By April Son
The full moon of Waso is a ring rung by a bell for all Buddhists in Myanmar to notice a time to take a Sabbath as part of performing meritorious deeds. In fact, taking a Sabbath can be defined as an act of shaping a peaceful, tranquil and calm environment in society regardless of nationality and country.
Treatises and literature in Buddhism emphasize the paramount importance of the full moon of Waso, which typically falls in June or July, depending on the calendar. This auspicious day holds great significance in Buddhism, as it marks several important events in the life of the Lord Buddha. These events include the conception of the Buddha, Prince Siddhartha, in the womb of his mother Maya, Queen of King Suddhodana, his renunciation of worldly attachments, the preaching of the Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta to his first five disciples after attaining enlightenment, and the demonstration of unprecedentedly extraordinary supernatural powers. These events have consistently occurred on the full moon of Waso throughout history.
The Buddhist Lent and its Purpose
Over 2,500 years ago, the Gautama Buddha established a set of rules and disciplines for members of the Sangha known as Vinaya, one of three primary pillars: Sutta, Vinaya and Abhidhamma. One of these rules requires monks to observe a Buddhist Lent, which lasts for three months, from the full moon of Waso in the Myanmar calendar to the full moon of Thadingyut. Significantly, Lent bans the travels of Buddhist monks from one place to another. The purpose of this Lent is to prevent monks from inadvertently or intentionally causing harm to plants or animals during their travels. It serves as a period of introspection and restraint for Buddhist practitioners.
The Buddha’s Quest for Enlightenment
The Buddha-to-be, Prince Siddhartha, embarked on a spiritual journey to seek the ultimate truth and escape the cycle of worldly existence. He renounced his privileged life and embraced the life of an ascetic in order to understand the nature of suffering beyond material wealth. Through diligent practice, he attained enlightenment by following the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of the correct view, proper thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. These noble paths are of great importance for everybody to attain enlightenment for escaping from the vicious circle. This transformative experience led the Buddha-to-be to become the Lord Buddha. As such, these eight noble paths are sure for everyone to embrace the unprecedented taste of Dhamma.
The Sermon and Disciples
All events in commemoration of Buddhism can be seen vividly in India. These evidences show the deniable Buddhological facts and figure which flourished in India in the past. In truth, Buddhology is inseparable from the histories of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Of them, the full moon of Waso is of great importance in Buddhology. Upon attaining enlightenment, the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, known as the Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta, or “Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion,” to his five initial disciples at the Deer Park in Sarnath, India. This sermon encompasses the essence of all the teachings that the Lord Buddha imparted during his lifetime. According to ancient treatises, the sermon was attended by 18 crore celestial beings in addition to the five disciples. From then on, the Lord Buddha preached His noble Dhamma to an uncountable number of living beings and heavenly beings till His demise with a relentless effort for the sake of the living beings from the 31 abodes of the secular world.
Historical Observance in Myanmar
In Myanmar’s history, each month was associated with specific festivals. The month of Waso in the traditional Burmese calendar was designated for ordination ceremonies, where eligible men were ordained as monks. The Myanmar kings recognized these ceremonies’ significance and actively supported them.
The full moon of Waso holds a special place in the Buddhist tradition. It marks the day when the Lord Buddha proclaimed his enlightenment, the emergence of the Sangha (the monastic community), and an opportunity for laypersons to aspire to a noble life. In adherence to the Vinaya, members of the Sangha commit to not undertaking overnight travel during the entire three-month Buddhist Lent starting from the full moon of Waso. Laypersons support the monks during this period by offering necessities, including Waso robes. Moreover, people in urban and rural areas donate flowers, water, and other offerings to the Buddha images and monasteries dedicated to the Lord Buddha.
