Major Buddhist holidays. Holidays in Buddhism Plowing Day Buddhism

BUDDHIST HOLIDAYS Fifteen miracles of the Buddha Soon after the Buddha began to preach his teachings, he had many disciples. But several monks hated him for his unlimited power and began to mock his teachings and began to demonstrate to the people

5.2. Buddhist holidays and ceremonies

5.2. Buddhist holidays and ceremonies There are four main traditions of Buddhist holidays and ceremonies: Tibetan, Japanese-Chinese, Theravada and Western Buddhist communities. Buddhist holidays differ in different countries and regions. Buddhist

BUDDHIST PARABLES

BUDDHIST PARABLES Buddha Blessed is the solitude of one who has joyfully known and seen the truth; Blessed is the one who is unshakable and knows how to curb himself every hour; Blessed is the one who puts an end to all passions, all desires; Victory over the obstinate self is the greatest bliss. Mahavagga Gautama

BUDDHIST PARABLES

BUDDHIST PARABLES Buddha Blessed is the solitude of the one who joyfully knows and sees the truth; Blessed is the unshakable one who knows how to curb himself every hour; Blessed is the one who puts an end to all passions, all desires; Victory over the obstinate self is the greatest bliss. MahavaggaGautama

Buddhist vows

Buddhist Vows In the section on Buddhist canonical literature, it has already been said that Pratimoksha constitutes the semantic center of the Vinaya Pitaka, being a set of rules that determined the behavior of members of the sangha. The essence of Buddhist discipline was not to prescribe

Buddha's Teachings arose in the middle of the 1st millennium BC in India. Nevertheless, for many centuries Buddhism has organically manifested itself on the territory of Russia. Significantly influenced the culture and customs of Central Asia and Siberia, assimilating elements of Brahmanism, Taoism, etc. In the Buryat-Mongol culture, it is closely associated with shamanism, the basic principles of which, such as the desire for harmony with oneself and the surrounding world (nature), did not interfere at all, and, even more, they painted ancient customs and culture with new bright colors. The life of Buddha became known in Ancient Rus' from the text “The Tale of Varlaam and Joasaph.” Prince Joasaph, whose prototype was Buddha, became a Christian saint (his memory is celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church on November 19). In the XIX - early XX centuries. Russia has become one of the largest centers for the study of Buddhism. At that time, sources were published and archaeological excavations of Buddhist monuments were carried out in Central and Central Asia. On the territory of the Russian Federation, Buddhism is widespread in Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia (in the latter it is the state religion). One of the classical schools of Buddhism is most widely represented - the Tibetan “school of virtue” (Geluk, Yellow Caps). The founder of Buddhism is a real historical figure. Siddhartha Gautama was born and lived in Northern India. Researchers believe that the years of his life are 566-473. BC. Other Name- Shakyamuni - is directly related to the place of birth and family relationships of the future Buddha. He was born in the Shakya country, a small provincial state dominated by the Shakya clan. Siddhartha's father was a rajan - a member of the ruling assembly, consisting of representatives of the military aristocracy. It is worth noting that the later Buddhist tradition considers him a rajah (king), and Siddhartha a prince, but in the country of the Shakyas, government was built on a republican type.

The life path of the prosperous Siddhartha Gautama, who grew up in bliss, changed after he secretly left the palace, where he was looked after and protected from “extra information,” and saw the torment of the sick, the ugliness of old age and the appearance of a motionless corpse. He realized that nothing is permanent, and happiness cannot be eternal. Siddhartha decided to look for a way to get rid of suffering. After various experiments and searches for truth that did not bring the desired result, he plunged into a state of deep concentration while sitting under a sacred tree. On the forty-ninth day, Siddhartha's consciousness became completely enlightened, and he achieved Buddhahood. He realized that in no sphere of the cosmos it is possible to achieve stability - eternal bliss, because there is nothing eternal in the nature of living beings, and faith in the reality of the “I” - the eternal soul, which acquires new births over time, is baseless and meaningless. He also discovered the highest absolute knowledge that eliminates the causes of suffering, and Shakyamuni Buddha decided to convey this truth to living beings. It is worth noting that the very concept of “Buddha” means “enlightened” and, accordingly, is not the name of a specific deity. The word "Buddha" itself can be used in the plural and can also be written with a small letter. There is also the concept of “siddhi” - the extraordinary abilities of Buddhist monks and lamas. This concept is the memory of the first Buddha - Siddhartha.

