𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

Derived from the Book of Protection (Paritta Sutta) from the Pali canon, the Jaya Mangala Gatha is sung here in a rare recording by the Mahabodhi Society of India in original Pali. The Jaya Mangala Gatha is a chant recommended by the Buddha to destroy negativity and to generate auspiciousness…It is said that these verses if chanted with a clear and pure intention are helpful in protecting the seeker by attracting the Good around

Nāḷāgiriṁ gaja-varaṁ atimattabhūtaṁ Dāvaggi-cakkam-asanīva sudāruṇantaṁ Mett’ambuseka-vidhinā jitavā munindo Tan-tejasā bhavatu te jaya-maṅgal’aggaṁ. Nāḷāgiri, the excellent elephant, when maddened, was very horrific, like a forest fire, a flaming discus, a lightning bolt. The Lord of Sages defeated him by sprinkling the water of goodwill: By the majesty of this, may you have the highest victory blessing. - Buddha-jaya-maṅgala Gāthā

“Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.” “Well then, mendicants, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: “The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha gave rise to the unarisen path, gave birth to the unborn path, and explained the unexplained path. He is the knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the expert on the path. And now the disciples live following the path; they acquire it later. This is the difference between a Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha, and a mendicant freed by wisdom.” - Sammasambuddha Sutta, SN 22.58

Sigālaka, that’s how the eastern direction is covered, kept safe and free of danger. A child should serve his parents as the eastern direction in five ways, thinking, I will look after my parents who brought me up. I’ll do my duty for them. I will maintain the family lineage and tradition; I will be worthy of my inheritance; When they have passed away, I’ll offer gifts to virtuous persons and share merit with my parents. Parents served by the children in these ways, show compassion to the children in five ways. Parents keep children from doing bad. Parents support children in doing good. Parents train children in a profession. Parents find children suitable spouses. Parents transfer the inheritance to the children in due time. Parents served by their children in five ways show compassion to them in these five ways. Sigālaka, that’s how the eastern direction is covered, kept safe and free of danger. - Buddha's advice to Sigāla, (DN 31 Sigāla Sutta) https://suttafriends.org/sutta/dn31/#pt13

The diligent sage wandering alone, is unaffected by blame and praise— like a lion not startled by sounds, like wind not caught in a net, like water not sticking to a lotus. Leader of others, not by others led: that’s who the wise know as a sage. - Buddha, Snp 1.12 (Muni Sutta)

Seoul’s Festival of Light Marks the Birth of the Buddha in a Blaze of Color Described as the largest festival of its kind in the world, visitors to the annual Yeondeunghoe celebration have been recorded as exceeding 350,000, including local residents and tourists. Korea’s annual Yeondeunghoe (연등회) festival of light, popularly known as the Lotus Lantern Festival and traditionally held in the spring to mark the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha, illuminated downtown Seoul on Saturday in a blaze of light and color. To celebrate the Buddha’s 2,567th birthday on 27 May, major Buddhist temples and public spaces in downtown Seoul have been illuminated by thousands of delicate paper lotus lanterns. https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/seouls-festival-of-light-marks-the-birth-of-the-buddha-in-a-blaze-of-color/

When this world is burning all over by the flames of passion, hate, delusion, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, crying, pain, grief, and despair, why this laughter? Why this joy? Surrounded by the darkness of ignorance, why do you not search for light? - Buddha, Dhp 146

Buddha statue found at Berenike (Egypt) The American-Polish archaeological mission excavating the main early Roman period temple (dedicated to the Goddess Isis) in Berenike uncovered in the forecourt of the temple a marble statue of the Buddha. The Buddha statue was made from stone probably quarried from the region just south of modern Istanbul; it must have been sculpted locally at Berenike and dedicated to the temple by one or more rich merchants from India. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/498493.aspx https://pcma.uw.edu.pl/en/2023/04/27/buddha-statue-found-at-berenike-egypt/

A half-monk at thirteen restless to find the truth one night I saw in my dream an azure pool a blue lotus dazzling red flowers thick mango groves wrinkled face of a Bhikchhu I set out for Yintu secretly escaping the Middle Kingdom at night, like the young Siddhartha against the Emperor’s diktats I travelled alone for years a fakir along the Silk Road hungry, naked but blessed crossing Gobi, Tien Shan, Samarkand, Jalandhar, Kashmir, Kannauj, Varanasi, Patliputra On my way I met kings and queens saw blossoming monasteries; decaying, crumbling ruins Finally, I found Nalanda hidden as a jewel under the thick mango groves. - Hiuen Tsang, Journey to the West

Hiuen Tsang was a Buddhist monk, scholar, translator and a traveler who came on a knowledge search expedition to India in order to find the missing link between the Buddhism followed in China and India during the 17th century under the Tang dynasty. When he reached back China, he was honored by the then Chinese emperor. He later wrote about his experience of India at the instance of the Emperor.

