🌞Dhammagiri News #124 Thu 18 July 2024 |
|
|
Āsāḷhā One Day Full Moon Retreat Sun 21/07 Ajahn Amaro Vids, Pods and Pics
Pics Ajahn Dhammasiha Travels
|
|
|
Dear Supporters and Friends of Dhammagiri, This full moon, Āsāḷhā, marks the beginning of the yearly Rains Retreat ('Vassa'). For 3 months, from the full moon of July to the full moon in October, the monks settle down for a period of intensified meditation practice. (This year, from Sunday 21 July until Thursday 17 October). 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. When trying to develop samatha meditation, keeping noble silence is one of the most important supportive conditions. Therefore, as every Vassa, we keep the Dhammadiscussion after the meal short (about 30 min max), to minimize the need to talk for the senior monk, and allow him to get back to his kuti early to refocus his mind on internal silence. We also have the session in Q&A form, rather than delivering a formal "sermon" - please don't feel shy to ask questions, or else the session may be quite short ;-) Your understanding and support are much appreciated 😊 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. You may even like to make a specific resolution for these three months: For instance, you may determine to sit every day at least half an hour in formal meditation. Or you may consider joining our small group who observes 8 or 5 precepts every Saturday morning 7.30 am, and then meditates quietly in the Dhammahall. Or perhaps you like to brush up on your chanting practice, maybe even committing some chants to memory - chanting books (both Vol 1 & 2) are available at Dhammagiri for free distribution.
|
|
|
Āsāḷhā One Day Full Moon Retreat Sun 21 July
We will have our Āsālha full moon retreat program at Dhammagiri this Sunday 21 July. This is not only an excellent opportunity to observe precepts, meditate, 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
🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌛 🌚 🌜 🌝 🌛 🌚 🌛 🌝
Sun 21 July
Āsāḷhā One Day Full Moon Retreat
Entry to Rains Retreat The Buddha's First Discourse:
'Setting in Motion the Dhamma-Wheel'
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
11.50 am
Dhammatalk on 'Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta', the Buddha's first formal discourse
01.00 pm
Break / Walking Meditation
01.30 pm
Chanting of Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta /
Silent Meditation
02.30 pm
Break / Walking Meditation
03.00 pm
Chanting, Guided Meditation
& Short Dhamma Reflection on Four Noble Truths
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.
12.00 noon and 03.00 pm sessions will be livestreamed on our youtube channel.
They will also be audio recorded amd published on our
podcast
🌝 🌜 🌚 🌛 🌝 🌛 🌚 🌜 🌝 🌛 🌚 🌛 🌝
|
|
|
Buddhaṃ Saraṇaṃ Gacchāmi. Dhammaṃ Saraṇaṃ Gacchāmi. Sanghaṃ Saraṇaṃ Gacchāmi. Dutiyampi, Buddhaṃ Saraṇaṃ Gacchāmi. Dutiyampi, Dhammaṃ Saraṇaṃ Gacchāmi. Dutiyampi, Sanghaṃ Saraṇaṃ Gacchāmi. Tatiyampi, Buddhaṃ Saraṇaṃ Gacchāmi. Tatiyampi, Dhammaṃ Saraṇaṃ Gacchāmi. Tatiyampi, Sanghaṃ Saraṇaṃ Gacchāmi. |
|
|
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
Āsāḷhā Full Moon Day is one of the most important dates in the Buddhist calendar. It 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 Paṭipadā') 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 three aspects of each Noble Truth.
Only after his knowledge and vision of things as they truly are was completely purified in respect of the Four Noble Truths in their three 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
Four Noble Truths in their three aspects constitute the 12-spoked Dhammacakka (4 x 3 = 12).
|
|
|
That is the reason why we often see the Dhammawheel represented with 12 spokes, like the one depicted on the pedestal of our main Buddhastatue.