At the center of Buddhism as a philosophical system is the doctrine of " four noble truths ": there is suffering, its cause, the state of liberation and the path to it. In the course of the development of Buddhism, the cult of Buddha and bodhisattvas (“enlightened ones”, mentors), rituals that accompany the knowledge of the Dharma (Teachings) gradually developed in it, and Sanghas (monastic communities) appeared. One of the most important prayers - well wishes, which are a kind of expression of the desire to “take Refuge”, sounds like this: “Namo Buddha, Namo Dharma, Namo Sangha” - “I take Refuge in the Buddha, I take Refuge in the Teaching, I take Refuge in the Community.” . Today in Russia, in accordance with the law on freedom of conscience and religion, there is the so-called Traditional Sangha of Russia. The head of this organization is Pandido Khambo Lama Damba Ayushev - he is a member of the confessional religious council under the President of the Russian Federation. But, given the confusion brought by the age of atheism into the administrative structure of Buddhist monasteries and communities, many Buddhists do not recognize the existing Sangha as truly traditional. The laws of the Russian Federation allow the official registration of any traditional Buddhist communities, and therefore today there are a sufficient number of sanghas, many of which are truly true to the historical traditions and culture of Buddhism. Buddhist philosophy reveals the principles of existence (the cause-and-effect relationship that exists regardless of our knowledge of it), and all its efforts are aimed at ensuring that man lives in this world consciously, in harmony with nature, the cosmos, individuals and humanity as a whole . For every deed done - both good and bad, people are fully responsible; every factual moment that seems to be reality is a kind of shadow of past achievements or consequences awaiting in the future. Today's Buddhist scholars often say that the era of Buddhism as a religion, and of all religions in general, is in the past - the future belongs to scientists and their achievements. But one way or another, a correct view of yourself and your actions, harmony with yourself and the world around you - a harmless existence - these are the goals of every Buddhist. The festive holiday is also aimed at achieving the same goals. culture Buddhism.

To a person with a “Western” mentality, images of protectors and deities in frightening forms may seem strange. At the same time, it is worth understanding that, according to Eastern logic, the more terrible the face of the defender, the more likely it is that the defender is able to defeat evil or sin. As for the thangkas, which depict Buddhas and bodhisattvas, there is extremely rarely a sad facial expression - most often the faces are smiling and calm. To understand the meaning of Buddhist holidays You should also move away from the usual attitude - “today is a holiday, and therefore we need to rejoice and relax.” During holidays, strict restrictions are placed on people's behavior. A person should monitor himself even more carefully, since it is believed that on these days the power of all actions, physical and mental, increases 1000 times. The consequences of committed negative actions increase 1000 times, but the merits of performing good deeds also increase by the same number of times. During major Buddhist holidays, you can come closest to the essence of the teaching, to Nature and the Absolute. The celebration of each date is, first of all, strictly practical. character and is aimed at creating a clean space in the temple, in the homes of Buddhists, in their souls and bodies. This is achieved by performing rituals, reciting mantras, extracting sounds from various musical instruments, using symbolic colors and religious objects. All ritual practice has the power and property of a quantum field influence on the people participating in the holiday, cleansing and restoring their subtle structure. On such days, it is customary to visit the temple and make offerings to the Buddhas, the Teacher and the Community. However, you can take part in the celebration while at home. To do this, you need to have knowledge about the inner meaning of the holiday, mentally tune in accordingly and thus join the unified field of the holiday, which embraces everyone interested in it. The results of such interaction will be even higher than a meaningless and inactive presence at the ceremony. The Buddhist ritual tradition uses a lunar calendar. Due to the fact that the lunar calendar is almost a month shorter than the solar calendar, the dates of holidays, as a rule, shift within one and a half to two months, and are calculated in advance using astrological tables. In some Buddhist countries there are discrepancies in the payment systems. Additionally, in the Buddhist tradition, the first month of the year is the first month of spring. Most holidays fall on the full moon (15th day of the lunar month).

