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Information about the main Buddhist holidays. Main Buddhist holidays and special dates

Hello, dear readers.

Despite the large number of directions of Buddhism, the main religious dates in it are associated with important events the life of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), and therefore are the same for almost all Buddhist traditions. This article will tell you about the main Buddhist holidays and significant dates for believers.

The teachings of Gautama Buddha are one of the largest world religions, which differs significantly from the more familiar Christianity or Islam. Basic Buddhist holidays have their own characteristics, since they take place in an atmosphere of asceticism, especially strict adherence to vows and traditions.

Religious traditions of Buddhism

According to the religious teachings of the Buddha (Dhamma, Dharma), on holidays any impact on karma is aggravated many times over, therefore during these festive periods it is especially important to lead a righteous lifestyle and not commit actions that may negatively affect karma. Dharma adherents believe in the mystical essence of everything that happens on Earth. With their righteous deeds, they do everything possible to improve the karma of not only their own, but that of all humanity.

Buddhists use a lunar calendar, and therefore the holidays are rotating - they fall on different dates every year. To the most important celebrations relate:

Vesak - Birthday, Enlightenment and Death of Buddha;
Asalha - the day of the first sermon of Buddha;
Asola Perahara - Buddha's tooth festival;
Saagalgan – Buddhist New Year;
The Elephant Festival is a day of remembrance of one of the most important sermons of Gautama;
Bun Kathin is the day of giving gifts to monks.

On a note. Not everyone memorable days have the character of a cult. Some holidays are dedicated to fairly ordinary events, they are rather mundane - aimed at attracting interest in the teachings of Gautama, making people kinder and fairer.

Vesak or Buddha's Birthday

This is one of the most significant dates for any Buddhist. According to legend, Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and died on the same day (but in different years) - during the May full moon. According to the Gregorian calendar, the holiday falls at the end of May - beginning of June. By the way, the word “Vesak” itself means the name of the month (the second according to the ancient Indian calendar tradition) when all these events took place.

Traditionally, the celebration lasts a whole week. In churches, festive prayer services are held with chants and the lighting of hundreds of candles. Buddhists all over the world pray intensely, talk about the life and teachings of their guru, light paper lanterns, and meditate. Anyone can join in glorifying the teacher and praying. Group meditations and offerings to monasteries are encouraged, demonstrating commitment to the values of Buddhism.

Asala or Dhamma Day

IN Buddhist tradition this day can be compared with Christian Easter– it is so significant and important for every follower of the teachings of Gautama Buddha. It was on this day, falling on the first full moon of the ancient Indian eighth month (July), that the great guru first preached to his five disciples, telling about the Dhamma - the teaching that allows one to achieve Enlightenment.

According to tradition, every Buddhist believer should also spend this day meditating and trying to achieve the state of satori (awakening from the sleep of ignorance, allowing one to comprehend the true nature of the world).

Asola Perahara

This is more of a secular holiday, celebrated in honor of an interesting event - the discovery of a tooth that miraculously remained intact after the burning of the Buddha. It was kept in an Indian temple for a long time, but then was transported to Sri Lanka to protect the relic from invaders and ill-wishers. The tooth remains there to this day.

Asola Perahara is especially popular in Sri Lanka. The holiday is celebrated for two whole weeks, carrying a casket with a relic on the backs of elephants through major cities and religious centers of the island.

Sagaalgan – New Year

One of the few Buddhist celebrations that is celebrated by different movements at different times. By the way, this day is dedicated not so much to the Buddha himself, but to the goddess Sridevi - the mistress of time and keeper of the secrets of life and death.

The celebration traditions are approximately the same in all Buddhist traditions. Monks and adherents of the Dhamma cult do not sleep on this night, but pray earnestly and chant mantras. It is believed that this will bring good luck in the coming year. Buddhists usually spend this night with their family, and as a holiday dishes Traditionally dairy products are used.

Elephant Festival

This secular festival is dedicated to one of the most important and iconic stories of Buddhism about wild elephants, which are put in the same team with trained ones in order to train them. Likewise, people should follow the Enlightened Ones in order to get closer to the guru themselves and learn the teachings of the Dhamma. On this day, traditional processions and rituals are accepted - meditation, prayers, chants, lighting lamps and paper lanterns.

Bun Kathin

Another secular holiday, on which it is customary to invite monks to visit, feed them and give them clothes. The purpose of such a custom is to make the whole world and people who have not yet come to the Dhamma more tolerant and kind. The peculiarity of traditions is that the robe prepared for a gift must be sewn with one’s own hands, which gives it special significance and symbolism.

Other special dates

List of Buddhist holiday dates much more extensive. Some celebrations are celebrated only by certain branches of religion, some are more general. Other significant dates include:

Lhabab Duisen - the descent of Buddha into the earthly world for the final reincarnation, celebrated in October - November;
The Dalai Lama's birthday is an event celebrated according to the European calendar every year on July 6;
Zula Khural is the day of remembrance of the founder of the Tibetan school of Buddhism, Bogdo Tsongkhawa.

Conclusion

These, as well as the other main holidays listed above, are of particular importance not only for believers, but also for lay people living in traditionally Buddhist regions. Therefore, they are almost always accompanied by beautiful processions, joint prayers, and sermons of the teachings of Gautama.

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On the topic: Buddhist holidays

Asalha Puja A religious Buddhist holiday, the beginning of Buddhist fasting. (common in Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka). Its celebration occurs in July, or more precisely on the full moon of the eighth lunar month (in 2013 it falls on July 24). This holiday is the Buddhist Day of Knowledge. It is also the anniversary of the day when Buddha delivered the First Sermon to his five disciples in the Deer Park more than two and a half thousand years ago in Benares. In one of the most famous and oldest Buddhist sutras, the Dharmavarshana Sutra, it is said that it was on the full moon of the eighth lunar month that Buddha delivered a sermon during which he told his disciples about the existence of four Noble Truths that reveal the essence of Buddhist teachings:

1) that life is suffering,

2) the cause of suffering is attachment,

3) however, relief from suffering is possible,

4) for this it is enough to follow the right Path.

The words he spoke were filled with great meaningful power and meaning. The brevity of his sayings, like a mirror, reflected the essence of people’s behavior, as a result of which they, without knowing it, remained in ignorance and suffering. Then, more than 2500 years ago, using just a few pithy expressions, the Buddha was able to voice what, in fact, can still serve as a guiding star for everyone who seeks to understand the main thing - “why is everything this way?” Over the years, the Buddha's words became a powerful religion with millions of followers, and the guiding star he left in the records of his disciples became, under the weight of interpretation, a finger pointing towards it. The Asaha Puja holiday is a tradition of turning to the origins, to the past, to the words spoken by the Buddha many years ago, to his deep compassion and desire to help those who do not yet know. Buddhism, born from the words of an enlightened person, still serves as support for millions of seekers on the path of life.

How is it customary for Buddhists today to celebrate this day of receiving Knowledge? Of course, it’s colorful, bright and, most importantly, delicious. On this day they arrange holiday services in monasteries, and the monks read sermons. The temples of the cities are illuminated with bright lights.

On this day it is obligatory to bring offerings to the monks. But not with money! Best gift Buddhist monk - food. The most traditional “gift dishes” of the Day of Knowledge are rice and fruits. For monks, these gifts are especially relevant given the fact that the day after Asalha Puja, the period of hermitage begins, which falls during the rainy season.

The Buddhist tradition of fasting during the annual three-month monsoon, called "Phansa" in Thailand, dates back to early Buddhism in ancient India. Monks, mendicants and sages lived in permanent dwellings during these three months. They tried to avoid unnecessary travel at a time when crops were just starting to sprout, and they could accidentally damage young plants. In deference to popular belief, the Buddha decided that his followers should also observe this ancient tradition, and live in groups in permanent homes.

