Wheel Turning Day and International Sangha Day

Wheel Turning Day and International Sangha Day
Thursday, July 31st

5:30a.m. The Eight Mahayana Precepts, followed by a light breakfast

6:30a.m. Group recitation of The Golden Light Sutra

5 a.m.-6 p.m. The Center will be open all day for individual or group practices.

Wheel Turning Day is one of the major Buddhist holy days, the anniversary of the Buddha's first teaching. Karmic effects are multiplied by one hundred million times, so it's an important day to do practice and thing good thoughts. The center will offer precepts at 5:30am followed by a light breakfast. At 6:30am there will be a group recitation of The Golden Light Sutra. The center will also be open until 6:00pm for people to come and do practice. If you'd like to help provide breakfast, please sign up on Volunteer Spot.

It's also a great day to circumambulate the stupa - including pets! Geshe Gelek also encourages students to read any of the sutras or teachings as a particularly beneficial activity on this day, such as Praises to Shakyamuni Buddha, The Golden Light Sutra, or any sutra, text, practice, or commentary focusing on the teachings of the Buddha.

In addition, FPMT celebrates our 12th annual International Sangha Day to show respect for and appreciation of Sangha, as well as generate deeper awareness of the Sangha jewel. Students at Kadampa Center are encouraged to write cards (but avoid holy images - flowers or other beautiful images are better) to our monks and nun to thank them, explaining how they have been of benefit and how we appreciate their example by living in the vows. This type of offering of practice and rejoicing not only shows our appreciation but is a source of merit as well. So please hand out cards anytime during the week!

Also in honor of International Sangha Day, the center will be offering lunch to our monks and nuns in the lobby on Sunday, July 27th, after the 10:45am program. This helps create merit for our community, as well as show our respect and gratitude for their vows upholding the Dharma. If you are interested in helping, please contact Sandy Carlson at membership@kadampa-center.org.

More about the holy day

Seven weeks after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya, the Buddha gave his first teaching at the Deer Park in Sarnath. He expressed his profound realization of the nature of existence in the Four Noble Truths:

• The Truth of the Nature of Suffering
• The Truth of the Origins or Causes of Suffering
• The Truth of the Cessation of, or Liberation from, Suffering
• The Truth of the Eight Fold Path as a means to attain happiness and freedom from suffering.

This teaching, referred to as the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, led to the formation of the Sangha, the community of disciples committed to following the
Buddha's example of living simply, following the Path, and teaching the Dharma.

Accordingly, every year at this time, the FPMT encourages its Centers to celebrate the presence of the sangha community with International Sangha Awareness Day. This is a most auspicious way to celebrate Buddhism as a living tradition with an unbroken lineage from the Buddha's first disciples to the present day, and to demonstrate support for current day sangha who provide teachings, spiritual guidance, and spiritual support at Kadampa Center and throughout the FPMT.