That is also the meaning of the 'mudra' (gesture), the position of the hands of our statue: The first circle represents the Four Noble Truths The second circle indicates the three aspects Both hands together illustrate the 12-fold matrix of
"phenomena unheared of before, in respect to which vision arose, knowledge arose, wisdom arose, understanding arose, illumination arose."
|
|
|
Although most Buddhists do know of the 4 Noble Truths, they may not be fully aware of their threefold aspects. In particular, the second aspect, the duty, is of great relevance to us all, as it instructs us what we actually have to do, how we apply the teachings practically in our life, how we skilfully investigate our own suffering and it's causes in order to diminish our pain and ultimately completely free ourselves from all Dukkha.
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 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 (Majjhima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses #28).r
It is also an 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.
The full text of the sutta in both Pali & English can be found in Volume 2 of our Chanting Book, pages 3 ff. The Chanting Book Vol 2 is availabe as hardcover at Dhammagiri, or else you can download it here. A nice Stereo recording of Dhammacakka Sutta recitation at Amaravati, recorded by Ajahn Dhammasiha while visiting last year, is available here A Guided Meditation applying the 4 Noble Truth to Breath Meditation can listened to on our podcast here
|
|
|
Pics, Videos & Podcasts of Ajahn Amaro at Dhammagiri Anumodanā to everyone who contributed to Ajahn Amaro's visit at Dhammagiri by attending, offering food, preperations, clean up, driving, airport dana, outing and offering financial donations 😊 Tan Ajahn really enjoyed his time in Queensland, and was very very generous with his sharing of Dhamma. His talks are very popular, and the first two talks are already available on our Youtube Channel here. We'll publish more of his teachings at Dhammagiri throughout the rains retreat. Of course, Ajahn Amaro's teachings are also available on our Podcast: |
|
|
Of course, we've also got some inspiring images, not only from the teaching, chanting and alms offering here at Dhammagiri, but also from our outings with Tan Ajahn. As he has never been to Australia before in his life, we felt he must see the beach, and some of our unique fauna, like koalas, kangaroos and platypus. Fortunately, Australia has the space that one can find beaches with hardly any people around, so that even monks can enjoy a walk along the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. Just click on the photo above to go to the gallery, or click here if you like to see a few more photos on our Latest Pics Dhammagiri Album. |
|
|
Travels Ajahn Dhammasiha in Europe I was away in Europe from mid May to end June, mostly to attend the 90th Birthday Celebration of Luang Por Sumedho at Amaravati; and to visit my father and friends & family in Germany. As the senior Western disciple of Ajahn Chah; founding abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, Cittaviveka and Amaravati monasteries; and currently the most senior Western Theravada monk in the world (as far as I'm aware of); Luang Por's Ācariya Puja was very well attended, with many very senior monks arrving from all over the world (with 28 rains, I had some 45 more senior monks ahead of me). You can read more about the event on Amaravati's blog post, including links to photo galleries and teachings given during the event. |
|
|
In Germany, I particularly enjoyed walking for alms ('Piṇḍapāta') in the picturesque little towns of Bayreuth and Kulmbach, with their churches and centuries old buildings, and castles like Plassenburg towering above the city on a hill. The best was father joining and offering some food he bought at the bakery into the monks bowls 😊 He also attended my German Dhamma talk at Muttodaya, and enjoyed the German language Evening Puja and meditation so much, that he was suprised how quickly the bell was rung 😊 Click on images above or below to see more pics from the 'Travel Album'. |
|
|
Big anumodanā to Ajahn Moneyyo, who looked after Dhammagiri in my absence as the only monk on the ground, and everyone who supported him during that period, especially Gary and Peter and Bobby, who specially booked retreats to look after Ajahn Moneyyo and the hermitage while I was away. |
|
|
I've got to go, already almost 10 pm, and we have to get ready for entering vassa this weekend. Mettā & muditā Ajahn Dhammasiha |
|
|
Discover MoreClick on Links below: |
|
|
|
|
