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 Week of July 6, 2015

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Notes:

1.  The Temple dock is available for those that like to visit Wat Tampa by boat.

 Buddha Learning Group (BLG)

The Buddha Learning Group meets in the Main Temple every Sunday between 11:30am and 12:45pm for a Q&A session on Buddhism, Thai culture and history of Wat Tampa.

Are there topics or questions you would like to find the answers to? We are soliciting your input for topics or questions you have. Please use the Contact Us or Feedback links to submit your topics or questions. Your input is greatly appreciated and will be covered during the next Buddha Learning group. 

Visit http://buddhanet.net  for easy to read and understandable information on Buddhism.   

In particular, http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/basic-guide.htm provides links to a number of excellent resources for someone new to learning about Buddhism.   

Next Events:

Asalha Puja Day

 Asalha Puja Day is one of the most sacred days in Buddhism. It is observed on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eight lunar month (July).  This year it is celebrated at Wat Tampa on Sunday, August 2, 2015.

Asalha Puja Day is the anniversary of the day on which Lord Buddha delivered his first Sermon to his five Disciples at the Deer Park in Benares, over two thousand five hundred years ago. The day also marks the beginning of the worship of the Triple Gems, namely: the Lord Buddha, His Teachings and His Disciples.

The Buddhist Lent starts on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month. The tradition of Buddhist Lent or the annual three-month Rains Retreat, known in Thai as "PHUN SAA", dates back to the time of early Buddhism in ancient India. All holy men, mendicants and sages spent three months of the annual rainy season in permanent dwellings. They avoided unnecessary travel during this period when crops were still new for fear they might accidentally step on young plants. In deference to popular opinion, Lord Buddha decreed that his followers should also abide by this ancient tradition, and they began to gather in-groups of simple dwellings.

The typical activites for Asalha Puja Day include:
•Monks will recite the Eight Precepts.
•Congregation will give alms to the monks.
•A monk will give a Sermon and lead a Meditation.
•Monks will chant in Sanskrit and lead the lit candle procession three times around the Temple.

Schedule of events for Sunday, August 5, 2012:
10:00 a.m.   Pay homage to Buddha and accept Five Precepts; Monks chant blessing
10:45 a.m.   Offering Alms to Seven Monks
11:00 a.m.   Offering Lunch to Seven Monks
13:00 p.m.   Chanting for this Significant Occassion
                     Offerings of flowers, candles, and incenses
                     Walk three rounds around the Temple