The Buddhist fast covers most of the rainy season and lasts for three lunar months. In Thailand, Buddhist monks stay in one temple and do not move to others until the fast is over. religious holiday buddhism spiritual

The celebration of the beginning of Buddhist fasting begins with a ceremony of presenting candles to monks. Representatives from various institutions such as schools and universities, including public and private organizations, gather in a colorful candlelight procession leading to the temple where they will be presented.

Some followers of Buddhism consider the beginning of fasting a time to make serious decisions or restrictions, such as abstaining from smoking, observing the five precepts (Pancashila) during all three months of the Rainy Season.

In Thailand, the first day is dedicated to donations that believers make to temples. Buddhists who came to the temple listen to sermons. Many will release birds, fish and various animals into the wild. All Buddhists try to spend this day spiritually.

At night, the Tian Wen Ceremony begins, which takes place in all Buddhist temples. The monks walk around the temple three times, holding lighted candles, flowers and incense sticks.

The Three Jewels ceremony begins in Pattaya. A festive procession of monks forms on the territory of the Buddhist Temple of the Wheel of Dharma on Sukhumvit. Three jewels, their three essences in the physical plane are presented to people on this day - on one platform a large golden statue of Buddha, the essence of the philosophy of Buddhism itself, on the second platform a large yellow candle decorated with flowers, the essence of knowledge, consciousness and knowledge of the world, on the following platforms , representing various temples, the elder monks, in deep meditation, are the essence of Man in this world. Next to him are young monks, they will sprinkle water and thank him for the offering.

The Candle Festival is held in Isan Province. This ancient ceremony also symbolizes the beginning of the rainy season and the departure of the monks into retreat (Thai). Here he is especially beautiful. On the first day of the festival, believers walk with candles in all temples in Thailand.

At the same time, newcomers, especially boys, are converted to monks and novices. school age. All significant ceremonies are conducted under the guidance of respected monastic abbots who “guide” people in prayer and worship. People engaged in performing rituals, following generally accepted rules of behavior and chanting sacred mantras, meditate on their deep meaning

By tradition, fairs are held near the monasteries, cultural events, competitions and various shows are held.

In Indonesia, the festival is celebrated at Metdut Temple near Borodubur.

Vesak (other names: Visakha Puja, Donchod Khural, Saga Dawa) is a Buddhist holiday in honor of the birth, enlightenment and death (entry into parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha. This holiday belongs to the Theravada tradition (one of the traditions of early Buddhism, the so-called “small vehicle”), where all these events take place on the same day. Widely distributed in South Asian countries. It was on Vesak day two and a half millennia ago in 623 BC that Buddha was born. Also on the same day, Buddha achieved enlightenment and on the same day, Buddha left this world at the 80th year of his life.

The holiday falls on the full moon day of the second month of the ancient Indian calendar. The Indian name for the month is Vaishakha, which in Sinhala sounds like "Vesak". Thus, the holiday got its name from the name of the month.

The focus of the holiday is the enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, marking a turning point in the knowledge of truth. On this day, it is customary to decorate local temples and light lanterns at nightfall, which symbolizes enlightenment coming to this world. Vesak lanterns are made of paper on a light wooden frame. It is customary to place oil lamps around the Bodhi trees and stupas on the temple grounds. People send postcards to their friends, which usually depict memorable events from the life of Buddha.

Lay people also visit local temples and monasteries, listen to darshans and meditate throughout the night, that is, they turn to ritual. In the Tai tradition, it is customary to walk around the monastery three times, in honor of the Buddha, dharma and sangha (three jewels). The instructions on these days are carried out with greater strictness, which sometimes leads to a ban on farming and other activities that can cause harm to living beings. During the holidays, dana is also encouraged as a sign of mercy. Lay people typically bring generous food to the monastery or temple to show that they are mindful of their duty to the monastic community (sangha). The offerings emphasize the importance of the sangha to the laity. This is also an opportunity to earn the respect of others. In Burma, unlike in Sri Lanka, this holiday is not considered a festival of light, but its importance is reflected in the custom of watering the Bodhi tree in the local monastery or temple.

Adherents of Buddhism on this day are instructed to make special efforts to refrain from killing of any kind - not even farming is allowed, because this may cause the death of some insects. Buddhists are instructed to eat exclusively vegetarian food throughout the day. In some countries, by government decision, all shops selling alcohol and meat products are closed for two days - before and after Vesak. On this day, it is customary to release animals languishing in captivity - as a rule, these are birds or insects - which people do with pleasure. On this day, in addition, it is customary to release some prisoners from prisons.

Buddhists wear white clothes during Vesak celebrations, as if promising themselves that throughout the next year they will try to keep all the commandments.

Adherents of the doctrine talk with the monks and listen to their instructions.

Vesak celebrations also suggest that Buddhists should make special efforts to help the suffering - the elderly, disabled and sick. On this day, Buddhists give out gifts and donate money to various charities.

Vesak is time great joy, which is brought not by pleasing one's appetites, but by focusing on useful activities for society - such as decorating temples, creating paintings with scenes from the life of the Buddha, or preparing food and drinks for followers of the teachings and lay people who will visit the temple.

Kathin holiday

The Kathin holiday is very popular among many eastern peoples.

The celebration of this date takes place on the full moon day in October, ending Vaso time. In this regard, the lay people give the monks, whom they have assisted for three months, a special robe (kathina-chivara), which is a gift from the Sangha to a famous bhikkh whose name is recited during the celebration of the Katkhina festival. IN given time lay people can once again express generosity, gratitude for the teachings they have received from the Sangha in the form of giving, which precedes the time of the journey. And today it is called this: kathina-dana. Sangha Day is different from the other two major holidays because it is not associated with any special event in the life of the Buddha. Instead, it reminds us of an annual event in the life of the early sangha.

Kathin (Bun Kathin) is one of the main Buddhist celebrations, since it gives believers the opportunity to accumulate religious “merits” through various donations and thereby acquire a higher social status. The term "kathin" among the Lao, as well as among the Khon Tai and Khmers, means a special wooden frame with which monastic robes are cut. If in ancient times a member of the sangha was obliged to make his own robe, then later the laity did this, and therefore the Buddhist clergy is especially favorable towards this holiday.

The Kathin festival is most often held alternately in the monasteries of cities or rural areas on one of the days in the period starting from the 1st day of the waning moon of the 11th month until the full moon of the 12th month of the year. In past times in cities, this holiday was often organized by a wealthy family, which received material support from relatives and friends, who accordingly shared with them the “great merits” acquired on this occasion, which, as is known, always played a significant role in the life of the Lao . In the villages during the days of Bun Kathin, all lay people took part; often they presented gifts to the monks of a neighboring village, and each monastery could count on only one Kathin during the year.

Usually the gifts were intended for a Buddhist community of at least five monks who stayed together for the entire three months of the Buddhist fast. Having received the donations, the sangha distributed them among the members of the community, who were obliged to continue their stay in the monastery as monks for subsequent periods. four months(least). It is believed that the monastery receives such gifts only once a year, and each donation includes eight items necessary for a monk: clothes, an alms bowl, a razor, a piece of cloth for a belt, a sun umbrella, and various utensils for personal use, permitted by right-handed sangha. But often, due to lack of funds from parishioners, gifts are limited to cigarettes, betel, and soap; Only the monastic robe remains unchanged in the list of things given.