The main holidays of Buddhists are:

• Sagaalgan - New Year
• Duinhor-khural - Kalachakra holiday
• Donchod Khural - Birthday, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni
• Maidari Khural - Maitreya's rotation
• Lhabab duisen - Buddha's descent from heaven Tushita
• Zula Khural - Nirvana Day of Buddha Tsongkhapa.

Also noted Birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, 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 professing 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.

Holiday dates for 2015.

THE CIRCULATION OF MAITREYA In the middle of the second summer moon, the temple festival of the Circulation of Maitreya is held. Maitreya - 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.” On the day of this holiday, a sculptural image of Maitreya is taken out of the temple, placed under a canopy on a chariot, to which again a sculptural image of a green horse is harnessed. Surrounded by crowds of believers, the chariot slowly makes a circuit around the monastery grounds, moving in the direction of the sun. Crowds of devotees on both sides of the road move along with the procession, periodically kneeling before the statue of Maitreya. One group of monks drives the chariot, others walk in front or behind it, reciting prayers. The service lasts all day.

MYSTERY TsAM (CHAM) The Mystery of Tsam (Cham) was performed annually in Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, Buryatia, and Tuva. It was introduced into the practice of temple rituals of Tibetan schools of Buddhism by the great magician and teacher Padmasambhava (8th century). Even within the same country, this mystery could be performed on different calendar dates - in some in winter, in others in summer, and be of different genres. In some cases it was a dance pantomime, in others it was a play with dialogues, involving 4-5 characters; finally, it could be a grandiose theatrical performance with 108 participants (108 is a sacred number in Buddhism), who are in costumes and masks that are quite heavy by weight (one mask could weigh up to 30 kg), they played an action, the heroes of which were characters from the pantheon of Tibetan Buddhism and characters from folk mythology (in Tibet - Tibetan, in Mongolia and Buryatia - Tibetan and Mongolian). The fulfillment of the mystery pursued several goals at once, and in different monasteries the emphasis was placed on different things: intimidating the enemies of Buddhism, demonstrating the triumph of the true teaching over all false teachings, a way to pacify evil forces so that the coming year would be prosperous, preparing a person for what he will see after death on path to a new rebirth. Tsam was performed by specially trained monks who had undergone initiation; A few days before the holiday, they were supposed to spend several hours in a state of deep meditation. There couldn't be any random people among the actors. Each monastery had costumes and masks, carefully preserving them from one performance to another. When any of them became unusable, they were replaced with careful observance of the necessary rituals. Among Buddhists in Mongolia and Russia, the last performances of Tsam were recorded in the late 20s of the 20th century. The ongoing processes of the revival of Buddhism in both countries also include the revival of Tsam, but this is a long and difficult task.

DUINHOR In the monasteries of the northern branch of Buddhism, which combines the features of Mahayana and Vajrayana, two more holidays are celebrated, unknown to other directions of Buddhism: Duinhor and Dzul. The first of them is celebrated in May and is associated with the beginning of the Kalachakra sermon - one of the important components of Vajrayana philosophy. Kalachakra - literally "wheel of time", one of the most esoteric concepts of Buddhist tantra. The time of its formation is considered to be the 10th century, the place is the mythical country of Shambhala. On the holiday, those who understand the philosophical depths of Buddhism gather in the temple.

