February 16th is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Festival in Thailand วัน มาฆบูชา (wan maa-ká-buu-chaa) Makha Bucha Day is one of the three most important Buddhist festivals in Thailand!
It marks four auspicious events that occurred ten months after the Buddha attained enlightenment in the Veḷuvana Bamboo Forest near Rajabhat in northern India . Here are the four amazing events that happened:
1. 1250 disciples came to see the Buddha that night without being summoned.
2. They were all inspired people and all were ordained by the Buddha.
3. The Buddha gave his disciples the teachings of Buddhism, called " ovadapatimokha ", including: keeping away from all evil, doing only good, and purifying one's mind. In Thailand, this is called the "core of Buddhism".
4. This is the full moon day.
About 150 years ago in Thailand , the festival of Ten Thousand Buddhas began during the reign of King Rama IV. King Rama IV felt that Buddhist teachings were very important, and recognizing the Day of Ten Thousand Buddhas was one of the most dramatic events in Buddhist history.
As a result, His Majesty celebrated Ten Thousand Buddhas for the first time with his royal family members and ministers, and the celebration soon became popular among the common people.
In addition to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and other places also make the [Ten Thousand Buddhas Day] a national holiday. On the day of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Festival, Buddhists in the above areas usually go to temples to pray and make offerings to purify their souls.
Activities for the Ten Thousand Buddhas Festival in Thailand
1. On the full moon night of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Festival, various temples in Thailand will hold a candlelight parade, called เวียนเทียน (wian tian) ( เวียน means a circle; เทียน ( meaning candle). Monks hold flowers and incense candles. and lit candles, around พระอุโบสถ ( prá u-boo-sòt ) (Coordination Hall) clockwise three times, each time representing each of the following three treasures: Buddha, Dharma, and Shakyamuni.
2. ทำบุญ (tham bun): Participate in special commemorative activities or rituals in temples to accumulate yin virtues.
3. รับศีล (rap sin): abide by the five precepts ( no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no drinking ) , learn to let go: observe the eight precepts ( one abstain from killing , two abstain from stealing, three abstain from sexual immorality, four abstentions) lie , five abstain from drinking alcohol, six abstain from luxury, seven abstain from sitting and lying on a high bed, eight abstain from eating out of time ) , meditation and spiritual practice, staying in temples, and wearing white robes for several days.
