| April 28, 2010 | ||
| 7:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
| April 29, 2010 | ||
| 9:30 am | to | 1:00 pm |
Bon is the Khmer word for Buddhist celebration. Vesak Bochea, called Visakah in Pali, is the celebration of the three major events in Buddha’s life coinciding in the same month of Visakah:
- his birth
- enlightenment (sambodhi) and unbinding (nibbana)
- and death / the final release (parinibbana).
What is nibbana as opposed to parinibbana? Nibbana (nirvana) can be experienced during one’s life, but the parinibbana at death is the final release from the cycles of birth and rebirth. Parinibbana is the final miraculous achievement of the historical Buddha, Siddhattha Gotama, the Shakyamuni, sage of the Shakya. Buddha taught that it is within the capacity of all human beings to achieve in this life, with study and practice in the Dhamma. So please come to the Wat to study and practice the Dhamma.
On the eve of Bon Vesak Bochea on Wednesday April 28, the evening ceremony starts at 7 pm. The next day, Visakah, the morning ceremony starts at 9:30 am. Both ceremonies will be held in the house, located behind the school (main building).
Wednesday, April 28
7:00 pm
gathering of Buddhists
evening recitation (namasaka)
accepting the five precepts
inviting monks’ blessings
Thursday, April 29
9:30 am
gathering of Buddhists
morning recitation (namasaka)
accepting the five precepts
10:00 am
giving alms to monks
invitation to monks and dedication of food to the ancestors (spirits)
11:00 am
offering food to monks
dedication of merit to ancestors
12:00 pm
householders have lunch