DZUL Dzul is a holiday dedicated to the memory (the day of passing into nirvana) of the founder of the Tibetan Gelug school - the reformer and philosopher Tsonghawa. It is also called the Festival of Lamps, because... On this day, with the onset of darkness, thousands of oil lamps are lit inside and outside the monasteries. They are extinguished at dawn. Monks read prayers, lay believers make offerings to the temple with money, food, and things. It is celebrated annually on December 25th.

THE Descent OF THE BUDDHA FROM THE HEAVEN TO THE EARTH One of the common Buddhist holidays is the Descent of Buddha from Tushita heaven to earth. When it takes place: end of October - November. The essence of the holiday is as follows. Living in the guise of a bodhisattva in the Tushita sky (the 9th level of the Buddhist cosmos, where all bodhisattvas live before becoming Buddhas), Shakyamuni Buddha realized that it was time for him to make his last rebirth among people on earth. He chose the ruler of the Shakya people, Shuddhodana, and his wife Maya as his earthly parents. In the guise of a white elephant (one of the sacred images of Buddhism), he entered the side of his future mother and was born a prince. After 29 years of happy life in the palace, he went in search of truth, at the age of 35 he discovered it for himself, sitting under a bodhi tree, and became Enlightened, i.e. Buddha, and began to preach his teachings. The decision of the Buddha to find his last earthly birth and open the “path of the Buddha” to everyone is the main idea of ​​this holiday.

HOLIDAY IN HONOR OF THE TOOTH OF BUDDHA And finally, another holiday celebrated only by followers of Theravada - the southern and earliest branch of Buddhism - is the holiday in honor of the Tooth Relic. It is held in only one place - on the island of Sri Lanka, in the city of Kandy in the Dalada Maligawa temple, where this main relic of Buddhism is kept. The holiday lasts two weeks (times: late July - early August), it includes temple services, ceremonial processions with elephants, one of which carries a casket with a Tooth, processions of musicians, dancers, and singers. Once upon a time, the participation of the ruler of the Kandyan kingdom was considered mandatory, because. ownership of the relic gave the right to occupy the throne of this state. Now the same functions are performed by the head of the local administration.
The legend that formed the basis of the holiday is as follows. At the time of the cremation of the earthly body of the Buddha, one of its participants snatched his tooth from the funeral pyre. For eight centuries it was kept in India, but in the 4th century, due to the internecine wars that began in India, they decided to take the tooth to a safe place - to the island of Sri Lanka. There, a temple was built in his honor and, as local legends say, it has been kept here ever since, and a holiday in his honor is held annually. Data from historical chronicles contradict this statement; in particular, one of them claims that in the 16th century. The Buddha tooth was captured by the Portuguese, fell into the hands of Catholic fanatics and was publicly burned, and that a fake is kept in Kandy. However, for any religion, myth is more important than historical reality. Therefore, as before, every year at the end of July, tens of thousands of people, believers and tourists, come to the city of Kandy to look at this amazing relic - the only material evidence that Buddha once lived on earth.
Of course, this is not a complete list of Buddhist holidays. There are a lot of them: every country and every temple has its own, but those listed here can perhaps be considered the most important.

According to the Buddhist calendar, on the 8th, 15th and 30th of each lunar month, the consequences of good and bad deeds increase 100 times.

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 the supreme Creator, Buddhists deeply revere 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 is the best moment for meditation and philosophical reflection. Religious unity during ceremonies is believed to promote enlightenment.

Another aspect characteristic of Buddhist holidays is in tune with the 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 energy increases during the full moon, which is why 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 the historical traditions of 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

It is worth telling in more detail about the most significant dates in the Buddhist world. 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 the chronology of 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 held for 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 Buddha 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 abundant 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 a deity in the 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 musical instruments. The spiritual purpose of the ceremony is to bring closer the reign of Buddha Maitreya.

Dalai Lama's Birthday

The list of Buddhist holidays would be incomplete without mention of the 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 man is a living illustration of Buddhist teachings. 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 using special signs that identify 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.