Types of Buddhists Lent
Generally, Buddhist Lent can be categorized into two types: Purimassavasa, the first category, which starts from the 1st waning moon of Waso and ends with the full moon of Thadingyut, and Pacchimassavasa, the second category, which accommodates those monks who missed the opportunity to enter the first category due to various reasons. The second category begins with the 1st waning moon of Wagaung and concludes with the full moon of Tazaungmone.
In Myanmar, before the start of the Buddhist Lent, donors offer alms and Waso robes to the Sangha to support their needs during this period. Buddhists consider these acts as meritorious deeds dedicated to the Lord Buddha and as a means to attain liberation from the cycle of worldly existence by understanding and following the Dhamma.
During the three-month Buddhist Lent, while monks engage in meditation and practice, laypersons follow certain restrictions outlined in the Vinaya. They observe the Sabbath on the eighth day and the full moon and waning moon days of each month to propagate the noble Dhamma, perform meritorious deeds, offer alms to Buddhist monks and occasionally donate meals to people from four corners of the region.
The Four Universal Truths
The Lord Buddha taught his disciples the four Universal Truths:
• The truth of suffering
• The truth of the cause of suffering
• The truth of the end of suffering
• The truth of the path leading to the end of suffering
Through the Buddha’s teachings and efforts, countless individuals, both humans and celestial beings, have attained enlightenment and liberated themselves from the vicious cycle of suffering.
Guidance given by members of the Sangha
Since the time of the Lord Buddha, members of the Sangha have diligently fulfilled their duties of guiding disciples and laypersons towards understanding and realizing the Universal Truths as well as delivering sermons for those disciples to take meditation for escaping from the secular world and attaining the Nibbana. For over 2,500 years, the teachings of the Buddha have provided a peaceful path within the material world, benefiting both religious and non-religious communities.
Promoting Peaceful Coexistence
On the significant day of the full moon of Waso, Buddhists are reminded to reflect on the attributes of the Lord Buddha and his teachings, which guide individuals on cutting attachments and living harmoniously in society. All individuals and nations need to embrace the principles of peaceful coexistence, as preached by the Lord Buddha, in order to shape a peaceful and prosperous society. Doing so can collectively overcome secular challenges such as hunger, conflict, wars, bullying, and natural disasters.
Preserving Buddhist Heritage
As a symbol of Buddhism, the full moon of Waso carries deep significance and serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage derived from the religion. It is the responsibility of current Buddhist generations to pass down this heritage and the associated intangible cultural practices to future generations, thus honouring the heritage’s relevance to Myanmar’s society. Although Buddhism’s teachings are inseparable from Myanmar’s traditions, they can benefit both Buddhist individuals and people of various faiths. The cardinal virtues preached by the Lord Buddha should guide the people of Myanmar towards a peaceful nation.
In Myanmar, members of the Sangha taught children of Myanmar families, including those from various ethnicities. Those Sangha guided Myanmar people on the lifestyle of good behaviours and talks, how to live throughout their lives, and how to choose livelihoods. Up to now, members of the Sangha have been managing philanthropic measures to accommodate and teach ethnics from ethnic regions and needy families from urban areas to seek shelter in their lives. Thanks to the teachings of those members of the Sangha, children could uplift their lives themselves to meet their ambitions. It is believable that those members of the Sangha will surely give guidance to further generations of Myanmar people. In this regard, the root cause of the flourishing of Buddhism is thanks to the Lord Buddha, who adopted the Vinaya for setting the Buddhist Lent, which contribute a great deal to the propagation and purification of Buddhism and the increasing number of Buddhist monks.
The full moon of Waso holds immense importance in Buddhism, serving as a reminder of key events in the life of the Lord Buddha and the establishment of the Buddhist Lent. It is a time for reflection, meritorious deeds, and observing the teachings of the Buddha. By adhering to the principles of peaceful coexistence and promoting the Universal Truths, individuals and nations can pave the way for a harmonious and prosperous society. The preservation of Buddhist heritage and its integration with Myanmar’s cultural identity is crucial for future generations to appreciate and follow the path of the Buddha.
