Learn about the Bodhi tree watering ceremony in Myanmar. For Buddhists across the five continents, Buddha's Birthday is a great holiday celebrated annually by both the Southern and Northern Buddhist traditions. Since the United Nations Day of Vesak is held annually at the United Nations headquarters and in some countries, this religious festival is known in many countries around the world with the familiar name of Vesak. derived from Pali as Vesâkha and Sanskrit as Vaiúâkha). The Great Festivals of Myanmar The Great Festivals of Myanmar In Vietnam and some countries according to the Northern Buddhist tradition, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated only to celebrate the birth of the Enlightened One, but according to the traditions of Buddhist countries. Theravada religions such as Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka etc., Vesak ceremony is held to celebrate 3 important events related to the life of the Guru, That is the day the Bodhisattva was born, the day the Bodhisattva attained Buddhahood, and the day the Buddha left the world to enter Nirvana. Therefore, Vesak ceremony is also known as the Three Unions or the Three Gorges. On Buddha's birthday, many religious activities are held at monasteries such as practicing a night of momentum, floats parade around the streets, charity to help the poor and needy people, etc. in this area. The most prominent activity on Buddha's birthday is the Bodhi tree watering ceremony held throughout the provinces and cities across the country. Learn about the Bodhi tree watering ceremony in Myanmar - Photo 1 In the past, in Vietnam as well as in some countries following the traditions of Northern Buddhism, Buddha's birthday was usually held from the 8th to the 15th day of the 4th lunar month. But after the first World Buddhist Congress held in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1950, Members from many countries attending all agreed to choose the full moon day of May as the common Buddha's birthday for all countries. In 1999, in order to honor the Buddha's moral, cultural, peaceful, and friendship values, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized Vesak as a cultural and religious festival. International Education of the United Nations. In this land, Vesak festival falls on the full moon day of the month of Kason, which is the 2nd month of the calendar in this region (May of the solar calendar). This is the time when people in this land have just held a festival to celebrate the new year (Thingyan festival or water festival), which is the summer vacation time for students. Therefore, during this time, most people often go to pagodas, monasteries and monasteries to attend the bodhi tree watering ceremony. In addition, Buddhists also participate in meditation courses, leave the home life sowing conditions, making offerings, giving alms, etc. Mr. Barua, a member of the Shwedagon Pagoda's protection committee, confided: “The Burmese in general and the Buddhists of this land in particular always take practical actions on the occasion of religious festivals. teacher. The festival is not just a belief, a mere belief, or an opportunity to promote one's religion. The main thing is that we always try to do something practical such as meditating, making offerings, giving alms, etc. We think these are the most precious items we offer to the World-Honored One on his birthday. your". Barua's words are not without foundation. Anyone who has been to Myanmar's pagoda country knows that everyone who comes to the temple gate must go barefoot, no exceptions. Even the head of state of the United States, Mr. Obama, when visiting Shwedagon Pagoda, must go barefoot in the temple grounds. In the past, during the British occupation of Yangon, Myanmar, the British wore shoes to Shwedagon Pagoda, the people here camped at the temple to protest and protest. Then, Mr. Hiram Cox, the British representative in Myanmar, kept true to the Burmese tradition by preferring not to visit the temple than to go barefoot. Why are the Burmese so strict in this regard? The Venerable Âcâra affirmed: Part of the people's reverence for the Three Jewels, but the root cause is that they are afraid of the law of cause and effect. It can be said that the Buddhist doctrine of causality has been deeply ingrained in the flesh and blood of the people of Myanmar, has become an indispensable spiritual food in their lives. do and think. Regarding not wearing sandals in the temple, Commentary on the Samana Sutra recounts the cause-and-effect story of the King of Sa Vuong, also known as King Tan-ba-sala (Bimbisàra). At the age of 67, King Tanba-sala was ordered by his son, crown prince Asathe, to have a barber examine him, cut his heel with a sharp knife, rub salt on it, and then heat it on his body. In the heat of the fire, King Tanba-sala was in so much pain that he passed away. The reason is that in many previous lives, Qinba-sala was the son