Makha Bucha Day

Here is what Makha Bucha Day commemorates:

Thai Buddhists celebrate three major holy days each year which commemorate events in the Buddha's lifetime having to do with the formulation of his teachings, which are the basis of Theravada Buddhism. One of these, called Makha Bucha, is celebrated on night of the full moon of the third lunar month, which usually corresponds to February, and is an observance of two unexpected events in the Buddha's forty-four years of teaching which occurred on the same day. (February 29 is the day of observance in 2002.)

The first occurred nine months after the Buddha had been expounding his doctrine for seven months only. Of his 1,340 disciples, 1,250 of them the Buddha laid down the three main principles of his religion in the Patimokka, of the 'monk way', which crystallize the wisdom of all the Buddhas that came before. These are:
1. Give up evil and refrain from sinning.
2. Cultivate good - and make merit
3. Cleanse one's mind.

He also admonished his disciples to be good teachers to the laity based on the following precepts :-
1. They should be patient
2. They should teach the laity to be peaceful
3. They should be optimistic and not offend others.
4. They should reach goodness in correct ways.
5. They should be disciplined
6. They should be humble
7. They should concentrate on doing useful things.

The second unusual event occurred on the same day forty-five years later. The Buddha foresaw that due to the state of his health his attainment of Nirvana, or escape from the cycle of rebirths, was approaching within three months. On that day, he formulated and preached his Dhamma about the responsibility of an individual or organization. These are that a person should:
1. enjoy work or responsibility,
2. be diligent in work,
3. concentrate on the job while working,
4. check all unfinished work thoroughly.

On the three lunar holy days which include Makha Bucha Thai Buddhists gather at the temple at sunset to Wian Tian, or to circumambulate the Bhote, or the major religious structure in the temple complex where monks are ordained, while holding a lighted candle, temple building are people's way of showing respect to what is called the "triple gem", which is the Buddha himself, his teachings and doctrines, and the monk hood he founded.