|
Thousands make merit on Makhabucha Day
Many people crowded into Wat
Sawangfapruetaram to listen to monks preach the Dharma.
Many people at Wat Nong Yai
listen to monks preach the Dharma.
Staff reporters
February 13 this year was an important day for all Buddhists, as it
was the date on which Makhabucha Day (Buddhist All Saints Day) fell. This
important occasion for Buddhists marks the first sermon of the Lord Buddha
to 1250 monks.
In Pattaya, thousands of devout Buddhists turned out at local temples to
conduct ceremonies that have been performed throughout Buddhist history,
and make merit for themselves and their families.
The morning ceremonies were filled with people presenting offerings to the
monks, performing “tak baht” and listening to monks preach the Dharma, or
teachings, of the Buddha.
Ceremonies were continued in the evening, with many people performing the
“Wien Thien” whereby believers light candles and circle the temple’s
prayer room three times.
This holy day commemorates the miraculous event when 1,250 disciples of
the Buddha, Gautama Sakayamuni, traveled to meet with the Buddha with no
prearranged agreement, at Weluwan Mahawiharn Temple in the area of
Rachakhryha, India.
Worshipping or ‘Bucha’ occurs on the 15th Day of the waning moon of the
third lunar month, or ‘Makha’. This year the event fell on February 13.
The day gained official recognition in Thailand during the reign of King
Rama IV and became a nationally observed day with all government
institutions closing down and observing the rituals associated with
Buddhist commandments.
Devout followers participate in morning ceremonies, making merit and
listening to sermons at local temples, and later in the evening return to
the temple to perform the “wien thien ceremony” - walking three circuits
around sacred grounds, paying homage to the “Triple Gem” or the Buddha,
Dhamma and Sangha. The day is observed all over Thailand.
Other countries where the Buddhist faith is predominant and where
Makhabucha Day is officially observed as a national day include Nepal,
Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and India. Other countries with
populations observing the day but in limited numbers include China, Korea
and Vietnam.
Disseminating the Buddha’s teachings and the journey to meet with the
Buddha on the 15th night of the 3rd lunar month are part of the historical
events that include the sermons and truths spoken by the Buddha.
Having good intentions, not harming others, avoiding evil actions and
making the heart and mind pure in thought were among the truths spoken by
the Buddha. Additionally, other truths spoken by the Buddha cautioned
individual restraint in all that attracts one’s attention, to include
desiring possessions belonging to others, and exploiting others for
personal gain.
Before departing, the Buddha also referred to the people’s interest in
making merit, gaining self-esteem and a comfortable reassurance that moral
integrity exists. More importantly, having faith in the “Triple Gem”
(Phraratanatrai) was illustrated by emphasizing the importance of avoiding
drunken, irresponsible and immoral behavior, and maintaining focus on
supporting loved ones while being content in one’s existence with friends
and without selfish greed.
This year was busier than most years, as the holy day fell on the day
after the weekend, when most people returned home to be with their
families. One Buddhist said that during the past year many untoward events
took place, so all the family made merit to bless the departed, create
greater understanding among family members and teach Buddhism concepts to
the younger members of the family.
Many people at Nong Aoh
Temple make merit for lost friends and family.
The morning ceremonies were
filled with people presenting offerings to the monks and performing “tak
baht”.
During evening ceremonies at
Wat Sawangfapruetaram, many perform the “Wien Thien” ceremony whereby
believers light candles and circle the temple’s prayer room three times.
Devout Buddhists prepare
their candles, flowers and joss sticks for the “Wien Thien” ceremony at
Wat Nong Yai.
At Wat Nong Yai, people pay
homage to the “Triple Gem” or the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
His Holiness Maharaja Sri Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji bestows blessings on the people of Pattaya
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Biography courtesy of Namdhari World
On a recent visit to Thailand, one of the hundreds of visits he has made in
the past few decades, His Holiness Maharaja Sri Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji
returned to Pattaya where the Namdhari and Sikh community received him with
the highest of respect.
Back in India after his pilgrimages, Sat Guru Ji enquired of his disciples
whether there was anything that could be done to help alleviate the
sufferings of the underprivileged children here in Pattaya, to which he was
told that there were many who were in need of relief.
His Holiness gives blessings
to the faithful.