The timing of the Kathin holiday is usually announced in advance. The organizer of the holiday notifies not only the monks to whom he is going to present gifts, but also posts a notice on the doors of the temple, indicating the date and his name, thereby increasing prestige in the eyes of others, and at the same time in the hope of a future successful rebirth.

The Kathin festival usually lasts two days. On the first day, the donor invites the monks to his home. They come, sit down for a ritual meal, and then read a prayer of thanks. In the afternoon, a solemn procession heads to the temple to present donations. At the head of the procession are the most senior and respected people, holding in their hands special bowls on which monastic robes lie; they are followed by the rest of the festival participants. The colorful procession is accompanied by dancing and musical instruments.

Before entering the monastery, the procession circles it three times counterclockwise. After the appropriate invitation, the monks appear and sit down facing the participants in the celebration. The organizer of the ceremony approaches the abbot, kneels before the members of the sangha and, continuing to hold ritual offerings in his hands - flowers, candles and incense sticks, asks for a blessing, repeating it with the monks, and then pronounces the words prescribed by the ritual, to which the monks respond: "Sathu!" ("Let it be so!"). In conclusion, having received the donations, the monks bless all participants in the holiday. On the occasion of Bun Kathin, it is also customary to organize various entertainments that last until late at night: singing, dancing, theatrical performances. As for the subsequent ceremony of transferring gifts from members of the community to one of the clergy, it can take place immediately after their presentation by the laity. In Laos it is called padalok (“permission”). During it, after listing all the benefits and their correspondence to the teachings of the Buddha, the name of the monk to whom the gifts are supposed to be given is pronounced. The offer is repeated twice and, if there is no objection, all the items are given to that monk, who accepts them with gratitude. There is a traditional ceremony in Burma that makes the offering particularly difficult. Every year the lay people - or rather lay women - make it their goal to make the robes from start to finish the day before the ceremony. They sit all night spinning threads from cotton, then weave cloth from the threads, cut the cloth into strips, sew them together, and finally dye the finished robes for the ceremony, all within twenty-four hours. They perform this feat as a sign of worship before the fully engaged members of the sangha.

The fact that there are monastics and laymen who are fully and partly involved members of the sangha shows that the sangha is not a simple, homogeneous assembly. In fact, by its very nature, the sangha is composed of individuals with varying levels of devotion and spiritual achievement. For example, it can distinguish social, religious and spiritual levels.

Mach sangha

On the social level there is the maha-sangha, the great assembly, so called because it is vast in size. It consists of all those who, with whatever degree of sincerity, take refuge in the Three Jewels and observe more or less ethical precepts. It is a body of people who accept the spiritual principles or truths of Buddhism, regardless of their lifestyle, whether they are monks or laypeople, whether they have left the world or largely remained in the world, and even largely remained “of this world.” Thus, the maha-sangha consists of both fully involved and partially involved members of the sangha, and even those who are Buddhists in name only. This is the most extensive level of the sangha.

Bhikshu bhikkhuni sangha

Then, on the religious level, there is the bhikkhus-bhikshuni-sangha. The word "sangha" is sometimes understood to mean exclusively a community of fully engaged members, which usually means a community of monks or nuns. The designations "monk" and "nun" certainly apply to many fully engaged members of the sangha throughout Buddhist history. It is difficult for us to imagine how many of them existed in ancient Buddhist monasteries. Until very recently, in Tibet, a monastery with five hundred monks was considered small. Consequently, in the monasteries lived great amount bhikkhus. However, the bhikkhus sangha was never a purely monastic order. If we are going to use the word "monk" in the context of Buddhism, we need to remember that the word will have a broader meaning than the English "monk".

Today there are two main branches of monastic communities: the Theravada branch in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and the Sarvastivada branch in Tibet, China, Vietnam and Korea. Between these two great traditions there are few differences in the way of life and rules observed by the monks. However, it is worth noting that Tibetan lamas should not be confused with bhikkhus. "Lama" simply means spiritual teacher; a lama is sometimes a monk, but this is not necessary, especially in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools. Japan is a very special case because the tradition of bhikkhus ordination, having appeared there, was subsequently lost and replaced by bodhisattva ordination.

There are also orders of nuns, bhikkhunis. In many parts of the Buddhist world this tradition died out before it could be brought to Tibet, so neither Theravada Buddhism nor Tibetan Buddhism currently has a tradition of female monasticism. But bhikkhuni ordination is still carried out in Vietnam, China and Taiwan (it is now often discussed that it would be desirable to resume the tradition of bhikkhuni ordination more widely, and this debate partly concerns the issue of the traditional subordination of nuns to monks). Nuns follow approximately the same rules as monks, and they are rewarded (or, according to at least, should be given) the same honors as monks.

That a person is a bhikkhu or bhikkhuni, whether he or she lives in a monastery, is a wanderer, a hermit, or some kind of local priest, is not in itself a sign of special depth in Going for Refuge. What all members of the monastic sangha have in common is a special set of ethical instructions. It is a sangha in the religious sense - a group of people, so to speak, separated from the world and united in a religious community with in a general way life and especially with general rules.

Novices observe only ten precepts, or thirty-two in some traditions, but when they receive upasampada, full acceptance into the community, they have to follow one hundred and fifty rules, and in some parts of the Buddhist world these one hundred and fifty rules are actually followed. Many of these rules are no longer relevant because they were developed in special conditions the lives of wandering monks in northern India two and a half thousand years ago, and they were automatically relegated to later times.

Four most important rules known as parajiks. Parajika means defeat. By violating one of these rules, a person is forever excluded from the community and will have to wait next life to join her. The first parajika is that one cannot intentionally take the life of another human being. The second rule is that you cannot take something that is not given, something that is of such value that taking it could lead to legal liability. The third rule is to abstain from any form of sexual relations.

These three parajiks are pretty straightforward, but the fourth rule requires a little more explanation. It lies in the fact that one cannot falsely claim any spiritual achievements. Westerners have no problem asking another person whether he has achieved Enlightenment or whether he has experienced samadhi. But in the East it is considered impolite to talk about any personal achievements with other people, with the possible exception of your closest friends and your own teachers.

The reason for this is illustrated by a passage from the Pali Canon, which tells the great story of the Buddha's disciple Shariputra, who has just spent the entire evening in the forest meditating. When he returns in the evening, he meets Ananda, who remarks: “Your face is illuminated with a wonderful light today. What did you do?" Shariputra replies: “I was meditating in the forest, but while I was meditating, the thought that I was meditating did not occur to me.”18 What he is pointing out here is that once such a thought arises, you are not really meditating, because you have not gone beyond the level of the personal self, the subjective self. In a sense, you only meditate when there is no one else to do it, when it just happens, so to speak.

Moggallana comments on this with a little pun. “That's what real people say,” he says. “They tell the essence or true meaning of the matter (attha in Pali), but do not bring themselves (atta).” On the contrary, most of us, whether we meditate a little or show a little generosity, always have our ego mixed in. Our achievements are instantly devalued when we think, “I did it” or “I have this experience.”

The remaining rules are secondary to these main four, in the sense that if one breaks them, he can atone for his offense by repenting of these violations to his fellow monks. Therefore, even if a person is a hermit, he should not completely sever ties with the larger sangha. He may need to report to her regularly in order to feel his father's eye over him.

U Buddhist monks and nuns have various responsibilities. Their first duty is to study and practice the Dharma: they gather primarily to practice meditation. Secondly, they are expected to set a good example for the laity. Thirdly, they must preach and teach. Fourth, they have the responsibility to protect the local community from adverse mental influences. In cultures where it is taken for granted that we are surrounded by occult forces, it is traditionally believed that while some of these forces are beneficial, others are evil, and that through strict lifestyle, meditation and blessings, monks are able to drive away these harmful forces and prevent them to harm ordinary people. In the West there is no great need for such services, but in the East this is a very important function of monks.

