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Āsālha / Entry to Rains Retreat / Dhammacakkappavattana
One of the most important days in the Buddhist Calendar is coming up this week: Āsālha Full Moon Day, which commemorates the delivery of the first formal discourse by the Buddha at the Deer Park near Vārānasi to the group of five ascetics ('Pañcavaggiyā'), his very first monk disciples.
This sutta is rightly one of the most famous in the whole Pali Canon. The Buddha opens by expounding the Middle Way ('Majjhimā Patipadā') of avoiding the extremes of sensual indulgence and self-mortification. He then proceeds to explain the Four Noble Truths: 1. The Noble Truth of Suffering: Birth, old age, sickness & death; Association with the disliked; Seperation from the liked; Not getting what one wants; In short, the five groups of clinging. 2. The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering: Craving 3. The Noble Truth of the End of Suffering: The complete, remainderless cessation of craving. 4. The Noble Truth of the Practice Leading to the End of Suffering: The Noble Eight-Fold Path Next, the Buddha elucidates 3 aspects of each Noble Truth. Only after his knowledge and vision of things as they truly are was completely purified in respect of the 4 Noble Truths in their 3 aspects, did he proclaim supreme awakening. 1. The Noble Truth in and by itself. 2. The Duty attached to each Truth: Suffering has to be comprehended; The cause of suffering has to be abandoned; The end of suffering has to be realized; The Middle Way has to be developed. 3. The accomplishment of the duty. 4 Noble Truths in their 3 aspects constitute the 12 spoked Dhammacakka (4x3=12). This is the reason that we often see the Dhammawheel represented with 12 spokes, like the one depicted on the pedestal of our main Buddhastatue. While the discourse is being spoken, Ven. Kondañña realizes streamentry and becomes the second Noble Individual after the Buddha. The devas rejoice and their joyful exclamation spreads through the different deva worlds up to the highest Brahma realms. The full text of the sutta in both Pali & English can be found in the Abhayagiri Chanting Book page 44 f., available for download here (it has also got all other chants we do at Dhammagiri): https://www.abhayagiri.org/books/abhayagiri-chanting-book A translation by Ajahn Thānissaro can be found here: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html his is the translation by Ven. Piyadassi Mahāthera: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.piya.html And one by Peter Harvey, with many interesting notes at the end: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.harv.html The importance of this discourse can not be overemphasized. In fact, it is stated that whatever wholesome teachings there are, they are all comprised in the 4 Noble Truths, just like the elephant's footprint is so large that it can contain the footprint of any of the other animals (Middle Length Discourses #28). It is also on eminently practical teaching. The 4 duties attached to the Noble Truths provide us with a clear instruction how to extricate ourselves from suffering, which can be applied in our own experience, in consistent effort throughout our daily life. There's a brilliant little booklet with Luang Por Sumedho's teachings on the 4 Noble Truths available for download as ebook or PDF: http://forestsanghapublications.org/viewBook.php?id=32&ref=deb A video with Ajahn Dhammasīha's teachings at the original location in the Deerpark, Sarnath near Vārānasi, can be watched here: https://vimeo.com/125398922 Āsāllha also marks the beginning of the yearly Rains Retreat ('Vassa'). For 3 months, from the full moon of July to the fullmoon in October, the monks settle down for a period of intensified meditation practice. They are not allowed to travel during this time (with some emergency exceptions), and all energy is devoted to cultivate bhāvanā. Here at Dhammagiri, we stop all external development projects like building & maintenance work during this time, and keep the dhamma-discussion after the meal short and focussed. The Rains Retreat period is also traditionally used by the lay community to enhance their level of practice; e.g. by offfering dana more regularly, or by finally sorting out any possible weaknesses in one's observance of precepts, or by attending meditation teachings at the monastery. We will have our Āsālha full moon program at Dhammagiri this Sunday 2nd August. This is not only an excellent opportunity to observe precepts and learn about the 4 Noble Truths, but also the traditional occasion for the laity to send the monks off into their well earned retreat, and to affirm their support to the Sangha for the period of the Rains Retreat. ĀSĀLHA FULL MOON PROGRAM - ENTRY TO RAINS RETREAT SUNDAY 2 AUGUST AT DHAMMAGIRI 08.30 am Arrival of Participants for Precept Ceremony 09.00 am Taking of Triple Refuge & 8 Precepts/5 Precepts and Guided Meditation 10.00 am Arrival of Participants for Almsoffering Preparing for Almsoffering 10.30 am Almsoffering, Anumodana & Shared Meal 11.45 am Dhammatalk 01.00 am Break/Walking Meditation 01.30 pm Chanting of Dhammacakkappavattan Sutta with Ven. Moneyyo 02.30 pm Break/Walking Meditation 03.00 pm Chanting, Guided Meditatio & Dhamma-discussion 05.00 pm End of Program NB: It is possible to participate only for parts of the program, but please arrive at least 15 min before the session starts. |
