Vesak 2561/2017 TODAY Where in western world can traditional & benefical celebrations be aspected?

For this Vesak, I will be going to the Mahamevanawa Buddhist Monastery & Buddha Meditation Centre of Greater Toronto. On this day I, together with 300+ others will be observing 24+ Uposatha Sil. Buddha recommended that the disciples follow additional precepts to the first 5 precepts whenever time permits. These are known as the Uposatha Precepts, or simply the Eight Precepts. They are traditionally observed on the full-moon days (uposatha). This give us the opportunity to practice some of the renunciation that those who follow the Buddha’s teaching to the highest goal of enlightenment give up completely. So when we spend time following these training rules, we can remember that we are imitating these great spiritual beings. It is said that:

Whatever wealth exists within this sphere— pearls, gems, and beryl, an excellent stone, singi gold or natural mountain gold, and the gold called hataka— those are not worth a sixteenth part of an uposatha complete in the eight factors, just as all the hosts of stars do not match the moon's radiance. - Visakha Uposatha Sutta (Numerical Discourses, AN 8:43)

On this day I will participate in a special “Pirith Sajgayana” (recitation) that will last till dawn. We normally get together at least once every month to chant Pirith (from 7.00 pm to past midnight usually & covering all of the important suttas) to help turn away all sorrows, (sabba dukkha), ailments, (sabba roga), and all fears ( sabba bhaya).

The Supreme Buddha said, “One who abides in the Dhamma, delights in the Dhamma, meditates on the Dhamma and bears the Dhamma well in mind, does never fall away from the Sublime Dhamma". By reciting Pirith we do all of the above and help invoke the blessings of the Triple Gem for protection.

On this Vesak Day we celebrate three great events. These three great events in the life of the Buddha are - the birth of Prince Sidhartha, the Bodhisatva at the Royal Park of Lumbini, His attainment of the Perfect Enlightenment in his 35th year under the shade of Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya, His demise after a noble ministry that lasted 45 years at Kusinara in the Sala Grove, Upavartana that belonged to Royalty of Malla. These 3 events occured on the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day. It is renowned as the most sacred Poya Day in the Buddhist world over.

There is an additional Vesak Poya called "Adhi Vesak Full Moon Poya Day" that occurs once in 3 years, due to the change of planetary movements. Whether it is Wesak or Adhi Wesak, or any other day, the need of the hour is to follow the Message of the Buddha Dhamma. The knowledge of Buddhism is the key to the higher Path.

Mahamevnawa was established by much venerated monk, Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda (VKG). He was not born Buddhist. Baptized as Jude Cabraal, born on 1st July 1961, he was the third child & the first son of the Roman Catholic family. When in University (age 17?) he became a monk. But his higher ordination, his disillusion of a namesake ordination made him opt out to become a Samanera again, since the Vinaya is not given a due prominence. He de-robed, misguided that his search for truth can be achieved as a lay “Upasaka”. Later he became a monk again, portraying his unwavering resolve to achieve his final goal. Today the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, that he formed has several branches in the Western World. Given below is a list of most of them:

Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery Toronto, Canada. - 11175 Kennedy Road , Markham , Ontario , L6C 1P2 Canada Tel: (905) 927 7117 E-mail: [email protected]

Mahamevnawa Buddhist Nuns' Center and Meditation Center of Halton Hills. 9148 MAIN STREET SOUTH, ACTON, HALTON HILLS, ONTARIO, L7J 1X9. Canada.

Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery Edmonton, Canada. 13036 SHERBROOKE AVE NW, EDMONTON, AB T5L 4E8.

Buddha Meditation Centre Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Canada. 602 Stonebridge Common, Saskatoon SK S7T 0M9. Telephone: (306) 374-2840, Email: [email protected]

Buddha Meditation Centre, Winnipeg, Canada. 2610 St Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, MB R2N 4A2

Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery, Offenbach, Germany

Mahamevnawa Monastery, Sydney, Australia 105, Wisemans Ferry Road, Cattai NSW 2756 Australia. +61 245 728 872

Mahamevnawa Monastery, Melbourne, Australia 71 Monbulk Road, Mount Evelyn, VIC 3796 +61 03 9736 3937

Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Adelaide, Australia 1105, Grand Junction Road, Hope Valley, SA 5090. +61 08 8364 4879

Mahamevnawa Monastery, UK Dhamma land, Hardings Elms Road Crays Hill, BILLERICAY, Essex CM11 2UH. 01268 533870.. Web mahamevnawaimc.org; mahamevnawaimc.co.uk; mahamevnawa.uk; buddhameditation.uk; Email [email protected]

Mahamevnawa Monastery, New Jersey, United States

Mahamevnawa Monastery, California, USA 9917, Mission Blvd, Jurupa Valley, CA 92509 Phone: 714 884 3894

Mahamevnawa Monastery, Florida, USA. 2714 DOERUN CT, TAMPA, FL 33618 (813) 961-5296

Mahamevnawa Monastery, Washington D.C., USA 5004 Stone Rd, Rockville, MD 20853, USA

Mahamevnawa Monastery, Ireland

Mahamevnawa Monastery, France 6 bis Rue Maurice Laisney, 92600 Asnières-sur-Seine. +33 9 70 99 46 65