Susilodaya English Medium Dhamma School

“Ye dhammā hetuppabhavā,
Tesaṃ hētuṃ tathāgato āha;
Tesañca yo nirōdhō,
Evaṃvādī mahāsamaṇō”

“Whatever dhammā (which are kamma bīja) that give rise to the rebirth process, causes for those to arise have been declared by the Buddha; he has also explained how those causes can be stopped from arising (and thus end the rebirth process).”

Today is Il (ඉල්) Full Moon Poya Day which is a very important Poya Day for all Buddhists around the World.

The important historical events that took place and happen on Il (ඉල්) Full Moon Poya Day are as follows;

1. This is the last Poya of the Vassana season and with Il (ඉල්) Poya, the Katina Pinkamas should end.

2. The first Buddhist missionary activity by the sixty Arahaths comprising of the Five Monks, Monk Yasa and his 54 friends took place, starting from Isipatana, Migadaya (Deer Park) on such a Poya Day.

The Lord Buddha advised the first sixty Arahants thus;
"Caratha bhikkhave cārikaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. Mā ekena dve agamittha......."

Oh Bhikkus, go forth and preach the Dhamma for the good and welfare of the many, in pity of all beings, humans and deities. Let not two of you go along the same path.

3. The Passing away of the Right Chief Disciple of Lord Buddha, Ven. Sariputta took place on an Il (ඉල්) Full Moon Poya Day.

4. Enshrining the Gautama Buddha’s Dakunu Aku Datuwa (Right Collar Bone Relic), the first Dagaba in Sri Lanka, Thuparama Chetiya was built by King Devanampiyatissa on such a Poya Day.

5. The Bodhisatta who was the future Buddha Maitriya, got Niyata Vivarana (Affirmation) from Gautama Buddha and became a disciple of the Gautama Buddha on such a Poya Day.

On this Blessed Poya Day, let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing the Noble Eightfold Path.

May the Triple Gem Bless you !!!

Durangamam ekacaram
asariram guhasayam
ye cittam saññamessanti
mokkhanti Mārabandhana.

Drifting far, straying all alone, formless, recumbent in a cave. They will be free from Māra's bonds who do restrain this mind.

- Kuddaka Nikaya - Dhammappada - Citta Vagga -

Today is Vap Full Moon Poya Day which is a very important Poya Day for all Buddhists around the World.
The important events that took place on Vap Full Moon Poya Day are as follows;

1. Lord Buddha who preached Abhidhamma for the Mãthru divya rãja and other deities in Tavatimsa for 3 long months during the 7th Annual Rains Retreat descended back to Human World at the city named Sankassa on a Vap Full Moon Poya Day.

2. Ven. Sariputta was named the "Chief among Bikkhus in Wisdom" by the Lord Buddha on such a Full Moon Poya Day.

3. Maitree Bodhisatta ordained in the Gautama Buddha Sasana on a Vap Full Moon Poya Day

4. King Devanampiyatissa sent a group of Messengers to India requesting for the Arrival of Sangamitta Theri and the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree. This was done on a Vap Full Moon Poya Day during his reign.

5. The Vinaya Council at Thuparamaya took place on a Vap Full Moon Poya Day.

6. Vap Poya marks the ending of the Annual Rains Retreat and in the coming month, Katina Pujas are to be held in all monasteries around the world.

Let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing Dana (Generosity), Sila (Morality), Bhavana (Meditation) on this Blissful Poya Day.

May the Triple Gem Bless you !!!

Today is the Binara Full Moon Poya Day which is considered a very significant day for all Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

This is an important Poya day as the Bhikkhuni Sasana (order of nuns) was established in India during the time of the Buddha. At that time when women had a low status in Indian society, the establishment of the Bhikkhuni Sasana was the first step to release them from the fetters that had bound them to home and child bearing.

