MakhaBuchaDay

22 FEBRUARY 2016 - KHLONG LUANG, PATHUM THANI, THAILAND: Monks and novices file into the chedi before the evening service for Makha Bucha Day at Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Makha Bucha Day is a public holiday in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Many people go to the temple to perform merit-making activities on Makha Bucha Day, which marks four important events in Buddhism: 1,250 disciples came to see the Buddha without being summoned, all of them were Arhantas, Enlightened Ones, and all were ordained by the Buddha himself. The Buddha gave those Arhantas the principles of Buddhism, called "The ovadhapatimokha". Those principles are: 1) To cease from all evil, 2) To do what is good, 3) To cleanse one's mind. The Buddha delivered an important sermon on that day which laid down the principles of the Buddhist teachings. In Thailand, this teaching has been dubbed the “Heart of Buddhism.” Wat Phra Dhammakaya is the center of the Dhammakaya Movement, a Buddhist sect founded in the 1970s and led by Phra Dhammachayo. The temple is famous for the design of its chedi, which some have likened to a flying saucer or UFO. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ

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Filename: MakhaBucha2016034.jpg
Copyright: © 2016 Jack Kurtz
Image Size: 4608x3456 / 10.5MB; 022216 Buddhism Dhammakaya Dhammakaya Movement Holiday Holy Day Makha Bucha Day Meditation Monks Māgha Pūjā Pathum Thani Prayer Religion Sangha Thailand Wat Phra Dhammakaya
Contained in galleries: Thailand (All)

22 FEBRUARY 2016 - KHLONG LUANG, PATHUM THANI, THAILAND: Monks and novices file into the chedi before the evening service for Makha Bucha Day at Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Makha Bucha Day is a public holiday in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Many people go to the temple to perform merit-making activities on Makha Bucha Day, which marks four important events in Buddhism: 1,250 disciples came to see the Buddha without being summoned, all of them were Arhantas, Enlightened Ones, and all were ordained by the Buddha himself. The Buddha gave those Arhantas the principles of Buddhism, called "The ovadhapatimokha". Those principles are: 1) To cease from all evil, 2) To do what is good, 3) To cleanse one's mind. The Buddha delivered an important sermon on that day which laid down the principles of the Buddhist teachings. In Thailand, this teaching has been dubbed the “Heart of Buddhism.” Wat Phra Dhammakaya is the center of the Dhammakaya Movement, a Buddhist sect founded in the 1970s and led by Phra Dhammachayo. The temple is famous for the design of its chedi, which some have likened to a flying saucer or UFO. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