Finally, monks are expected to give lay advice. But in the East, if something goes wrong - your children are in trouble or you have problems with money, problems with alcohol or neighbors, a husband or wife - it is common to turn to a monk with your problem and ask him for advice. Because they have no such problems themselves, no children, no wives, no money, monks are perhaps expected to take a more objective view of the situation, the view of an outside observer in the stands who has a better view of the football match than any of the players on the field.

Scholar Edward Conze once said that without the monastic community, Buddhism would have no backbone. It can certainly be said that without fully involved people, men and women who are fully committed to Buddhist practice, nothing would have been possible to create the sangha. In Britain, the first monks appeared before the founding of Buddhist groups. One of the first in the English monastic sangha was Allan Bennett, who received monastic ordination as Ananda Maitreya in Burma in 1902 and returned to England in 1908-19. However, since then, in the West, the persistent and rapid division between monastics as fully involved members and laymen as partially involved members has largely been broken down, and the focus on the sangha has subsequently expanded beyond any distinctions of lifestyle. This is the spiritual community as such - the Arya Sangha.

Arya sangha

Word "Arya" was originally used to refer to a group of tribes that invaded India from the northeast. Denoting a higher status compared to the conquered tribes, the word "Arya" came to mean "noble" in a more general sense, and then, gradually, acquired a spiritual meaning and thus also came to mean "holy". Therefore, the arya-sangha is the community of nobles or saints, those who have come into contact with the beyond, those who have knowledge of the true reality of things.

Since it includes lay people as well as monks, the Arya Sangha can be said to constitute a spiritual hierarchy, as opposed to the purely religious hierarchy of Buddhism. It cannot be characterized within the framework of any formal scheme or public, organizational structure - it represents an intermediate link in the hierarchy between Buddhahood and unenlightened humanity. Its members are not necessarily related to each other physical level- they can live not only in different places, but also in different times- but those transcendental experiences or achievements that are common to them unite them, going beyond the boundaries of space and time. That is, the fundamental characteristic is the quality of wisdom or insight.

The Buddhist path is often divided into three main elements: ethics, meditation and wisdom20. All these should be developed simultaneously, but the culmination is wisdom, because ethics and meditation can be developed without wisdom, while wisdom can only be developed on the basis of ethics and meditation. In turn, the development of wisdom (prajna) is also divided into three components21. The first level is wisdom arising from hearing - srutamayi prajna. The term originally referred to the oral teaching characteristic of preliterate societies, but is understood to include all knowledge and understanding gleaned from books as well as from conversations and lectures. One learns about the nature of reality or even the nature of insight into the nature of reality. At this level, the goal is to gain a clear conceptual understanding of how things really are.

The second level of wisdom is the wisdom that is acquired through one's own thinking and reflection (cintamayi-prajna). Having heard or read something about the true nature of things, you turn over in your mind what you have heard, and thus begin to think seriously about it and - in time - develop your own insight. This way you gain deeper understanding.

The third level of wisdom is achieved through meditation (bhavanamayi-prajna). This wisdom goes far beyond any intellectual understanding. It is not acquired by reflection, there is nothing conceptual in it. In fact, only when the mind is completely calm can true wisdom begin to arise in the form of glimpses of direct insight. In the concentrated state of mind that results from meditation, truth or reality can flash into the mind directly, without the mediation of ideas, thoughts or even feelings about that reality or truth.

The Arya Sangha consists only of those who have experienced this third level of wisdom. However, in spiritual life nothing appears immediately. Any mastery, be it in morality, meditation or wisdom, is acquired gradually. No matter what blows and shocks we experience from time to time in spiritual life, real progress is slow and systematic. It is the same with the experience of penetration, and therefore with advancement as a member of the Arya Sangha, because even among this exalted society there are levels of achievement. You may experience them as nothing more than a tiny glimpse of insight if your meditation is too weak to support anything more powerful. But if your concentration in meditation is stronger, the glimpse of insight that arises can be so brilliant that it illuminates the depths of reality. It is in accordance with the varying degrees of penetration intensity that different kinds arya pudgala (saints or nobles).

But how can these different degrees of penetration be measured? Traditionally, there are two ways: subjective and objective. From a subjective point of view, penetration is measured by the number of "shackles" it breaks. We'll look at this approach at the beginning of the next chapter. From an objective point of view, it is measured according to the number of rebirths that are left to live for someone who has acquired this level of penetration. It is this system of measurement that is used in the definition of Sangha in the Tiratana Vandana, a paean to the Three Jewels recited by Buddhists around the world. In the third part of this text the Sangha is characterized as “advancing with happiness,” “uprightly advancing,” “methodically advancing,” and “correctly advancing.”22 It is further declared that the Sangha consists of people who are on four various levels spiritual development. Each of these levels has its own name:

1. A stream-enterer or srotapanna is one who no longer needs to fight the current, so to speak. He or she will no longer stray from the path of spiritual advancement, and it is said that such a person will achieve complete Enlightenment in no more than seven rebirths.

2. Once-returner (sakrdagamin) is one who will achieve Liberation in another life.

3. Non-returner (anagamine) - one who will not have to return to the human dimension at all. He will be reborn in the so-called “pure abodes” (suddhavasa), at the top of the dimension of pure form, rupadhatu. It is there that he will find nirvana.

4. An Arhat (which simply means “worthy of veneration”) is one who has already achieved the goal.

These purely spiritual varieties constitute the Arya Sangha. But the Buddha also described the Arya Sangha in more colorful terms. Comparing the monastic community to the great ocean, he said that just as the vast ocean contains all sorts of gigantic creatures, so the sangha has its own spiritual giants23. These deep-sea creatures constitute, so to speak, the Arya Sangha.

It is certainly beneficial for the larger sangha to regularly associate with these giants, and this must be what the Buddha foresaw when he instructed the sangha to meet together in large numbers and regularly. If you are used to living and working in a small local Buddhist community, it is good to get a sense of the size of the sangha as a whole from time to time and see own life and work in a much larger context. If you are used to being a big fish in a small pond, it is useful to feel like a sprat in a huge ocean from time to time. Sometimes you even get a glimpse of what it means to be a real giant, although of course it is not always easy to tell who is the minnow and who is the whale in the sangha.

Hierarchy bodhisattvas

Spiritual The hierarchy within the Arya Sangha is described in the Pali Canon, a collection of records of the Buddha's teachings24. The Pali Canon is accepted by all schools, and is considered by Theravada schools in Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand to constitute the entire Buddhist canonical literature. The remaining Buddhist scriptures are grouped under the general title of Mahayana Buddhism, which is sometimes called "advanced" Buddhism. It is common in Tibet, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and several other Asian countries, and these days in the West. "Mahayana" means "great path", and those schools that did not accept the Mahayana scriptures were called - although, naturally, not by themselves - Hinayana or "small path".

The idea of the Arya Sangha is one of the fundamental ideas and creeds common to all the different schools. But Mahayana adds a further hierarchy to this basic classification. This is the hierarchy of Bodhisattvas, those who strive not for their own, individual liberation from suffering, but for the ideal of the Bodhisattva - Enlightenment not only for themselves, but for the benefit of all living beings25.

As for the Arya Sangha, there are four levels of bodhisattvas - according to the number of levels of their development (known as bhumi) that they have passed through.

1. Novice Bodhisattva (adikarmika bodhisattva) - one who has accepted the bodhisattva ideal with all sincerity, but has not yet reached the first stage of the path or any degree of transcendental penetration.

