By Itsarin Tisantia
The important annual Buddhist holidays, Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa Day, will be with us once again on July 11 and 12 respectively. During this time, monks will begin their three-month stay at temples, while Buddhists throughout Thailand will make merit and observe the five precepts.
Read the following story to learn more about the history and meaning of these holy days.
Asarnha Bucha, which this year falls on July 11, is celebrated countrywide by making merit, listening to sermons and joining candlelit processions in the evening. The day following Asarnha Bucha Day is called Khao Phansa Day.
SACRED SERMON
Asarn means eight, while Bucha means worship. Asarnha Bucha Day is celebrated on the full moon of the eighth lunar month every year to mark the first sermon that Lord Buddha gave to his first five disciples, namely Phra Gonthanya, Phra Wappa, Phra Phattiya, Phra Mahanama and Phra Assachi. The sermon took place in Varanasi, India.
The Lord Buddha’s first sermon was mainly about the Four Noble Truths, which include tuk (suffering), samuthai (the cause of suffering), nirot (the cessation of suffering) and mak (the path to the cessation of suffering).
PEACEFUL PERIOD
Khao means to enter, and Phansa means a period of three months. Traditionally, monks usually travelled all year long without rest. Therefore, Buddhist pilgrims were worried about their health. It was also feared that monks might accidentally step onto farmer’s fields or on tiny creatures during their travels. From this reason, the Buddhist Lent is a time for monks to avoid unnecessary journeys and to keep them from stepping onto paddy fields or killing tiny animals by mistake.
Exercises
Read Exercises. Then, decide whether each of the following statements is true or false.
1. Phansa means “rainy season.”
…………………….
2. The Lord Buddha’s first sermon took place in Nepal.
…………………….
3. Phra Assachi was one of the Lord Buddha’s first disciples.
…………………….
4. Asarnha Budha Day is the day following Khao Phansa Day.
…………………….
Vocabulary
- precept (n): a rule about how to behave or what to think
candlelit (adj): lit by candles
disciple (n): a person who believes in and follows the teachings of a religious or political leader
cessation (n): the stopping of something
