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On Sunday 19th May, as usual the centre also celebrates the day annually in a peaceful environment with chanting, cultivation of mental development and also sharing moment reflecting and appreciating the Buddha for his great kindness and compassion to show the path that leads to the freedom. Along with Phra Ajahn Boonma, Ajahn Sujan and Ajahn mahapeera there were about 50 members joined the day.

Vesakha Puja day is one of the important days in Buddhist calendar celebrating buddha’s birth, his enlightenment and entering to mahaparinibbana. Buddhists from all over the world celebrate the day with different activities to promote and share Buddhist principles of inner peace and social harmony. The United Nations has also recognised the day as the day to celebrate human freedom, peace and liberation.

YouTube link: 

https://youtu.be/hyfme8YDkI0

The day was began with morning chanting at 10am and followed with guided meditation. Members offered food as monks walked collecting alms. We were blessed with a rainless weather so had a chance to offer flower, incense and candle to the Buddha by circumambulating the Buddha for three times outside the building.

In the afternoon, there was a talk on the significance of Vesak Puja day and reflection. Ajahn Sujan led inviting everyone to offer great respect to the Buddha and honouring the Buddha for his great compassion to us all. On the day of his birth in 80 years BBE (Before Buddhist Era), the Buddha to be proclaimed that ‘He was the foremost of all human and the chief of the world. The birth was the last.’ The statement opens a hope for us that there is a path that will lead us to end the suffering, can end this cycle of birth and death. His words also encouraged us to work diligently toward cultivation of wholesome and beneficial acts. Persistent patient practice brings a fruit at the end. The Buddha had been cultivating his mind towards the enlightenment for long time and finally it came to an end with the enlightenment at the age of 35 and known as the ‘enlightened one’ – the Buddha, means the knower, fully awakened and blessed one.

The Buddha’s enlightenment after 6 years of great practice and investigation was the declaration that all beings have a Buddha nature which is deep hidden under the deep ocean of darkness. The Dhamma- teaching of the Buddha if carefully studied, investigated and applied it into life skill-fully darkness of ignorance will be dispelled. It is therefore as one who is trying to walk on the path to the liberation, the Buddha always encouraged us to live a live morally and cultivate mind toward the great benefit at the beginning, during the process and at the end, the liberation. The Buddha instructed us to cultivate mindfulness living for the ultimate gain.

The day end with the practice of loving kindness meditation and blessings to all as well as transferring merits to all departed relatives.

Following week, Ajahn Sujan travelled to London and participated the Vesak celebration at different places. On Saturday 25, he attended the ‘Sil Program’ for the children on the occasion of Vesak Puja at the London Mindfulness Meditation Centre. He gave a talk on ‘mindfulness of five precepts in daily life’. On Sunday 26, he attended the nun’s ordination ceremony at the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist centre and in the after gave a talk on Sila at the Vesak puja event organised by Lumbini Buddha dharma society of London, in which Ajahn is also an advisor.

On the auspicious occasion of the Vesak day may you all be happy and healthy.

On Saturday the 11th May 2019, the second year Interfaith mindfulness day at the Varapunya Meditation Centre went successfully. There were about 30 people from different faiths Brahmakumaris, Buddhists, Church of Scotland, Hindu, Unitarian church, Jews, Muslim, Pagan, Quaker and on their interested one. we were delighted to have meditation and reflection on the theme of Trees.

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You are you invited to participate the second year community tree planting at the Varapunya meditation centre On Sunday 31 March at 1 pm. We are planning to plant possibly over a hundred plants in our field.

ขอเชิญร่วมงานการปลูกต้นไม้ครั้งที่สองวันอาทิตย์ที่ ๓๑ มีนาคมนี้ ณทวัดวรปุญญะ สำนักวิปัสสนากรรมฐาน เมืองอเบอร์ดีน