2. Bodhisattvas "on the path" are those who advance at levels from the first to the sixth bhumi.

3. Irreversible bodhisattvas are those who have achieved the seventh bhumi (out of ten). Just as Stream Enterers cannot fall into the lower realms of existence, irreversible bodhisattvas cannot turn to the search for the goal of individual Enlightenment - a lesser achievement, from the Mahayana point of view: they constantly maintain the movement towards Enlightenment for the benefit of all living.

4. Dharmakaya Bodhisattvas. This is a somewhat difficult concept to understand, having to do with what may be considered the personalized aspects of Buddhahood itself. Just as the color white can be split into the seven colors of the spectrum seen in the rainbow, the pure white light of Enlightenment can be split, so to speak, into different colors, that is, into different aspects of the Enlightened mind: love, wisdom, freedom, knowledge and so on. . If the Buddha is the personification of Enlightenment itself, the dharmakaya bodhisattvas are personifications of individual aspects of this Enlightenment.

The two Arya Sangha hierarchies and the four levels of the bodhisattva path undoubtedly overlap to some extent: in some Mahayana texts, "stream-enterers" are referred to as Hinayana bodhisattvas.

Thus, the sangha is a spiritual community existing at various levels, from social and religious to the highest spiritual level. And you go for Refuge in the Sangha, joining it at the level at which you are capable. First of all, you can join the maha-sangha by being a member of the Buddhist community in a purely formal, external sense. Secondly, you can join it on a religious level, a level of greater devotion, by receiving initiation. In the Theravadin tradition, ordination means becoming a monk, but in the Mahayana bodhisattva ordination exists in principle for both monks and lay people, although in practice the word "sangha" is often used to refer only to monks. In the community that I founded, there is only one initiation, regardless of lifestyle or gender. Third, you can join the sangha at the arya sangha or bodhisattva sangha level due to your spiritual achievements. Let's go ahead and look at what such an achievement actually entails.

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The main Buddhist holidays are:

Sagaalgan- New Year

Duinhor-khural– Klachakra holiday

Donchod-khural- Birthday, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni

Maidari-khural- Maitreya's rotation

Lhabab duisen- Buddha's descent from the Tushita sky

Zula Khural- Nirvana Day of Buddha Tsongkhapa.

The birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama is also celebrated, but it is not a canonical holiday. At the same time, this holiday is fixed - the Dalai Lama was born on July 6th.

In the Buddhist lunar calendar there are also days for special prayers - Otosho, Lamchig Ningbo and Mandal Shiva days, which are held every eighth, fifteenth and thirtieth lunar day of the month, respectively. There are also days for special veneration of certain deities, for example, Balzhinim - the master of splendor and happiness, or Lusa - the master of water. For each day of the calendar, astrologers have calculated the combination and consequences of the day - days for cutting hair, taking medications, a safe journey or a successful completion are marked litigation. We should also not forget that among almost all peoples professing Buddhism, such events as the transition from one age group in another, building a new house, weddings, funerals and others.

Sagaalgan

In the Buddhist tradition, the celebration of the New Year occurs in different years between the end of January and mid-March, on the first spring new moon according to the lunar calendar.

The date of the New Year according to the lunar calendar is calculated annually using astrological tables. Due to differences in astrological calculations in different countries these dates may not coincide.

Traditionally, on New Year's Eve, the most respected and revered lamas make astrological forecasts for the residents of the country for the next year.

The date of the New Year according to the lunar calendar is calculated annually using astrological tables

Three days before the holiday, a special prayer service is held in temples dedicated to the dharmapalas - the ten protector deities of the Teaching. The greatest reverence among them is given to the goddess Sri Devi (Tib. Baldan Lhamo), who is considered the patroness of the capital of Tibet, Lhasa. A separate prayer service (Baldan Lhamo) is held in her honor on the day immediately preceding the New Year.

To receive the blessing of the goddess, it is recommended to stay awake all night until 6 am, and either attend prayer services in the temple, or read mantras and practice at home. For those who do not sleep and turn to her for help, Balden Lhamo will provide her patronage and help in solving difficult issues.

Solemn services - khurals - are held in the temple throughout the day and night. The prayer service ends at 6 am. The rector wishes everyone a Happy New Year.

The house is covered festive table, which must contain white food (milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, butter).

On the first day of the year you cannot go to visit, it must be spent with your family. Visiting and visiting relatives will begin from the second day, and can continue until the end of the month. The entire month is considered a holiday. White month- the most favorable time for carrying out cleansing rituals.

Before the New Year, a special cleansing ritual is carried out in all houses - Gutor, during which all failures and all the bad things that have accumulated over the previous year are “thrown out” from the house and from the life of each person. It is performed by a lama invited to the house with the participation of all family members. After the end of the festive meal, the leftover food along with coins, rags, a candle and a khadak (a special scarf that is given to guests during greeting as a sign of respect) are placed in a large bowl, where a humanoid figurine made of dough and painted red is also placed (torma ). Together, this serves as a “ransom” that should force evil and bad luck to leave the house. In the evening, by the light of a lantern, people carry these objects to a vacant lot near the road and throw them away, turning to evil with the words: “Get out of here!” After this, they quickly return without looking back (according to legend, if a person turns around, then evil can return with him).

On New Year's Day, the ritual of launching the “horses of the wind of luck” is performed. The wind horse of luck is a symbol showing the state of a person's well-being. The image of the “horse of the wind of luck,” consecrated in the temple, is tied to a tree or placed on the roof of the house in such a way that it flutters in the wind. It is believed that the "horse of the wind of luck" serves powerful protection from misfortunes and illnesses, attracting attention and calling for the help of deities. His image also symbolizes wishes for health, happiness and prosperity in the new year to all living beings.

Kalachakra Festival (Duinhor-khural)

The celebration of Duinhor is associated with the beginning of the Buddha's preaching of Kalachakra Tantra, which is the basis of Vajrayana philosophy. Kalachakra literally means "wheel of time" and is one of the most esoteric concepts of Buddhist tantra.

The main goal of the teachings of Kalachakra Tantra, as well as any other Buddhist teaching, is to achieve the state of Enlightenment (Buddhahood), internal realization.

The difference between Kalachakra Tantra is that, following its complex set of psychophysical exercises, one can achieve Enlightenment without a long period many rebirths, but in one life. Special meaning This teaching emphasizes the practice of mantra. In the teachings of Kalachakra Tantra, the concept of Adibuddha was developed - the primary source of existence, personified in the image of the 24-armed Kalachakra and his prajna (Sanskrit prajna - transcendental wisdom and divine intuition), personifying the fusion of Time and Emptiness.

According to legend, Kalachakra Tantra began to spread in India in 965 by the ascetic Tsilupa, who brought this teaching from the legendary country of Shambhala, where it was preserved from the time when it was preached by Buddha to the king of this country Suchandra.

Duinkhor Khural is celebrated for three days, from the 14th to the 16th day of the third month of the lunar calendar (April-May), with the main celebration occurring on the 15th lunar day.

Kalachakra - deity of meditation

On the days of the holiday, solemn prayer services (khurals) are held in monasteries with the reading of the treatise Kalachakra-laghu-tantra-raja. A characteristic element of these prayers is that during their performance the monks wear special headdresses and use sacred objects symbolizing elements of the teachings of Kalachakra Tantra. On holidays, special significance is attached to the reading of mantras. It is also worth noting that the thangkas (images) of Idam Kalachakra are considered the strongest helpers for those who need mental and physical strength- health.