Maha Prajapathi Gothami, sister of the mother of the Buddha, Queen Maha Maya Devi, cared for Prince Siddhartha after the Queen passed away. After the death of King Suddhodana, Siddhartha’s father, Prajapathi Gothami was desirous of renouncing lay life and becoming a Bhikkhuni (nun). She met the Buddha and expressed her desire but on three occasions the Buddha refused her. Finally, she went with 500 Sakyan ladies with shaven heads and wearing yellow robes to meet the Buddha and the Buddha’s Chief Attendant, Ven. Ananda Thera conveyed Maha Prajapathi’s wish to the Buddha.

Again the Buddha declined. Ven. Ananda posed many questions to the Buddha asking as for reasons – whether women cannot achieve margapala (sovan, sakadagami, anagami and rahat). Buddha replied that they can achieve these states. Ven Ananda pleaded with the Buddha to reconsider and finally on the third time, the Buddha said he would permit ordination for women subject to eight Ashta Garu Dharma.

Prajapathi Gothami agreed to these conditions and she, with the 500 women were ordained as bhikkhunis on a Binara Poya. The Ashta Garu Dhamma rules were imposed explaining how the bhikkhunis should respect the bhikkhus and also for good conduct and no conflict between the two groups.

With the establishment of the Bhikkhuni Sasana, women had the freedom to be ordained, follow the Dhamma and attain margapala. Ven. Ananda Thera was greatly supportive in establishing the Bhikkhuni Sasana but there was disharmony as a result in society and some men blamed him.

However, the revolution was a huge blessing for women and the Bhikkhuni Sasana flourished. Although the Buddha had initially refused ordination of women, it is believed that he had waited until it was the proper time for the establishment of the Bhikkhuni Sasana. With this the Buddha Sasana was complete with Bhikkhu, Bhikkhuni, Upasaka and Upasika.

On this Blessed Poya Day, let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing the Noble Eightfold Path.

May the Triple Gem Bless you !!!

Today is the Nikini Full Moon Poya Day which is considered a very significant day for all Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

This poya marks the anniversary of the first Buddhist council (Sangayana), held three months after the passing away of the Lord Buddha. The event occurred in the city of Rajagaha in Magadha state and was led by Venerable Maha Kassapa.

The Treasurer of the Dhamma, Venerable Ananda thera became an Arahant the night before in order to attend the first Buddhist council as an Arahant.

It was also on a Nikini Full moon Poya day that Venerable Rahula, the son of the Bodhisatta became an Arahant.

Bhikkus who couldn't commence Vas on Esala poya day are allowed to observe Vas on this poya day. For Sri Lankans this poya is very special because the famous Esala Perahara ends on this day.

On this Blessed Poya Day, let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing the Noble Eightfold Path.

May the Triple Gem Bless you !!!

"Ayam eva ariyo aṭṭhangiko maggo, seyyathidam: sammā diṭṭhi sammā sankappo sammā vācā sammā kammanto sammā ājīvo sammāvāyāmo sammā sati sammā samādhi."

"It is, bhikkhus, this ariya atṭhangika magga, that is to say: sammā ditthi, sammā sankappa, sammā vācā, sammā kammanta, sammā ājīva, sammā vāyāma, sammā sati, sammā samādhi."

-Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta-

Today is the Esala Full Moon Poya Day which is considered as a very significant Poya day for all Buddhists worldwide.

Long ago on this day, Queen Mahamaya's saw a dream where four guardian deities carried the Queen in a beautiful couch to the snow clad foothills of the Lake Anotatta, in the Himalayan Mountain Range, where a white baby elephant that had a white lotus flower in its trunk walked thrice round the couch of the sleeping Queen Mahamaya. Thereafter, the baby elephant entered into her womb from the right side of the abdomen. The next day, early in the morning, the queen told the king about the dream. The king was puzzled and sent for some wise men to discover the meaning of the dream. The wise men said, "Your Majesty, you are very lucky. Your queen is chosen as the mother of the Purest-One and the child will become a very Great Being."
Prince Siddhartha was conceived in Queen Mahamaya's womb on this day.

