Develop the path of peace
Cut off your affection as though it were an autumn lily, with the hand. Cultivate the very path of peace. Nibbana has been expounded by the Auspicious one.
Magga Vagga - The Dhammapada

Five contemplations for everyone

Five contemplations: There are five facts, O monks, which ought to be often contemplated upon by everyone - whether man or woman, householder or one gone forth as a monk. What five?

"I am sure to become old; I cannot avoid ageing."
"I am sure to become ill; I cannot avoid illness."
"I am sure to die; I cannot avoid death."
"I must be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved to me."

"I am the owner of my actions, heir of my actions, actions are the womb (from which I have sprung), actions are my relations, actions are my protection. Whatever actions I do, good or bad, of these I shall become the heir."

Now for what good reason should a man or woman, a householder or monk, often contemplate the fact that they are sure to become old and cannot avoid ageing? Being while young take pride in youth; and infatuated by that pride in youth they lead an evil life in deeds, words and thoughts. But in one who often contemplates the certainty of old age, the pride of youth will either vanish entirely or will be weakened. For that good reason the fact of ageing should often be contemplated.

For what good reason should a man or woman, a householder or monk, often contemplate the fact that they are sure to become ill and cannot avoid illness? Beings while healthy take pride in their health; and infatuated by that pride in youth they lead an evil life in deeds, words and thoughts. But in one who often contemplates the certainty of old age, the pride of youth will either vanish entirely or will be weakened. For that good reason the fact of illness should often be contemplated."

For what good reason shold a man or woman, a householder or monk, often contemplate the fact that they are sure to die and cannot avoid death? Beings while alive take pride in life; and infatuated by that pride in life they lead an evil life in deeds, words and thoughts. But in one who often contemplates the certainty of death, the pride in life will either vanish entirely or will be weakened. For that good reason the fact of death should often be contemplated.

For what good reason should a man or woman, a householder or monk, often contemplate the fact that they must be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved to them? Beings have lustful desire for what is dear and beloved; and inflamed by lust, they lead an evil life in deeds, words and thoughts. But in one who often contemplates separation from things dear and beloved lustful desire for what is dear and beloved will either vanish entirely or will be weakened. For that good reason separation from what is beloved should often be contemplated.

For what good reason should a man or woman, a householder or monk, often contemplate the fact that they are owners of their actions, and that whatever actions they do, good or bad, or these they will become the heirs? There are beings who lead an evil life in deeds, words and thoughts. But in one who often contemplates one's responsibility for one's actions, such evil conduct will either vanish entirely or will be weakened. For that good reason the fact of responsibility for one's actions should often be contemplated.

Now, O monks, the noble disciple contemplates thus: "I am not the only one who is sure to become old, to fall ill and to die. But wherever beings come and go, pass away and re-arise, they all are subject to old age, illness and death." In one who often contemplates these facts, the path arises. He now regularly pursues, develops and cultivates that path, and while he is doing so the fetters are abandoned and the underlying tendencies eliminated.

Further, the noble disciple contemplates thus: "I am not the only one who must be separated and parted from what is dear and beloved; I am not the only one who is the owner and heir of his actions.

But wherever begins come and go, pass away and re-arise, all must be separated and parted from what is dear and beloved; and all are owners and heirs of their actions." In one who often contemplates these facts, the path arises. He now regularly pursues, develops and cultivates that path, and while he is doing so the fetters are abandoned and the underlying tendencies eliminated.

Worldlings are disgusted
by other beings.
Who share in our common nature,
By those afflicted with ageing
and illness,
By those on the verge of death.
When I live for a higher aim,
it is unfitting
For me to loathe such pitiful beings.
While dwelling thus, I will defeat
The pride in health, youth and life,
Having known the state free
from props,
Seeing security in renunciation.
As I gazed towards Nibbana,
zeal arose in me: "Now I can
never pursue sensual pleasures!
Never again shall I turn back,
The holy life is now my highest goal."

The Anguttara Nikaya

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Vesak celebrations in Chennai

Hiran H. Senewiratne

CHENNAI: Vesak is the holiest day in Buddhism and it marks the birth, the Enlightenment, and the passing away of the Buddha. This day is celebrated all over the world and in Chennai too Vesak was celebrated in grand style.

The Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka Chennai Centre took a lead role in this which saw the participation of many Sri Lankans and Indians. It was assisted by Ven Palpola Vippassi Thera of Palpola Vippassi Foundation in Sri Lanka.

Mahabodi Society is one of the few places that propagate Buddhism in India. The Society took special interest to celebrate this year's 2550 Vesak in a grand scale. The Mahabodhi building was illuminated colourfully and Vesak lanterns enhanced the Vesak feeling. The Mahabodhi Society coordinated many religious activities on two days with the participation of leading Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. At the event, observation of Astanga seela was held and the entire event was broadcast to Sri Lanka.

As a part of the celebration many Buddha Poojas and almsgivings were held to mark the 25 50th Buddha Jayanthi.

The monk in-charge of Chennai Mahabodhi Centre Ven. Katudora Sumana Thera said the Mahabodhi Society also had organised a temporary ordination programme to help people obtain an understanding on the Theravada Buddhism.

He said that they have all the resources to conduct the temporary ordination programme, which is very popular among the Tamils living in Chennai. There was a remarkable increase of Tamils embracing Buddhism in Chennai, he said.

Ven. Sumana also said that many leading Buddhist monks including Ven Niyangoda Vijitha Thera, Ven Welimada Dammagawesi Thera, Ven. Dr. Thiniyawala Thera and Ven. Banagala Upathissa Thera were some of the venerable participant monks at the Chennai Vesak celebrations. Ven. Sumana Thera said that many bhikkhus delivered their Dhamma desana both in Tamil and Sinhala at the event.

Further, on the day of the Vesak a meditation programme and pirith-chanting programme were organised to make this year meaningful, he said. On the 13th of May medical camps and an eye camp were held at the Mahabodhi main hall.

Several lecture programmes on Buddhism were organised by Mahabodhi Society by Professor S. Pathmanathan, University of Tamil Nadu and a special Vesak lecture was presented by the Commissioner of Customs-Chennai S. Subramaniam. Ambassador and Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in South India Sumith Nakandala released a book on Buddhism.

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A doctrine pure

The Buddha's doctrine pure and serene -
An intellectual approach solid and clean,
Through mental development sublime
Gave answers to all universal problems
Then, and for all time.
Absolutely unique among religious teachers
Left on the soil of India's reaches
A fertile deposit of ideas and ideals
Forming the best environment of all
Unto which the seed of Dharma could fall.
Greece, China, Egypt and Babylon
For all their loftiness of thought
Never attained quality vision of this sort
The germ of enlightenment bourne
Like a winged seed from distant fields blown
From worlds in space, came to be soon
At a time infinitely remote and unknown.
This very germ of enlightenment
Found growth and development
In this our part of Asia,
Which found its full expression
In the experience of the greatest man
The Buddha - Prince Siddhartha Gauthama
"Man is creator of himself,
Reaping what he sows"
Said the Buddha, centuries ago.
He gave us real meaning
To life, and the purpose for living!

Mallika Kannangara