Donchod Khural: Birthday, Enlightenment and Passage to Nirvana of Buddha

Visakha Puja, Donchod Khural, Vesak, Saga Dawa. This pan-Buddhist holiday is celebrated on the day of the full moon of the second month of the lunar calendar; it falls at the end of May - beginning of June. Gregorian calendar. The Indian name of this month in Sanskrit - Visakha, Pali Vesak - is also attached to this holiday. It is dedicated to the three most important events in the life of Buddha Shakyamuni: his Birth (Jayanti), Enlightenment (Bodhi) and Passage into Nirvana (Parinirvana). 80 years passed between the first and last events. Buddha became enlightened at the age of 35. Since most Buddhist schools believe that these events took place on the same day of the year, a single celebration has been established to commemorate them.

Donchod is considered the most important of all Buddhist holidays and lasts for a week. At this time, solemn prayers are held in all monasteries, processions and processions are organized. Temples are decorated with garlands of flowers and paper lanterns, which symbolize the enlightenment that came to the world with the teachings of Buddha. Oil lamps are placed on the territory of temples (around sacred trees and stupas). The monks read prayers all night and tell believers stories from the life of the Buddha and his disciples (darshans).

Lay people also meditate in the temple and listen to the instructions of the monks throughout the night, thereby emphasizing their loyalty to the Teachings of the Buddha (Dharma). During the holiday, the ban on agricultural work and other activities that could cause harm to any living beings is observed with special care. After the end of the festive prayer service, the laity arrange a rich meal for the members of the monastic community and present them with gifts, thereby demonstrating their loyalty to the Buddha’s instructions to honor the monastic community (Sangha) as one of the Three Jewels.

On the eve of the holiday, believers send greeting cards to their friends and relatives, which, as a rule, depict memorable events from the life of Buddha.

The rotation of Maitreya (Maidari Khural)

The holiday is dedicated to the coming to earth of Maitreya - the Buddha of the Coming World Period. This is the name in Buddhism for the period of time that will come after the end of the period of “rule of our world by Buddha Shakyamuni.”

According to the Mahayana teachings, Maitreya Buddha resides in the Tushita sky, preaches the Doctrine (Dharma) to the gods there and waits for the time when he can descend to earth. This time will come when the life expectancy of people on earth reaches 84,000 years, and the world will be ruled by Chakravartin - a just Buddhist ruler. According to the Mahayana sutras, Buddha Shakyamuni, before being reborn on Earth, was also incarnated in Tushita Heaven. Having decided to make his last rebirth in the human world and already descending from the Tushita heaven, Shakyamuni placed his crown on the head of Maitreya Buddha.

Maidari-Khural is one of the most special holidays, which attracts a huge number of people to the monasteries. On this day, after a festive prayer service, a sculptural image of Maitreya is taken out of the temple, placed under a canopy on a chariot, into which a sculptural image of a horse or elephant is harnessed. Surrounded by believers, the chariot slowly makes a detour around the territory of the monastery, moving in the direction of the sun.

One group of monks drives the chariot, others walk in front or behind it, reciting prayers. This procession moves throughout the day along the outer wall, stopping for a long time at each turn to read prayers and drink tea. This is where the name of the holiday comes from - “The Circulation of Maitreya”. The celebration ends with a festive meal and the presentation of gifts to members of the monastic community.

Unlike other Buddhas, Maitreya is usually depicted sitting on a throne with his feet down. Its characteristic attributes are golden color skins, a stupa, a vase with the drink of immortality (amrita) and the wheel of Dharma. The cult of Maitreya is especially popular in Central Asia, and it is there that many monasteries have giant statues of him. His name is often mentioned in commentaries in Buddhist literature.

Lhabab Duisen. Buddha's Descent from Tushita Heaven to Earth

According to legend, before his last earthly incarnation, Buddha Shakyamuni was in the Tushita sky (Tib. Ganden, lit. “Garden of Joy”). Tushita is the fourth heaven where all bodhisattvas reside before they become buddhas. In order to reincarnate in this sky, it is necessary to develop in oneself the Four Immeasurable States of the Awakened Mind - Holy Love, Compassion, Sympathy and Impartiality. This is the Heaven of caring beings, even if they still have sensual desires.

It is believed that Buddha Shakyamuni was reborn in this World as a Teacher named Shvetaketu and preached the Teaching (Dharma) to the celestials and his mother.

Living as a bodhisattva in the kingdom of happy celestial beings, Buddha Shakyamuni realized that he needed to make the last rebirth among people on earth in good famous image Prince Siddhartha Gautama. Descending from the heavens of Tushita into the world of people, Shakyamuni placed his crown on the head of the Future Buddha Maitreya, who is currently preaching the Teachings to the gods there and is waiting for the time when he can descend to earth.

Meanwhile, Buddha, having acquired earthly birth, after 29 years of a happy life in the palace, went in search of the truth, at the age of 35 he discovered it for himself, sitting under a bodhi tree, became enlightened, that is, a Buddha, and began to preach the Doctrine.

The decision of the Buddha to take his last earthly birth and open the “path of the Buddha” to everyone is the main idea of this holiday.

In some countries, Lhabab Duisen celebrations last almost whole month. Lamps are lit inside and around the temples and prayer services (khurals) are held, which conclude the solemn processions and processions.

In Theravada Buddhist countries, the Festival of Lights marks the end of monastic retreat during the rainy season (Vassa) and commemorates the descent of the Buddha from the Trayastrinsa heaven.

In all temples and monasteries, rites and ceremonies are held to commemorate this holiday, as well as the departure from the monastic community (Sangha) of those who joined it during the rainy season. On the night of the full moon, city squares, streets, houses, temples and stupas are illuminated by burning candles, oil lamps and electric bulbs. In some monasteries, to the sound of wind instruments, Buddha statues are removed from high pedestals and, accompanied by a procession of monks, are taken through the streets, symbolizing with this action the descent of Buddha to Earth.

The holiday ends with the ceremony of kathina (Sanskrit “clothes”) - the donation of clothes to members of the Sangha, which is held in all monasteries. In many areas, gifts are presented to members of the Sangha in rotation by displaying yellow flags in monasteries to indicate that they are hosting the reading of sacred texts that accompanies the kathina ceremony. Some lay people participate in several kathina ceremonies in order to gain as much merit as possible.

A characteristic element of this holiday is an offering to the spirits of the rivers (the Master of the water): lighted candles are placed on special trays, coins and food are placed, and then these trays are floated down the river. This offering is accompanied by a festive procession with fireworks, drums and gongs. Lama Tsongkhawa is revered in Tibet as the second Buddha, and his two main works - "Lamrim" (dedicated to the general path of Mahayana) and "Nagrim" (dedicated to the path of the Secret Mantra) - completely cover the spiritual practice of Buddhism. According to legend, Lama Tsonghawa himself, at the end of his earthly life, asked future students not to be sad that they did not meet him in person, but to read the two mentioned works, which would be equivalent to a personal meeting.

The Gelug school (“school of virtue” - Tib.), created by Bogdo Tsonghawa, became one of the most influential and popular schools in Tibet. The head of the school, who is also the abbot of its main monastery (Galdan), bears the title of gyalwa (“winner” - Tib.) and is considered the incarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. From the mid-17th century, the Gelug school established itself in Mongolia, Buryatia, Kalmykia, Tuva and China as the court Buddhist school of the imperial court.

On the day of remembrance of Tsonghawa, it is customary to eat a special porridge, which is cooked from pieces of dough. As darkness falls, thousands of oil lamps (“zula,” hence the name of the holiday) are lit in and around temples and monasteries. In memory of the great Teacher, the lamps burn until dawn, and if you imagine Buddhist monasteries and temples on this night from above, they will seem like a wonderful, bright and warm appeal to the celestials of all times.

