Dear All Members & Friends,

Vesak Day - one of the most Holy days in Buddhism. It celebrates the birth, death, and enlightenment of the Buddha. It is believed that doing meritorious activities in this day increases in magnitude, and the following are general, beneficial practices that someone could do.

SDC is organizing 8 Mahayana Precepts on Vesak Day and Venerable Geshe Jampa Lobsang will be granting us the 8 Mahayana Precepts in this symbolic occasion.

We would like to extend our invitation to you to join us in this distinguished celebration.

Note :- Those who wish to receive the 8 Mahayana precepts from Geshe-la on 13th May 2014. Please be in the centre by 5.30 am. Kindly contact angie at HP-9833-3303 to register. Thank you.

Vesak Day Celebration

Date : 13th May 2014

Venue : Sakyamuni Dharma Centre

92-A, Lorong 27 Geylang Singapore 388196

8 Mahayana precepts Bathing of Buddha Light / Flower offering to Buddha Namgyalma puja with 1000 offering Animal Liberation Guru Puja

Free Vegetarian Lunch will be provided from 12 noon onwards on Vesak Day

All are welcome!

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Breif Introduction On The Eight Mahayana Precepts Ceremony

The eight mahayana precepts are taken for twenty-four hours. It is especially good to take them on full and new moon days and on other Buddhist festival days. Observing precepts for even such a short time has tremendous benefits: one accumulates a great amount of positive potential (merit) in a short time. One will receive upper rebirths and eventually will attain enlightenment. One is protected from harm, and the place where one lives becomes peaceful and prosperous. One's mind is peaceful and calm; one gains control over one's bad habits; there are fewer distractions when meditating. One gets along better with others. One will meet the Buddha's teachings in the future and can be born as a disciple of Maitreya Buddha.

The eight precepts are:

1. Avoid killing, directly or indirectly.2. Avoid stealing and taking things without the permission of

their owner.3. Avoid sexual contact.4. Avoid lying and deceiving others.5. Avoid intoxicants: alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs.

(You may take prescription drugs.)6. Avoid sitting on a high, expensive bed or seat with pride. Also

avoid sitting on animal skins.7. Avoid wearing jewelry, perfume, and make-up. Avoid singing,

dancing or playing music with attachment.8. Avoid eating after lunch

(**Those people with medical problems can ask for exception after discussion with the vajra master) 

The Specific benefits of protecting the eight branches of the Restoring and Purifying Ordination 

1. The benefits of abandoning the taking of life: in this life and in all future lives one's life will be long, magnificent and free from illness. 

2. The benefits of abandoning taking that which is not given: in this life and in all future lives one will have perfect enjoyments (wealth) and others will not harm them. 

3. The benefits of abandoning lies: in this life and in all future lives one will not be cheated and others will take heed of what one says. 

4. The benefits of abandoning the sexual act: in this life and in all future lives one will have a good body with a beautiful complexion and complete sense organs. 

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5. The benefits of abandoning intoxicants: (including alcohol, cigarettes and other mind altering drugs all substances that loosen voluntry reserve): in this life and in all future lives one will have stable mindfulness and awareness, clear senses, and perfect wisdom. 

6. The benefits of abandoning large and high beds and thrones: in this life and in all future lives one will receive praise and respect from others, and will have proper bedding (soft, warm, whatever is needed) and vehicles and animals for traveling. 

7. The benefits of abandoning food at improper times: in this life and in all future lives one will have abundant and perfect crops and will obtain food and drink without effort. 

8. The benefits of abandoning perfume, ornaments, and so forth: in this life and in all future lives one's body will have a pleasant smell, colour.

Significance of Bathing the Buddha on Vesak Day

In order to purify our body, speech & mind, we should bathe the Buddha with a pure mind by generating thoughts hoping that our root cause of delusions - attachment, hatred & ignorance can be reduced, and purified our negative karma.

WHAT IS VESAK DAY?

Vesak (In Pali) or Saga Dawa (In Tibetan) is one of the most significant dharma events observed worldwide by the entire Buddhist community. Three of the most important events in Buddha’s life took place on the full moon day of the fifth month of the year - The Birth of Lord Buddha, His Enlightenment and finally His attainment of Nirvana.

