Buddhists to celebrate Asalha
Puja Day
Massarah Mikati Deseret News July 1 2015
Buddhists around the world will be spending Thursday celebrating
what is considered one of the most important Buddhist holidays, and
the establishment of the religion: Asalha Puja Day.
The holiday falls on the full moon day of the eighth month of the
lunar calendar, according to
World Religion News.
Marking the day that the Buddha first began teaching, Buddhists
spend the holiday reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha and
expressing gratitude for his teachings. They often celebrate with
readings from Buddhist scriptures, according to Education
Scotland.
World Religion News also reported that some modern Buddhist monks
recite the Eight
Precepts of Buddhism,
give sermons and lead meditations with candle
processions.
Two lunar months preceding his first teaching, the Buddha gained
enlightenment but was not eager to teach, according to the
Chiang
Mai University
website. However, under the insistence of friends, he traveled to
Beneras, India, and delivered his first sermon, which is commonly
referred to as "setting into motion the wheel of the
Dharma."
This sermon revealed the four noble truths that continue to be the
central doctrine of Buddhism today: life means suffering (dukkha),
which is caused by attachment (tanha), ending suffering is possible
(nirvana), and nirvana can be attained by The Eight-Fold
Path.