During the celebration of Zula Khural, it is favorable to perform all kinds of beneficial deeds: take vows on yourself (including a vow of silence as a sign of veneration of the Buddha), make offerings to the Three Jewels, fast, make offerings to temples and monasteries.

Einstein called Buddhist teachings “the most scientific religion,” which is especially clearly manifested in the tradition of its holidays. Denying the existence of God as supreme Creator, Buddhists deeply respect the laws of nature and spiritual mentors. Following this principle, the main holidays of Buddhism are dedicated to Siddhartha Gautama Buddha.

Gautama, known as Prince Shakyamuni, lived in the 6th century BC. e. in northern India. Siddhartha was born into a royal family. At the age of 29, he left the luxurious palace forever, going in search of the truth. Having become an ascetic, he wandered for a long time to discover the secret of getting rid of human suffering - illness, old age and death.

At the age of 35, during a long meditation under the sacred Bodhi tree, he achieved enlightenment and became known as Buddha, which translates from Sanskrit as ‘awakened one’. Buddha Gautama devoted the rest of his life to peacefully preaching his teachings.

Customs of Buddhist Celebrations

The philosophy of celebration differs in Buddhism from other religions in its essence. This is not a time of sumptuous meals and rest from righteous labors, but, first of all, intense spiritual work.

True Buddhists believe that karmic retribution increases thousands of times on significant days. The power of both good and negative thoughts increases at the same rate. Therefore this best moment for meditation and philosophical reflection. It is believed that religious unity during ceremonies helps achieve enlightenment.

Another aspect characteristic of Buddhist holidays is consonant with Christian tradition. We are talking about ritual cleanliness - moral and physical. On days of religious celebrations, Buddhists carefully clean their homes and monasteries. Such actions are not ordinary spring-cleaning, but a special sacred rite. The cleansing process is accompanied by the singing of mantras and the extraction of musical sounds, which are designed to harmonize the surrounding space.

Other traditions include:

visiting temples;
participation in ritual ceremonies;
donations of gifts to monasteries;
offerings to monks and teachers;
doing good deeds.

Time to celebrate

Religious holidays in Buddhism are celebrated according to the lunar calendar. Their dates are calculated using special tables by astrologer lamas and change annually. Since ancient times, Buddhists believed that during full moon Energy intensifies, so many holidays fall on the full moon.

List of Buddhist holidays

Vesak - Birthday, Enlightenment and Passage into Nirvana of Buddha;
Buddhist New Year;
Monlam - memory of 15 miracles performed by Buddha;
Maidari-khural;
Mystery TsAM;
Turning the wheel of learning;
Dalai Lama's birthday.

There are no strict regulations regarding which holidays in Buddhism must be celebrated strictly. Ritual preferences depend on the school (Mahayana, Theravada, Tantra) and on historical traditions individual countries.

The above list is far from complete. In particular, in Tibetan Buddhism, Dzul, unknown to other movements, is celebrated everywhere - the Day of Remembrance of the philosopher Tsonghawa.

Asola Perahara, the celebration of the Tooth Relic of Buddha is celebrated only by Theravada adherents in the only temple on the island of Sri Lanka where this amazing relic is kept. The lavish celebrations last two weeks and include processions with festively decorated elephants. On one of them, a casket with a sacred Tooth is carried around the city.

Main holidays of Buddhism

About the most significant dates in the Buddhist world it is worth telling in more detail. To the question “What is the most important holiday in Buddhism?” The answer can be unequivocal - Vesak. It symbolizes three sacred events at once: the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. According to legend, Gautama was born, gained the gift of enlightenment and went to Nirvana on the second full moon of the year. It usually falls on the last days of May.

Vesak celebrations last for a whole week. In monastic communities, special prayer services are served and magnificent ceremonies are held. Homes and temples are lovingly decorated with lanterns, fresh flowers and burning lamps, which symbolize the light of the Buddha's great compassion. People make pilgrimages, come to monasteries to meditate and listen to the stories of the monks. Agricultural work is prohibited these days as a sign of mercy to all earthly creatures, including livestock.

Saagalgan

New Year in the Buddhist tradition is celebrated on the first new moon of spring. Due to differences in chronology different schools The New Year in countries such as Mongolia, Tibet, Kalmykia is celebrated at different times.

On the eve of Saagalgan, respected astrologer lamas announce predictions for the next year. In monasteries, prayers are performed to revered deities. The most beloved goddess is Sri Devi. She patronizes the ancient Tibetan capital - Lhassa.

There is a belief here that Sri Devi inspects her possessions on New Year’s Eve to make sure that the residents are well prepared for her arrival. To earn the mercy of the goddess and secure her favor for the year ahead, it is recommended to stay up all night: pray in the temple or recite mantras at the home altar.

Traditionally, a festive feast should include dishes made from white foods. This period of the year is associated with the mass appearance of offspring in livestock. There is a lot of milk, hence the name Sagaalgan, which translates as ‘white month’.

Monlam

The Monlam prayer begins at the first dawn of the New Year and is recited for 15 days in a row. The holiday is dedicated to the memory of the fifteen miracles performed by Buddha. The story goes that several monks left their former ascetic teachers to join the Buddha's followers. The monks who hated him began to publicly slander the Teacher, refuting his holiness.

The Buddha was indifferent to all ridicule, but his disciples begged him to demonstrate visible evidence of his power. In the Indian village of Shraswati, Buddha performed miraculous deeds for 15 days in a row, after which his fame spread throughout the world.

After the end of the solemn prayers, the monks take exams for higher rank. On the last day of the holiday, which always falls on a full moon, 15 ghee figures are made, depicting the miracles of Buddha. They are put on display in datsans.

Maidari-khural

This holiday is dedicated to the incarnation of Maitreya Buddha at the end of time. His reign is associated with a blessed era of prosperity and bliss, when people on earth will live 84 thousand years.

Many pilgrims flock to the monasteries at Maidari Khural. A sculpture of Maitreya Buddha is brought out of the temples and placed on a richly decorated chariot. Accompanied by numerous believers, the procession slowly circles the walls of the monastery in the direction of the sun. This event is reflected in the name of the festival - the Circulation of Maitreya.

The ceremony is often interrupted by the reading of sutras and ritual tea drinking, so it continues throughout the day. At the end, a table is set with plentiful treats, and gifts are brought to the monastic community.

Mystery TsAM

Some researchers believe that the roots of the TsAM ritual action should be sought in ancient shamanic rituals. It was introduced into the temple practice of northern Buddhism by the great teacher Padmasambhava (8th century). The mystery is especially widespread in Mongolian, Buryat, and Tibetan monasteries.

The ritual is a pantomime performed by lamas wearing fearsome masks of dokshits (guardians). The characters act out a ritual performance, dancing in a circle and gesturing with their hands. The mystery performed annually had several objectives:

to frighten and distance evil spirits from followers of Buddhism;
demonstrate the triumph of true doctrine;
show the presence of the deity in visible world;
to prepare a person for the visions in the afterlife journey that accompany him on the path to rebirth.

The mission of performing Tsam is entrusted to monks who have received special initiation. For several days before the start of the mystery, they fast and plunge into deep meditation.

Turning the Wheel of the Teaching

The most important holiday in Buddhism, celebrated on the fourth day of the sixth lunar month. Marks the day of the first sermon of Buddha Shakyamuni in the Indian province of Sarnath. The first to hear the teaching from the mouth of the Buddha were five ascetics, who later became his devoted disciples.

