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MAGHA PUJA 
Monday 22nd February
(national holiday)

Thai cultural day, in English, Bangkok

Overview:

Celebrate this Thai national holiday, the way the Thais do, but in English

Magha Puja is one of the four big special days in Buddhism, and most Thai people head to the temple in the morning for the celebrations and rituals. It will be somewhat puzzling if you don’t speak Thai! Even for Thais, the roots and meaning of Magha Puja are not well known.

It is a special ‘Sangha Day‘, where the different Sanghas (groups) of Buddhists and meditators gather to cement their community. We’ll provide lunch to help with this!

The Rojana Centre is spacious and quiet. The event is in English (with a little Thai), and no need to reserve a spot in advance. There is no charge; donations go to the Rojana Center.

วันมาฆบูชา (22 ก.พ.59) นี้ ขอเชิญชวนพุทธศาสนิกชนทั้งชาวไทย และ ชาวต่างชาติ เข้าร่วมทำวัตรเช้า และ ฟังธรรมบรรยายเรื่อง มาฆบูชา ภาคภาษาอังกฤษ โดยพระอาจารย์บัณฑิต จิตตสังวโร ได้ตั้งแต่เวลา 9.30-12.00น. ณ โรจนธรรมสถาน ซ.สุขุมวิท23

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Schedule:

  • 9:30am gather at the Rojana Center
  • 9:50-10:15 ‘Tamwat Chao’ (daily Thai temple Puja), precepts and refuges
  • 10:15 -10:50 dharma talk on Magha Puja
  • 10:50-11:15 ‘Victory Chant’ and Anumodana (will be explained)
  • 11:30 food offering

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Magha Puja:

There are four big days in Theravada Buddhism, conveniently spaced at every 3 months. They are national holidays in Thailand, so that people can head to the temple, and usually there are Royal led festivities around the capital. 

Theravada Buddhism, preserved in the Pali Suttas, is the oldest known form of Buddhism, and is the closest one can get to the extraordinary words of Gotama Buddha. The story there recorded says that on this day (of the lunar calendar) 1250 fully enlightened monks spontaneously gathered with the Buddha in the forest. Here the Buddha gave a key summary of his teaching:

CEASE FROM EVIL
PRACTICE GOOD
PURIFY THE MIND

The day is also known as ‘Sangha Day’ as it is an appreciation of the fourfold sangha – monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. Groups gather across the world to support and appreciate their community and fellow Buddhists.

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Leading the Event:

One day mindfulness meditation workshop, BangkokBritish-born Buddhist monk Pandit Bhikkhu will be coordinating the proceedings. He is ordained as a ‘Bhikkhu’ for almost 20 years, and has been organising events and meditation in Bangkok since 2007.

With a degree in psychology and an (almost) MA in Buddhist Studies from Thailand’s Sangha University, he is a practised, and entertaining public speaker.

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Getting there:

Please follow the map. It is VERY precise. It is easy to find: there are only one or two turns depending on which direction you are coming from.

Go down Sukhumvit 23 to the first four way intersection. Turn right, and then turn right again at the end of the road.

Or just ask the motorcycles inside Sukhumvit 23 – they know the way.

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Or if you need more definite pointers:Rojana-arrows

A few tips:

  • Do not ask locals the way – they will not know the Rojana Centre, and will send you somewhere else instead.
  • Follow the map – plenty of landmarks are shown along the way.
  • Taxi drivers will NOT know the centre – get them to take you to Sukhumvit 23, and then find your own way.
  • In Thai the centre is known as Rojanatam 
  • Quite a few other foreigners will be heading there at the same time.

Here is the Google Map link, if you prefer this method

Here are the GPS coordinates if you prefer : 13.739356, 100.564748