It was on the same Esala Full Moon Poya Day, that Prince Rahula, the only child of Prince Siddartha and Princess Yasodara was born.
The day Prince Siddartha saw the four foresights (four omens) and discovered about the suffering of Living beings. The Prince left the palace with his Horse Kanthaka and Charioteer Channa and gave up on lay life on this same day. This is known as the "Great Renunciation" of Prince Siddhartha.

Following the Enlightenment, Lord Buddha preached his first sermon, the Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta at the Deer Park in Isipatana, Benares to the five ascetics Kondanna, Vappa Baddiya, Mahanama and Assaji on the Esala Poya day. At the end of the sermon, Kondanna attained the First stage of Sainthood (Sovan)

The Buddha visited Thusitha Heaven by using his miraculous power to preach the Abhidhamma to his Mother God, the Matru Divyaraja and other Gods on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day, during the 7th Annual Rains Retreat (Vassāna season)

The First Local Ordination of a Sri Lankan also took place on an Esala Poya day, when Prince Arittha, the nephew of the king, entered the Order of Sangha at Anuradhapura, under Arahant Mahinda, following the introduction of Buddhism to the country.

On this Blessed Poya Day which of greater significance to all Buddhists, let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing the Noble Eightfold Path.

May the Triple Gem Bless You !!!

Today is the Poson Full Moon Poya Day which is considered a very significant day for all Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

Poson Poya celebrates the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka during the third century BC. It is a significant historical event where a majority embraced Buddhism. It was in Mihintale where King Devanampiyatissa of Sri Lanka was converted to Buddhism by the Arahat Mahinda Thero who came from India.

As a result of the conversion of Dig Vijaya policy of the emperor Dharmasoka to that of Dharma Vijaya policy Buddhist missionaries were sent to various countries in the world and to Sri Lanka. Emperor Dharmasoka sent his own son, Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera to lead the delegation. Arahants Ittiya, Uttiya, Sambala and Baddasala accompanied Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera in this missionary. Sumana Samanera also joined them. The only layman in this mission was Bhanduka Upasaka.

King Devanampiyatissa followed by his men engaged himself in a game of hunting in the royal park, ”Missaka Pawwa”. A well built deer ran swiftly by the king’s side. He pulled out an arrow and aimed at the deer. His arrow did not move. A ray of light radiated from the mountain top at the foot of which the king was standing. He heard his name being called in a sweet voice. The king was seriously concerned as to who in this world was dared to call him by his name.

The king looked up from the foot of the Mango tree where he was standing dumb founded and saw the figure of a human being in yellow robes with rays radiating from the spectrum. The king could not remove his eyes away from this fascinating figure. His bow and arrow fell from his hands. He put his hands together on his forehead and knelt down on the ground under the Mango tree. Arahant Mahinda Thera then decided to test the king’s intelligence and to make sure whether he could understand the Dhamma. Then the Culahatthipadopama Sutta was preached to the king.

On this Blessed Poya Day, let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing the Noble Eightfold Path.

The king looked up from the foot of the Mango tree where he was standing dumb founded and saw the figure of a human being in yellow robes with rays radiating from the spectrum. The king could not take his eyes away from this fascinating figure. His bow and arrow fell from his hands. He put his hands together on his forehead and knelt down on the ground under the Mango tree. Arahant Mahinda Thera then decided to test the king’s intelligence and to make sure whether he could understand the Dhamma. Then the Culahatthipadopama Sutta was preached to the king.