The main event of the celebration is walking around the temple with a sculpture of Maitreya Buddha, which is accompanied by reading special sutras and playing ritual instruments. musical instruments. The spiritual purpose of the ceremony is to bring closer the reign of Buddha Maitreya.

Dalai Lama's Birthday

A list of Buddhist holidays would be incomplete without mentioning memorable date, the only one calculated according to the solar calendar. Every year on July 6, northern Buddhists celebrate the birthday of their exiled spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama. The fate of this amazing person- a living illustration of Buddhist doctrine. He is considered the last physical incarnation of the Buddha of Compassion.

His predecessor left instructions on where to look for his rebirth. It was there that a search group of monks went after the death of the 13th Dalai Lama. Born into a poor peasant family, a 2-year-old boy, Tenzin Gyatso, was found special signs, which determine the new reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

This was followed by a series of special tests, during which the boy had to find a thing that belonged to him in a past life. Having successfully passed the test, on February 22, 1940, he was enthroned as the Dalai Lama.

This is just a small part of the great collection of holidays and rituals that exist in Buddhism. Less significant celebrations are dedicated to deities, saints and patrons revered by individual schools, monasteries and communities.

The main Buddhist holidays are:

Sagaalgan- New Year

Duinhor-khural– Klachakra holiday

Donchod-khural- Birthday, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni

Maidari-khural- Maitreya's rotation

Lhabab duisen- Buddha's descent from the Tushita sky

Zula Khural- Nirvana Day of Buddha Tsongkhapa.

The birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama is also celebrated, but it is not a canonical holiday. At the same time, this holiday is fixed - the Dalai Lama was born on July 6th.

In the Buddhist lunar calendar there are also days for special prayers - Otosho, Lamchig Ningbo and Mandal Shiva days, which are held every eighth, fifteenth and thirtieth lunar day of the month, respectively. There are also days for special veneration of certain deities, for example, Balzhinim - the master of splendor and happiness, or Lusa - the master of water. For each day of the calendar, astrologers have calculated the combination and consequences of the day - days are marked for cutting hair, taking medicine, having a safe journey or successfully completing litigation. We should also not forget that almost all peoples who profess Buddhism elevate such events as the transition from one age group to another, the construction of a new house, weddings, funerals and others to the rank of holidays and special rituals.

Sagaalgan

In the Buddhist tradition, the celebration of the New Year occurs in different years between the end of January and mid-March, on the first spring new moon according to the lunar calendar.

Traditionally, on New Year's Eve, the most respected and revered lamas make astrological forecasts for the residents of the country for the next year.

The date of the New Year according to the lunar calendar is calculated annually using astrological tables

Solemn services - khurals - are held in the temple throughout the day and night. The prayer service ends at 6 am. The rector wishes everyone a Happy New Year.

At home, a festive table is set, on which white food must be present (milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, butter).

On the first day of the year you cannot go to visit, it must be spent with your family. Visiting and visiting relatives will begin from the second day, and can continue until the end of the month. The entire month is considered a holiday. The White Month is the most favorable time for cleansing rituals.

On New Year's Day, the ritual of launching the “horses of the wind of luck” is performed. The wind horse of luck is a symbol showing the state of a person's well-being. The image of the “horse of the wind of luck,” consecrated in the temple, is tied to a tree or placed on the roof of the house in such a way that it flutters in the wind. It is believed that the “fortune wind horse” serves as a powerful protection against misfortune and illness, attracting attention and calling on the help of deities. His image also symbolizes wishes for health, happiness and prosperity in the new year to all living beings.

Kalachakra Festival (Duinhor-khural)

The main goal of the teachings of Kalachakra Tantra, as well as any other Buddhist teaching, is to achieve the state of Enlightenment (Buddhahood), internal realization.

The difference between Kalachakra Tantra is that, following its complex set of psychophysical exercises, one can achieve Enlightenment not over a long period of many rebirths, but in one life. Particular importance in this teaching is given to the practice of mantra. In the teachings of Kalachakra Tantra, the concept of Adibuddha was developed - the primary source of existence, personified in the image of the 24-armed Kalachakra and his prajna (Sanskrit prajna - transcendental wisdom and divine intuition), personifying the fusion of Time and Emptiness.

Duinkhor Khural is celebrated for three days, from the 14th to the 16th day of the third month of the lunar calendar (April-May), with the main celebration occurring on the 15th lunar day.

Kalachakra - deity of meditation

On the days of the holiday, solemn prayer services (khurals) are held in monasteries with the reading of the treatise Kalachakra-laghu-tantra-raja. A characteristic element of these prayers is that during their performance the monks wear special headdresses and use sacred objects symbolizing elements of the teachings of Kalachakra Tantra. On holidays, special significance is attached to the reading of mantras. It is also worth noting that tanks (images) of the idam Kalachakra are considered the strongest helpers for those who need mental and physical strength - health.

Donchod Khural: Birthday, Enlightenment and Passage to Nirvana of Buddha

Visakha Puja, Donchod Khural, Vesak, Saga Dawa. This pan-Buddhist holiday is celebrated on the day of the full moon of the second month of the lunar calendar; it falls at the end of May - beginning of June of the Gregorian calendar. The Indian name of this month in Sanskrit - Visakha, Pali Vesak - is also attached to this holiday. It is dedicated to the three most important events in the life of Buddha Shakyamuni: his Birth (Jayanti), Enlightenment (Bodhi) and Passage into Nirvana (Parinirvana). 80 years passed between the first and last events. Buddha became enlightened at the age of 35. Since most Buddhist schools believe that these events took place on the same day of the year, a single celebration has been established to commemorate them.

On the eve of the holiday, believers send greeting cards to their friends and relatives, which, as a rule, depict memorable events from the life of Buddha.

The rotation of Maitreya (Maidari Khural)

Maidari Khural is one of the most solemn holidays, for which a huge number of people come to the monasteries. On this day, after a festive prayer service, a sculptural image of Maitreya is taken out of the temple, placed under a canopy on a chariot, into which a sculptural image of a horse or elephant is harnessed. Surrounded by believers, the chariot slowly makes a detour around the territory of the monastery, moving in the direction of the sun.

Unlike other Buddhas, Maitreya is usually depicted sitting on a throne with his feet down. His characteristic attributes are golden skin color, a stupa, a vase with the drink of immortality (amrita) and a wheel of Dharma. The cult of Maitreya is especially popular in Central Asia, and it is there that many monasteries have giant statues of him. His name is often mentioned in commentaries in Buddhist literature.

Lhabab Duisen. Buddha's Descent from Tushita Heaven to Earth

It is believed that Buddha Shakyamuni was reborn in this World as a Teacher named Shvetaketu and preached the Teaching (Dharma) to the celestials and his mother.

While living as a bodhisattva in the realm of happy celestial beings, Shakyamuni Buddha realized that he needed to make his last rebirth among people on earth in the well-known image of Prince Siddhartha Gautama. Descending from the heavens of Tushita into the world of people, Shakyamuni placed his crown on the head of the Future Buddha Maitreya, who is currently preaching the Teachings to the gods there and is waiting for the time when he can descend to earth.

The decision of the Buddha to take his last earthly birth and open the “path of the Buddha” to everyone is the main idea of this holiday.

In some countries, Lhabab Duisen celebrations last almost a whole month. Lamps are lit inside and around the temples and prayer services (khurals) are held, which conclude the solemn processions and processions.

In Theravada Buddhist countries, the Festival of Lights marks the end of monastic retreat during the rainy season (Vassa) and commemorates the descent of the Buddha from the Trayastrinsa heaven.

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