Il Full Moon Poya marks end of Cheevara Masaya

by Premasara EPASINGHE

This year's Il Full Moon Poya falls today. It is a significant day in the Buddhist calendar. Temples are filled with devotees since there are many religious ceremonies such as sermons, dhamma discussions, observance of the Eight Precepts, Atasil and offering alms, throughout the country.

The Il full moon poya was also significant in the Buddhahood of Maitriya Buddha. Buddhists believe that the future Buddha will be Maitriya. He was called Ajita - the "invincible" Buddha. After a lapse of Solos Asankeiya Kalpa Laksaya, Maitriya Bodhisatva will achieve Buddhahood. Maitriya Bodhisatva was born to a noble family in the city of Sankassa. His father was Siriwaddha. Maitriya had his education under the Disapamok Aacharya, the great teacher. After entering the Order, at the end of Vassana or rainy season, Ven. Maitriya Thera, received a valuable pair of robes, which he presented to Gautama Buddha as Maitriya Bodhisatva, in a previous birth. After receiving the robes the Buddha said:

"Dear Ones, this Bhikkhu, will attain Buddhahood, in an inconceivably long period of time known as Badrakalpa in the kingdom of Khetumati. The emperor of this kingdom at the time, was known as Sankha. Maitriya Bodhisatva's father, Brahma was the chief consultant to the king. The mother was Brahmavati. Under a Na tree, Maitriya Bodhisatva would attain Buddhahood. The Buddha is one who is knowledgable in the Dhamma, the basic truth. Samma Sambuddha can be rightly defined as "One who is fully enlightened. Buddhahood is achieved in human circumstances as the culmination of many lives, but the penultimate life is always divine."

Il Full Moon Poya begins at the end of the Cheevara Masaya. Katina Cheevara is offered to the Bhikkhus at the end of their rainy retreat or Vas period of three months. With Vap Poya Katina Pinkama comes to an end. It is followed by Il Poya, according to the traditional Sinhala Buddhist calendar.

Emancipation

Gautama Buddha, showed the true path to emancipation to three brothers, Uruwela, Nadi and Gaya. They were in quest of truth. They lived in hermitages close to the beautiful river, Neranja. They had a thousand disciples. The Buddha proceeded one day to the hermitage of Jatila Uruwela and performed a miracle, Pelahera. Later, all three brothers and their followers became Buddhists. Buddhism aims at producing in every man, an internal transformation. There was never coercive conversion. The Buddha only showed the way to attain Nibbana" and it is up to each individual to follow the path to Dhamma. There is no blind faith. According to Buddhism the mind is the forerunner.

Buddhist missionary

One of the most important events that took place on the Il Purapasalosvaka poya was the preaching of Dhamma Chakka Pawattana Sutta by the Buddha. The Buddha observed Vas at Isipatanaramaya, Benares. At the end of the Vas period He addressed the 60 arahats as follows:

"Charatha Bhikkave, charikam, bahujana hithya,

Bahujana Sukhaya lokanukampaya attaya hijaya

Sukhaya Devamanussanan ma ekena deva agamitta

Desetha bhikkave dhammam adhikalayam

Pariyosana kalyanam sattham sakyanjanam kevala

Paripunnam parisuddan brhamachariyan pakasetha"

Oh, Bhikkhus for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many. Through compassion to the world, Go Ye Forth and spread the doctrine of dhamma for the benefit of Devas (Gods), and human beings.

In this manner, the first Buddhist missionaries launched their mission. Buddhism is based on loving kindness and compassion. Buddhists tolerate other religions. Today there are about six billion Buddhists all over the world.

Passing away of Sariputra

One of the 10 chief disciples of Gautama Buddha was Sariputra. Sariputra was regarded as the most brilliant of the disciples. According to Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisatva Manjusri was foremost in wisdom among the Buddha's Bodhisatva disciples. Sariputra's closest friend was Maudgalyana who was born on the same day. He was another disciple of the Buddha. He was the foremost in spiritual powers. Together with Sariputara, Maudgalyana was at first a disciple of Sanjaya Bellathiputta, one of the six famous non-Buddhist teachers. Later, both of them became the Agrasravakas of the Buddha.

Sariputra died while Buddha was still alive. Before his death, he visited his beloved mother Rupasavi who did not believe in the Triple Gem. She was not a Buddhist. She lived in the village, Nalaka in Magadha. After listening to the sermon delivered by her son Sariputra, Rupasavi attained Sotapanna, the first out of the four stages towards the realisation of Nirvana. Sariputra passed away on an Il Full Moon Poya Day and his life-long friend Maudgalyana passed away before the Gautama Buddha. He was killed by a hostile Brahaman, while collecting alms in Rajagaha. This was attributed to sins committed in his previous births.

Most Sri Lankans follow Theravada Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism is also known as Monastic Buddhism, Southern Buddhism, Early Buddhism or the doctrine of the elders.

The scriptures preserved are written in the pali language and belong to the Theravada teaching. Theravada Buddhists aim at attaining the state of Arahatship. (four stages). Arahats are no longer subject to re-birth in Samsara, the cycle of birth and death.

The Indian, Mauryan Emperor Asoka, sent his beloved son Arahat Mahinda, as an emissary to introduce Buddhism to Sri Lanka during the reign of Devanampiyatissa. The Great Emperor Asoka, sent his daughter Sangamitta Therani with the Jayasri Maha Bodhi Sapling to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka and India maintain very cordial relations politically, socially, culturally and Buddhism is the 'Golden thread' that binds the two countries so closely. Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha the Enlightened One is considered by Indians to be the greatest son produced on her soil.

A quote from Pandith Nehru

"Former Indian Prime Minister Pandit Nehru said: "The Buddha has been something greater than all Doctrines and Dogmas and his eternal message has thrilled humanity throughout the ages. Perhaps in no time in history was his message of peace more needed for a suffering and distracted humanity than today."