Asalha Puja Day

On the full moon of the eighth lunar month, Mahayana buddhists celebrate Asalha Puja, a day to commemorate Buddha's first sermon to his newly created sangha in Deer Park, India. The sermon addressed the Four Noble Truths that explain the source of all suffering. In more literal translation, these truths are realities. And as Buddhists typically center their teachings about impermanence and what is real, this teaching is particularly fundamental to the understanding of Buddhism for those interested in learning more about this religion.

The significance of this day is that is officiates the introduction of Buddhism as a religion. When five Brahmins, or those seeking enlightenment, coincidentally met Buddha, they were keen to know what many of us would like an answer to: what are the causes of suffering and how do we end it?

1st: Change is a nomal condition of existence, and therefore inherent in any being. This includes aging, weakness, illness, and separation from loved ones.

2nd: Suffering is cause and effect! If you eliminate the causes, you will not suffer.

3rd and 4th: the solution: Find happiness by taking the middle way in life. This entails effort, for right speech, action mindfulness and concentration.

Therefore, I would like to take the time to reflect with you the day when Buddhism set the wheel of Dharma in motion!

How do we take the middle path as human beings in a modern world? First we must realize that everything we have come to know in our lives is impermanent. Jobs, lovers, family: they all come and go. We are often not in control of these phenomena. Since many Americans recently celebrated Independence day, the idea of liberation is not far off. We can celebrate our land of opportunity, but we must also be free from attachment. I suppose in this way, I must enjoy those phenomena in my life that I have been blessed with, but know that they will not last.

Since I am not as poetic as the Buddha himself, I quote here some of those teachings in connection with the Middle Way that we strive to achieve in our every day actions and thoughts.

"If we can see the truth of the causes of worldly sufferings,we will not be attached to the view of nothingness. If we can see the truth of cessation in the world, we will not be attached to worldly existence. By avoiding the two extremes, the Tathagatha teaches us the Middle Path, which is, what this is, that is; this arising, that arises…"
(Chapter 12, Samyuktagama)

"One who thinks of impermanence will understand the truth of ego-lessness.
The Enlightened One lives in the state of ego-lessness,renounces self-conceit and hence progresses towards liberation and Nirvana."
(Samyuktagama, Chapter 10)

Go with that today. Namaste.