Having revered the jewel of the Buddha,the highest, most excellent medicine, the welfare of human & heavenly beings: Through the Buddha’s majesty & safety, may all obstacles vanish. May your sufferings grow totally calm. - Abhaya Paritta (The Danger-free Protection)

Lord Sakka/Indra, ruler of Tāvatiṃsa heaven, explains to his charioteer Mātali that he worships the Buddha, and the Sangha, not those learnt in the three Vedas. So Mātali the charioteer addressed Sakka in verse: ‘Those proficient in the three Vedas worship you, as do all the aristocrats on earth, the Four Great Kings, and the glorious Thirty. So what’s the name of the spirit that you worship, Sakka?’ Lord Sakka: "Those proficient in the three Vedas worship me, as do all the aristocrats on earth, the Four Great Kings, and the glorious Thirty. But, It’s the fully awakened Buddha, the Teacher of peerless name in this world with its gods—that’s who I worship, Mātali. I revere those accomplished in ethics, who have long trained in immersion, who have rightly gone forth committed to the spiritual life. I worship monks who are virtuous, long trained in the stillness of mind, and who live with the celibate life as their intention. “‘There are householders who went for refuge to the triple gem, and have become lay followers of the Supreme Buddha. They are virtuous, make merit and righteously take care of their families. I also worship those householders, the ethical lay followers, Oh Mātali.’ Mātali: “‘Those you worship, my lord Sakka, are indeed the best in the world. I too will worship them—those you worship, lord Sakka.’” - SN 11.18 Sakka Namassana Sutta https://suttafriends.org/sutta/sn11-18/ - SN 11.19 Dutiya Sakka Namassana Sutta https://suttafriends.org/sutta/sn11-19/

PM Narendra Modi to address inaugural session of Global Buddhist Summit on 20th April at 10 AM at Hotel Ashok in Delhi. The two-day Summit is being hosted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation on 20-21 April. The Summit is an effort towards engaging the global Buddhist Dhamma leadership and scholars on matters of Buddhist and universal concerns, and to come up with policy inputs to address them collectively. The discussion in the Summit will explore how the Buddha Dhamma’s fundamental values can provide inspiration and guidance in contemporary settings. The Summit will witness participation of eminent scholars, Sangha leaders and Dharma practitioners from all over the world, who will discuss pressing global issues and look for answers in the Buddha Dhamma that is based on universal values. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1917511

The Bodhi Tree The Bodhi Tree that stands outside the Mahabodhi Temple today is not the original tree under which Buddha meditated, but it is a direct descendant of the original one. The tree has been destroyed many times and is always replaced by a young one, either from offspring it spontaneously produces or from the fruits of the tree being replaced. Another descendant of the original Bodhi Tree is in "Anuradhapura" in Sri Lanka, taken by 'Sanghamitra', daughter of Emperor Ashoka. A supposedly even older descendant is at 'Shravasti' in Uttar Pradesh, and was planted there by the Buddha's attendant 'Ananda', at the entrance to the Jetavana Garden donated by Anathapindika to the Buddha. It is known as the 'Anandabodhi'.

#WorldHeritageDay - Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar, India) The Mahabodhi Temple (Great Awakening Temple) was initially built by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (269-232 BCE) around 250 years after the awakening of Buddha. The tower rising 180 feet, was built by the Gupta period (300 - 600 CE). It has been renovated many times since, one time by the Burmese Royal Family in the 19th century under the participation of the British Government in India, under the direction of Sir Alexander Cunningham in the 1880s. Buddha told his attendant Bhikkhu 'Ananda' that after his Parinirvana, his followers should make pilgrimages to four sites: Lumbini, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagar. https://www.peepultree.world/livehistoryindia/story/monuments/mahabodhi-temple