of a wealthy family, this son was very proud and conceited. One day, when the son entered the temple with slippers, he was reminded by many people not to wear sandals in the temple premises, this young man not only did not listen, but also used his slippers to trample on the altar to offer flowers, incense, lamps, and offerings to the Buddha. Because of this unwholesome action, Qinba-sala had to pay the bad result of having his heel cut off. Because of this story of cause and effect, the people here from big to small, When they reach the temple gate, they automatically take off their slippers. For a long time, going barefoot into the temple has become a tradition and there are no exceptions. Vesak or Triumvirate, as mentioned, is held to celebrate 3 important events related to the life of the Buddha. However, according to Myanmar Buddhist history, in addition to the three great events above, the full moon day of May (month Kason) countless aeons ago is also the day of the hermit Sumedha (the predecessor of Buddha). Shakyamuni) is certified by Buddha Dipankara (Dipankara) will achieve Buddhahood in the future. And also on the day of the Bodhisattva's birth, the sacred Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya appeared as a proof that Siddhartha Bodhisattva will achieve Buddhahood in the future.[2] The Bodhi tree has many relationships with the life of the Great Enlightened One, when the Bodhi tree was born, the Bodhi tree was born. The day the Bodhisattva attained Buddhahood was also under this great longevity tree. Therefore, the Burmese people cherish the Bodhi tree very much, they consider the Bodhi tree as a stupa, a symbol of enlightenment and liberation in Buddhism. On Buddha's birthday, all over the country, from the countryside to the cities, festivals are held to water the Bodhi tree. Buddhists from many parts of the country gather to large local temples. In Yangon, Buddha's birthday is held on the largest scale at Shwedagon Pagoda. Buddhist flags, lights and flowers are hung and decorated around the Bodhi tree. In the morning, Venerable Monks and Buddhists gather at the Bodhi tree in the southeast direction of the temple. After the transmission of the Three Refuges and Five Precepts for Buddhists, the monks chanted a blessing sutra. Next, the Venerable Master represented to demonstrate the merits and virtues of Buddhist men and women to attend the ceremony and he had a short teaching session to the entire ashram. Sometimes short verses in Pali from the Buddha's predecessor are recited by artists accompanied by the harmony of traditional musical instruments to praise the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The Venerable Master then demonstrated the opening ceremony by watering a jar of fragrant water on the Bodhi tree, followed by monks, nuns and Buddhists. Sometimes people use fresh milk and precious water to water the sacred tree. Monk Khemacara explained to our group: Watering the Bodhi tree on the occasion of Buddha's birthday is an act of gratitude to the sacred tree that used to shelter the sun and rain for Bodhisattva Siddhartha before he became a Buddha Buddhahood. In rural areas, remote villages, people lift pots of fragrant water on their shoulders one after another to the monasteries in the village where the great bodhi tree is located to water the sacred tree. Mr. Khin Aung added, April, May is the hottest month of the year here. So in the framework of Vesak festival, people here with respect, put jars of pure water on their shoulders to the monasteries to water the Bodhi tree in addition to thanking the sacred tree that protected the Buddha during the He meditated under a tree before attaining enlightenment and wished that the Buddha's liberating power would always grow in them, helping them to escape the suffering of birth and death and attain Nirvana. At the same time, they water the trees to help the Bodhi tree stay green in the hottest season of the year. Some other activities are also performed on Buddha's birthday such as people picking up fish and turtles from dry water sources such as ponds, lakes and small streams and bringing them to places with plenty of water to save their lives. At the beginning of the trip, I attended the Bodhi tree watering ceremony for the first time at Paditarama Monastery, Bago, I used to have a comparison in my mind: why are the Burmese so simple, from the outside it seems that they don't care about Buddha's birthday. In Vietnam, Buddha's birthday is celebrated very solemnly, but at this monastery, after the transmission of the Three Refuges, the Five Precepts, and after the teaching of the Venerable Master, all the students (Monks, Nuns and Buddhists) ) each person only water a bucket of water on the Bodhi tree in the monastery grounds and that's it. But later, when I attended the Vesak ceremony at Pa Auk Zen Monastery, Mahasi Monastery, and a few other monasteries, I realized that the Vesak ceremony