Therefore this month is regarded as the holiest time of the year. It is also known as bum gyur dawa in Tibetan, meaning “the month which multiplies by 100,000.” Whatever wholesome or

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unwholesome action performed during this month has a 100,000 times stronger effect than at other times.

Wholesome actions such as making prostrations, circumambulations, and offerings to the Buddha’s, giving alms to the poor, fasting and reciting prayers, abandoning negative actions, feeding animals and saving their lives, observing vegetarian diet etc.

Making 1000 sets Offerings to Buddha on Vesak Day

The making 1000 sets offerings to Buddha Sakyamuni during the auspicious period of VESAK is particularly meritorious, as VESAK marks His Birth, Enlightenment and Maha Parinirvana.The number 1000 is also significant, as it symbolizes the making of offerings to 1000 Buddhas. The offering of just one flower to Buddha with a sincere heart is immeasurable. The collective merits that can be accumulated by making 1000 sets of offering during VESAK day are multiplied by 100,000 times. We sincerely encourage all to join in this meritorious act.

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Buddha Sakyamuni Mantra Recitation form(Accumulation of merit during Vesak month)

SDC is distributing a mantra recitation counting form for all to record. Each small

circle represents 108 times recitation of Buddha mantra - OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI YE SOHA

Note: If you find difficulties in chanting Buddha’s mantra, you can chant other mantras such as: - Kwan Yin mantra, Tara mantra etc….

* The forms to be returned to the centre before or on 13th May 2014 (Vesak Day)

for dedication during Vesak Day prayer.

Puja Explanation

Namgyalma Puja with 1000 Offering Namgyalma (Usnisha Vijaya) is the long life Buddha with six arms and three faces

sitting on vajra position. It is said in the sutra that if one recites or practices

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Namgyalma Buddha, one will receive a long and healthy life and being able to clear

all the fear and obstacles that shortens our life span.

So one would accumulate immense merits and clear all the obstacles if one

participates in the 1000 Namgyalma Offering. It is one’s life time opportunity to

participate in making 1000 offerings of water, flower, incense, light, scent, food,

sound which represents the eight offerings of Argam, Padyam, Pupe, Dupe, Aloke,

Gende, Nevede, Shapta to Buddhas, bodhisattvas, protectors, daka and dakinis.

Offerings will be performed with prayers and 1000 mantra recitation of Namgyalma.

It is advised to remain strict vegetarian when you participate in the long life

Namgyalma puja.

Mantra: Om Bhrum Soha Om Amrita Ayurdade SohProtectors, we are able to clear all these debts incurred. Hence, participating in this

puja will purify the negative karma that we have accumulated over the reincarnations.

400 offerings Puja This grand offering puja is considered to be one of the most effective pujas in Tibetan

Buddhism. It includes: 100 light offerings, 100 stupas, 100 ritual cakes and 100 other

offerings, as well as a ‘human effigy’ prepared out of torma/dough.

These pujas conducted through chanting and offerings will be able to eradicate the

four demons, namely – demon of delusions, demon of desires, demon of death and

demon of the five contaminated aggregates, thus purifying our bad karma and

energies. The ‘human effigy’ absorbs and takes upon obstacles on our behalf and

averting all negativities that we may face.

Leng Chag Torma Puja (To repay debts of previous lives)

Since beginningless time, we have been trapped within this uncontrolled cyclic

existence, and have undergone countless times of reincarnations. Although we are

unable to recall our past lives, we can be certain that we are unable to attain

liberation due to our acts of greed and hatred committed out of ignorance. In previous

lifetimes, we would have been indebted to many others, ie. we could have owed

them a sum of money, or even a mere sack of rice. The debts accumulated over the

lifetimes are countless.

Through the performance of this Leng Chag Torma Puja - by offering torma (ritual

cake offerings) to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Protectors, we are able to clear all

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these debts incurred. Hence, participating in this puja will purify the negative karma

that we have accumulated over the reincarnations.

Ritual Offering to the 16 Arhats Puja

Through performance of this ritual offering puja, we offer obeisance to the Sixteen

Arahats whom Buddha Shakyamuni entrusted His doctrines to, hence, accumulating

great merit, as well as luck for fortune. At the same time, we also request for all

Lamas and Masters who holds the lineage to Buddha’s teachings to live long, so that

the pure holy Dharma can prevail throughout aeons in the world.

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