53rd Anniversary of Wat Phra Dhammakaya on Makha Puja Day was celebrated by Casting the Grand Buddha Images, Lighting more than 100,000 lanterns and the Meeting of Sangha from 11 countries, raising “Ovada Patimokkha” to create the world peace.
On 6 March 2023, Venerable Phrakrusamu Sanitwong Wuttiwangso, Director of Communication Department, Wat Phra Dhammakaya stated that Magha Puja Day was on the full moon day of the third lunar month and it was an important day of Buddhism. It marks the four auspicious occasions in the Buddha time as follows: 1. It was the full-moon day of the third lunar month, 2. There were 1,250 Arahants, the enlightened disciple monks, who came to see Lord Buddha without any prior arrangement, 3. All of them were ordained by Lord Buddha, and 4. Lord Buddha delivered a sermon called the “Ovada Patimokkha” which included the fundamental ideology, the moral standards and the conducts of Buddhism.
Magha Puja Day marks 53rd Anniversary of Wat Phra Dhammakaya’s foundation and it organized 5 big merit making activities ; an almsgiving at 06.30 hrs.at Dhammakaya Assembly Hall, a mass meditation and sustenance offering to the Buddha by 09.30 hrs., the casting of Grand Buddha Images at 14.05 hrs., the circumambulation of Dhammakaya Cetiya and the lighting of over 100,000 lanterns at the grounds of Dhammakaya Cetiya and the celebration of achieving 5,170,001,250 rounds of Dhammacakka recitation at the Meditation Stadium. With the collaboration of many international Buddhist organizations and the Sangha communities in 11 countries (Myanmar / Vietnam / Indonesia / China / Cambodia / Bangkladesh / India / Singapore / Taiwan / Sweden / Mexico), many foreign guests also joined our Magha Puja Ceremony, such as Venerable Bhaddanta Kumara-Director of the State Pariyatti Sasana University (Yangon), Venerable Bhaddanta Kasara Director of the State Pariyatti Sasana University (Mandalay), and Dr.Htike Htike-President of Myanmar Charity Buddha Sasana Society / Drs. Supriya, M. Pd- Directorate General of Buddhist Community Guidance, Republic of Indonesia, Mr.Agus Jaya-Majelis Agama Buddha Mahanikaya, Indonesia / Ven.Avoyananda Mahathera-Chief Abbot of Mahamuni Temple from Bangladesh / Ven.Sanghasena-Founder President of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center, Leh Ladakh from India etc.
“ Magha Puja Day in 2023 marks the 53rd Anniversary of Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Throughout the past time until now, the temple has adhered to the principles of “Ovada Patimokkha” which are 1 Abstaining from all misdeeds12.Doing only good deeds. 3.Purifying our mind by practicing meditation. Moreover, the temple also applies the method of proper Buddhism propagation as follows 1.The propagation of true peace should be made without insulting or making slanderous allegations against each other. 2.The propagation of true peace should be made without assaulting or harming each other. 3.Peace seekers should observe the precepts. 4.One should be content in consuming food. 5.One should live in a tranquil place which is suitable for meditation practice. 6.One should always practice mindfulness meditation in all activities. These guidelines lead to the inner peace of followers and finally create the true world peace as the end result. During the pandemic of COVID-19, the temple also took part in the public health assistance and provided relief supply bags to the flood victims of 18 provinces in 2022.”, said Venerable Phrakrusamu Sanitwong.
The Grand Buddha is the enlightened being at the beginning age of living creatures and the Buddhist Scripture identifies that there are a countless number of the enlightened beings in the past eons like the sand in the ocean that can’t be identified in its amount. Therefore, the Buddhists have such a belief accordingly.