"Aggo hamasmi lokassa,
Jettho hamasmi lokassa,
Settho hamasmi lokassa,
Ayamantima jati natthidani punabbhavo"
"I am the chief of the world,
I am the most senior of the world,
I am the supreme in the world,
This is my last birth,
Hence there is no rebirth for me."
Today is Vesak Full Moon Poya Day which is a very important Poya Day for all Buddhists around the World.
The important events that took place on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day are as follows;
1. The 3 significant events of the Birth of Prince Siddhartha, Enlightenment (Nibbāna), and Passing Away (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha (තෙමඟුල) took place on a Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.
2. Vesak Poya Day is specifically significant for Sri Lanka as Lord Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the 3rd time to Kelaniya at the invitation of Naga King Maniakkhika.
3. It is said that the arrival of Prince Vijaya to Thambapanni took place on a Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.
4. Also, the construction of Ruwanweli Seya by King Dutugemunu had also been commenced on a Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.
Let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing Dana (Generosity), Sila (Morality), Bhavana (Meditation) on this Blissful Poya Day.
May the Triple Gem Bless You !!!

"Sabbe Satta Bhavantu Sukhitatta -
May all beings be Happy and Joyful."

Wishing you all a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous Sinhala and Tamil New Year filled with the Four Sublime Qualities of Metta (Loving Kindness), Karuna (Compassion), Muditha (Sympathetic Joy) and Upekkha (Equanimity).

May the Triple Gem Bless you all !!!

"Jayam Veram Pasavathi
Dukkham Seti parajito
Upasanto Sukhamseti
Hitva Jayaparajayam"
(Victory gives rise to hatred; Those defeated lie in pain, Happily rest the peaceful, rejecting both victory and defeat)
Today is Bak Full Moon Poya Day which is an important Poya Day in the History of Buddhism.
It was on a Bak Full Moon Poya Day, during the sixth year of the Buddha's ministry, the Buddha visited Sri Lanka to settle a dispute between the two Naga Kings Culodara and Mahodara over a jewel-studded throne.
He stayed in the sky to be seen by the two armies who were about to clash and delivered a sermon on the benefits of being united.
Both parties were pleased having listened to the sermon. They presented Him the throne and served Him with alms and took upon the three refuges.
Maniakkhika an uncle of Mahodara begged for some token of worship. He returned the throne, which was by that time, sanctified by His acceptance and also the Banyan tree brought by God Samiddhi Sumana from the Jetavana Monastery to serve as an umbrella to the Buddha on His journey to Sri Lanka.
On this Blessed Poya Day, let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing the Noble Eightfold Path.
May the Triple Gem Bless you !!!

“Appamādō amata padam
pamādō maccunō padam
appamattā na meeyanthi
ye pamattā yathā matā"

Mindfulness is the way to the Deathless (Nibbana); unmindfulness is the way to Death. Those who are mindful do not die; those who are not mindful are as if already dead.

Today is Madin Full Moon Poya Day which is an important Poya Day in the History of Buddhism.

The important historical events that took place on Madin Full Moon Poya Day are as follows;

1. During the seventh year after the Buddha’s Enlightenment, He made his first visit to King Suddhodana's kingdom, the Royal capital City of Kapilavasthu as the Buddha. This happened after Minister Kaludai (who was born on the same day as the Buddha, and later became an Arahath) conveyed the message to the Buddha.

2. Princess Yashodhara uttered the Narisiha Gatha to her son, Prince Rahula, introducing his father, the Gautama Buddha.

3. The Buddha also performed the twin miracle (Yamamahapelehara), to break the pride of as his elder relatives, who were reluctant to worship him.

4. King Suddhodana worshipped the Lord Buddha, who was his son, for the third time.

5. The "Chandakinnara Jathaka" was preached by the Lord Buddha to Princess Yashodara, stating the qualities of Princess Yashodhara throughout the course of the samsara.

6. Ordination of Prince Nanda and Prince Rahula.

On this Blessed Poya Day, let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing Dana (Generosity), Sila (Morality) and Bhavana (Meditation).

May the Triple Gem Bless you !!!