at the monasteries was simple, but with the heart of the Buddhists. this place is very sincere, reverent, and very practical. They don't make flowers, don't hold ceremonies, don't perform art shows, but what they spend to make offerings to the Blessed One, Buddhists from other countries rarely do. That is, they have made an offering of time, an offering of pure dharma precepts, an offering of diligence, mindfulness, etc. They have spent a week, ten days, even a month or more to enter the meditation monastery to practice. When they meditate, they think that the fruit of meditation practice is a priceless gift they offer to Master Tu on the occasion of his birth! The origin of the Bodhi tree watering ceremony According to Myanmar Buddhist history, the Bodhi tree watering festival originated from the time of the Buddha. During 45 years of teaching the Dharma to save birth, the Buddha spent 25 summers at Ky Vien Vihara, Xa Ve city. The vihara is associated with the life of the ardent bourgeois Alone, and has become a well-known legendary story - the story of the bourgeois spreading gold to buy land to build a vihara. Because the Buddha often stayed at Ky Vien, whenever he wanted to visit and pay respects to the Guru, the monks, Nuns as well as Buddhists often turn to Ky Vien. Because there was no phone to ask first and then the means of transportation was not as easy as it is now, those who lived far away had to cross the forest, wade streams, and sometimes had to go through an extremely difficult journey to visit. Buddha, but when they arrived, the Buddha had the grace to propagate the Dharma in another place. They had no chance to meet the Buddha, at such times they were very sad and disappointed. Feeling sorry for the plight of those who lived far away in Ky Vien, but could not meet the Buddha, the salaried Ananda spoke to Master Ananda, the Buddha's trusted attendant, about this matter. After that, Master Ananda explained to the Buddha and asked the Buddha to leave something for monks, nuns and Buddhists from afar to come, if they did not see the Buddha when they looked at the object, they could remember him as if he were present. at the Vihara. In response to Master Ananda's request, The Buddha taught Master Ananda to take the Bodhi branch from the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya and plant it in the grounds of the Ky Vien Vihara for Buddhists to admire and pay homage to when the Buddha was absent from the Vihara. . When the Buddha was in the world, he did not allow the worship of Buddha images, only at this time did the Buddha allow the planting of the Bodhi tree as a symbol of Buddha worship. And the tradition of watering the bodhi tree dates back to that time. To this day, in some countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand, Buddhists revere and worship the Bodhi tree because the Buddha himself declared that seeing the Bodhi tree was like seeing the Blessed One. The spiritual value of the Bodhi tree in Buddhism The Bodhi tree has the scientific name of Ficus religiosa, the Indians call it the Pippala tree. Due to the fact that Bodhisattva Siddhartha attained enlightenment and liberation under this tree, it is called the Bodhi tree. This tree is very popular in India, along the roads, the relics everywhere we see the shadow of the Bodhi tree. This is a sacred tree according to Indian beliefs because they believe that this tree is the abode of the gods. Today, this tree is no longer strange in the eyes of Vietnamese people, especially for Buddhists, the Bodhi tree always hides in everyone's heart a sacred feeling, not influenced by Indian beliefs but as it concerns the life of the Master From the Master. While admiring relics in India, standing under the great Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, Venerable Rakkhita said: Although today in India in particular and around the world in general there are many Bodhi trees, may have a longer life than the bodhi tree at Bodhgaya like the bodhi tree in the ancient capital Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, planted by the nun Sanghamitta, daughter of King Ashoka, with a lifespan of over 2,250 years, but It can be said that no Bodhi tree has such important historical and spiritual value as the Great Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, because it is the descendant of many generations of the ancestral Bodhi tree, the tree that used to cover the rain. sunbathe bodhisattva Siddhartha during his practice before attaining enlightenment and liberation. History books record that the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya was cut down many times, including the most memorable 4 times: The first time was in the 3rd century BC, sent by King Ashoka's wife. secretly cut and burned the whole tree because she thought that there was a fairy in that tree who had bewitched the king, so the king always visited the bodhi tree every day, take care of the