace (Santi) that two cannot be separated. The terms of peace, He expounded at Mahiyangana on Duruthu Poya included calmness (Sama). Tranquility (Samatha), contentment (Santutthi) Harmlessness (Ahimsa) non-violence (Avihimsa) and peacefulness (Vupasama)

08/10/2015

The Vap Fullmoon Poya Day Religious Programme of Anuradhapura Mahaviharaya will be held during the whole day on 27th October 2015 at the Sannipatha Shala under the advice and guidance of Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Dr. Pallegama Siriniwasa Nayaka Thero. The religious programmes including the Observance of Seela, Dhamma Talks, Dhamma Discussions, Meditation and Bodhi Pooja will be conducted by the venerable Bhikkhus learned in Dhamma as well as famous scholars in the island.
Visit: http://goo.gl/7ziCQA

Anuradhapura Mahavihara Programmes

29/09/2015

Listen to Seth pirith..This will bring you good fortune , wealth and most importantly the ZEN of your mind..!!!!!

20/09/2015

There’s a Buddhist story; one of the Buddha’s students approached him and asked “Are you the messiah?” No, he replied. “Well are you a healer?” “No.” He replied. “Well are you a teacher then?” “No.” He replied again. “Well then what are you?” Buddha replied ‘’I am awake.’’
Believe nothing. No matter where you read it, no matter who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and you own common sense.

First, rely on the spirit and meaning of the teachings not on the words. Second, rely on the teachings not on the personality of the teacher. Third, rely on real wisdom. Not superficial interpretation. And fourth, rely on the essence on your pure wisdom mind. Not on judgemental perceptions.

If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let one meal pass without sharing it in some way.

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Neither fire nor wind neither birth nor death can erase our good deeds.

You yourself as much as anyone in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.

There is no fire like greed, No crime like hatred, No sorrow like separation, No sickness like hunger of heart, And no joy like the joy of freedom.

Health, contentment and trust are your greatest possessions, and freedom your greatest joy.

Look within. Be still. Free from fear and attachment, know the sweet joy of living in the way.

The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings.

There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.

The tongue like a sharp knife kills without drawing blood.

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten.

Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with a polluted mind, suffering will follow you, as the wheels of the oxcart follow the footsteps of the ox. Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with a pure mind, happiness will follow you, as a shadow clings to a form.

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.

Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

What we think we become.

Fill your mind with compassion.

Pay no attention to the faults of others, things done or left undone by others. Consider only what by oneself is done or left undone.

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

Avoid all haughty, conceited, proud, and arrogant minds, and remain peaceful and subdued.

Generate compassion for lowly beings, and especially avoid despising or humiliating them.

Do not be jealous of others’ good qualities, but out of admiration adopt them yourself.

Do not look for faults in others, but look for faults in yourself, and purge them like bad blood.

Since you cannot tame the minds of others until you have tamed your own, begin by taming your own mind.

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.

Abandon wrongdoing. It can be done. If there were no likelihood, I would not ask you to do it.

But since it is possible and since it brings blessing and happiness, I do ask of you; abandon wrongdoing.

Cultivate doing good. It can be done. If it brought deprivation and sorrow, I would not ask you to do it.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world.

Buddha’s last words; All conditioned things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Try to accomplish your own salvation with diligence.

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

20/09/2015

The abbot of a once famous Buddhist monastery that had fallen into decline was deeply troubled. Monks were lax in their practice, novices were leaving and lay supporters deserting to other centers. He traveled far to a sage and recounted his tale of woe, of how much he desired to transform his monastery to the flourishing haven it had been in days of yore.

The sage looked him in the eye and said, "The reason your monastery has languished is that the Buddha is living among you in disguise, and you have not honored Him." The abbot hurried back, his mind in turmoil

The Selfless One was at his monastery! Who could He be? Brother Hua?...No, he was full of sloth. Brother Po?...No, he was too dull. But then the Tathagata was in disguise. What better disguise than sloth or dull- wittedness? He called his monks to him and revealed the sage's words. They, too, were taken aback and looked at each other with suspicion and awe.

Which one of them was the Chosen One?

The disguise was perfect. Not knowing who He was they took to treating everyone with the respect due to a Buddha. Their faces started shining with an inner radiance that attracted novices and then lay supporters.
In no time at all the monastery far surpassed its previous glory

A Zen Story...