"අප්පමාදො අමතපදං
පමාදො මච්චුනො පදං
අප්පමත්තා න මීයන්ති
යෙ පමත්තා යථා මතා"

- නොපමා බව (සිහි නොමුළා බව) නිර්වාණයට කරුණු ය. පමා බව මරණයට කරුණු ය. නො පමා වූවෝ නො මියෙති. යම් කෙනෙක් ධර්මයෙහි පමා වෙත් ද, ඔහු මළවුන් වැනි වෙත්. -

අද උතුම් මැදින් පුර පසළොස්වක පොහෝ දිනයයි.

මෙම පොහෝ දිනයේ සිදු වූ වැදගත් සිදුවීම් පහත පරිදි වේ;

1. බුදුරජාණන් වහන්සේ බුදු වීමෙන් පසු ප්‍රථම වරට ශාක්‍ය දේශයට වැඩම කිරීම.

2. යශෝදරා දේවිය නරසීහ ගාථා මගින් රාහුල කුමරුන්ට තම පියාණන් වහන්සේ හඳුන්වා දීම.

3. බුදුහිමි තම ඥාතීන්ගේ මානය බිඳීම සඳහා යමාමහ පෙළහර පෑම.

4. සුද්ධෝදන රජතුමා තුන්වන වරට බුදුරදුන්ට වන්දනා කිරීම.

5. බුදුහිමි යශෝදරා දේවියට සඳකිඳුරු ජාතකය දේශනා කිරීම.

6. නන්ද කුමරුගේත් රාහුල කුමරුගේත් පැවිද්ද සිදුවීම.

මේ උතුම් පෝ දින බෞද්ධයින් වන අපි අකුසල් දුරලා දන්, සිල්, භාවනා ආදී කුසල් දම් වඩමු.

ඔබ සැමට තෙරුවන් සරණයි !!!

"𝐘𝐞 𝐃𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐚
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐮 𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐡𝐚̈
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐚 𝐲𝐨 𝐧𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐡𝐨
𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐦 𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐨

--- 𝑂𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑎 𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒,
𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑙𝑑,
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒,
𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑘 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑙𝑑. ---

Today is Navam Full Moon Poya Day, which is an important Poya Day in the History of Buddhism.

The important historical events that took place on Navam Full Moon Poya Day are as follows;

1. Lord Buddha named Ven. Sariputta Thero and Ven. Moggallana Thero as the two Chief Disciples of the Buddhist Order.

2. The First ever Buddhist Congregation in history was held on a Navam Poya Day with one thousand two hundred and fifty disciples of the order of Maha Sangha.

3. At this congregation, the Lord Buddha preached the "Ováda Prátimokkha" stating the principles to maintain the moral conduct and discipline of the followers of Buddhism.

4. In the 80th year of His Life, Gautama Buddha who was residing in Chapala Cetiya, stated to Ven. Ananda that the Lord Buddha had determined the term of his life and will attain Parinibbana in another three months at Kusinara on a Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.

On this Blessed Poya Day, let us engage ourselves in meritorious deeds practicing Dana (Generosity), Sila (Morality) and Bhavana (Meditation).

May the Triple Gem Bless you !!!

අද උතුම් නවම් පුර පසළොස්වක පොහෝ දිනයයි.

මෙම පොහෝ දිනයේ සිදු වූ ඓතිහාසික සිදුවීම් පහත පරිදි වේ;

1. බුදුරජාණන් වහන්සේ සැරියුත් මුගලන් මහරහතන් වහන්සේලාට අගසව් තනතුරු පිරිනැමීම.

2. බුදු සසුනේ ප්‍රථම සංඝ සම්මේලනය (සංඝ සන්නිපාතය) පැවැත්වීම.

3. බුදුරජාණන් වහන්සේ "ඕවාද ප්‍රාතිමෝක්ෂය" දේශනා කිරීම.

4. බුදුරජාණන් වහන්සේ වයස අවුරුදු 80 දි ආයු සංස්කාරය අත හැරීම.

මේ උතුම් පෝ දින බෞද්ධයින් වන අපි දන්, සිල්, භාවනා ආදී කුසල් වඩමු.

ඔබ සැමට තෙරුවන් සරණයි !!!