tree with affection and respect, and regard the Bodhi tree as a national treasure. Then King Ashoka sent someone to Sri Lanka to take a branch from the Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura and bring it back to India to plant. The second time at the beginning of the 7th century, King Sasanka of Ganda (Bengal) ordered to cut down the sacred tree and burn all the roots to make the Bodhi spirit extinct. Towards the end of the 8th century, King Purnaverma of Magadha, had another Bodhi tree replanted. The third time in the 12th century, the Muslim army invaded India, they destroyed all the Buddhist relics, in which the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya also suffered the same fate. Then, where the stump was destroyed, a young bud grew and the bodhi tree was green again. The fourth time in 1875, the Bodhi tree dried up and after a storm the Bodhi tree was blown away by the wind. But fortunately, time later it was at that place that a young bud arose and developed, this branch of Bodhi has grown and exists to this day. In terms of age, the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya is much smaller than the Bodhi tree in the ancient capital of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. However, in terms of historical value, the Bodhi tree in India is still more precious even though it is only a descendant, but it was there that the Buddha attained Buddhahood. The Commentary to the Anguttara Nikāya states: “The Bodhi tree must be worshiped, except in cases where the branch obstructs the roof of the house, the altar, or rots, or the bird resting on the tree contaminates the place. Only if they respect temples, they are allowed to cut them off." Therefore, the people of Sri Lanka, this region are very respectful of the Bodhi tree, they do not dare to cut or cut the sacred tree branch by themselves. According to Sri Lankan law presented to the Dutch government in the late eighteenth century: If anyone destroys temples, bodhi trees and other religious properties, they will be charged with death by the Sri Lankan government. It can be said that the Sri Lankans have a great respect for the Bodhi tree, especially the over 2,250 year old Bodhi tree planted by Nun Sanghamitta. On May 24, 2014, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented the gold medal, not to an important person, but to the sacred bodhi tree in the ancient capital Anuradhapura, and to the president. This person has sincerely worshiped the Bodhi tree, the symbol of enlightenment and liberation in Buddhism. Here, most of the ancient Bodhi trees are grown from seeds either from the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya or from the Bodhi tree in the ancient capital of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. The earliest historical evidence of bodhi tree cultivation in this place is in the reign of King Narapatisithu of the Bagan dynasty, around the 12th century. At that time, Elder Kassapa of Myanmar went to Sri Lanka to pay homage, and when he returned he brought some Bodhi seeds from the sacred Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura. In the following centuries, the kings of this land all kept the tradition of planting and propagating the Bodhi tree, in 1340 King Uzana of the Pinya dynasty planted the Bodhi tree in the capital at Sagaing, in 1442 King Narapati of the dynasty The Inwa dynasty planted the Bodhi seed in the Inwa citadel (about 30km from Mandalay), in 1471, King Dhammazeti of the Mon dynasty planted the Bodhi seed on a hill near the center of Yangon, now known as the Bodhi tree in Yangon. northwest of Shwedagon Pagoda. In 1800, King Bodawpaya of the Konbaung dynasty sent a delegation to Bodhgaya, India to learn and study the sacred tree, When they returned home, they brought pictures depicting the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya and two saplings given by the Bhikkhus at Bodh Gaya. King Bodawpaya solemnly planted these saplings personally at the Mingun temple boundary southwest of the palace. In the 19th century, King Mindon, the Dharma protector king of Myanmar Buddhism, who organized and sponsored the 5th collection of the Tripitaka (Suttas) held in Mandalay, Myanmar, also planted it himself. Bodhi tree donated by the government of Sri Lanka in Mandalay. Today, the Bodhi tree watering ceremony in this area has become an indispensable part of Buddhist culture in particular and national culture in general. In Vietnam, Buddha's Birthday is just a separate festival of Buddha's children, but in this land, Buddha's Birthday has become a national festival, a national holiday.END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).BUDDHIST DHARMA WHEEL.GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THE WOMEN OF THE SAKYA CLAN CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.11/7/2021.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THE WOMEN OF THE SAKYA CLAN CHAN TANH.