On his return to Thailand a few months later, on the humble advise of Amorn
Malhotra, a staunch disciple of the divine guru, Sat Guru Ji dispatched
Ekachai Chawalarat and Prateep Singhchavala, two of his faithful followers,
to Pattaya last Sunday to carry blessings and sanctified food for the
enjoyment of the children at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind.
The two disciples brought with them a car fully laden with Indian
specialties such as sweet rotis and kheer, a mouth-watering Indian delicacy
made of sweet rice, much to the delight of the almost 200 blind children at
the school. After the tasty meal the children were treated to huge helpings
of delicious ice cream.
His Holiness Maharaja Sri Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji, the present spiritual
head of Namdhari Sikhs, is one of the those enlightened souls whose
magnifying personality and radiance has become a beacon light of hope for
the millions of faithful all over the globe. Sat Guru Ji’s pre-eminent and
unrivalled status in the galaxy of saints can be gauged from the fact that
he is revered by the Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims alike across the globe.
His Holiness Maharaja Sri Sat
Guru Jagjit Singh Ji is welcomed on his arrival at Don Muang airport.
Born on Nov. 22, 1920, at Bhaini Sahib District Ludhiana (Punjab) India in
the family of father Sat Guru Pratap Singh Ji, mother Mata Bhupinder Kaur
Ji, Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji showed signs of spiritual inclination from his
very childhood. He was brought up in a puritan atmosphere from where he
absorbed subtle aspects of religious life.
Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji is carrying forward the splendid heritage of Sikh
faith in all its purity and sanctity in true sense of the term. Kirat Karo
(earn thy living with the sweat of your brow), Wand Chakho (share the fruits
of your labor with the poor), and Naam Japo (meditate on the name of God),
the three cardinal principles of faith as propounded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji
are being practiced by the Namdhari Sikhs with a catholic spirit. The above
principles of Sikh philosophy are being vigorously propagated by Sat Guru
Jagjit Singh Ji with a missionary zeal.
Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji learnt classical music at a very early age. Today
he is regarded as a distinguished connoisseur of classical music. Renowned
Indian classical musicians like Hari Prasad Chaursia, Ravi Shankar, Pt Shiv
Kumar Sharma, Rajan Sajan Mishra, Amjad Ali Khan, Ala Rakha Khan and several
others have commended Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji for his abiding interest and
deep knowledge of classical music. Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji lays great
emphasis on singing hymns from the Holy Guru Granth Sahib in the 31 basic
classical Ragas (musical notes) to which our holy scripture is originally
rendered into. Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji himself is a master player of
Dilruba, a stringed instrument.
Besides moral and spiritual enlistment of man, Sat Guru Jagjit Ji lays great
emphasis on the physical well being of man. He evinces great interest in
games and sports. Sat Guru Ji has done a great deal for inculcating interest
of sports in his followers. Sat Guru Ji has sponsored numerous tournaments
in athletics, hockey, badminton, and cricket for Namdhari youths who have
won one great laurels for the country. Sat Guru Ji is also an illustrious
educationist. He has established a change of schools for boys and girls in
India and abroad. His contribution for the cause of the literacy in India is
peerless.
Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji is an unflinching champion of environmental
conservation. Deeply compassionate towards birds and animals, Sat Guru Ji is
a strong opponent of cow slaughter and torture of birds and animals.
Sat Guru Ji has ordained his Sikhs to lead a simple life, wear immaculately
white clothes and white turban in simple horizontal style. He expects his
followers to meditate for at least one hour daily and to maintain absolute
purity and cleanliness of body and mind. Sat Guru Ji has enjoined his
followers to abstain from alcohol and refrain from taking non-vegetarian
food, tobacco and drugs.
Sat Guru Ji is a great philanthropist. His contribution in social welfare
and charitable work is immense. He has set up homes for the aged, the
handicapped and the sick at various places in Punjab. His compassion and
kindness extends to the poor, the down-trodden and the neglected sections of
society.
Sat Guru Ji is a champion of world peace and brotherhood of mankind. He has
attended several inter-religious conferences. He is well versed in Vedic and
Upanashidic philosophy.
Under the spiritual guidance of Sat Guru Jagjit Singh Ji the Namdhari Sikhs
are steering the path of righteous living. Sat Guru Ji is a paragon of
virtue and divinity epitomizing all qualities of truthful living, which will
ultimately lead us all towards the goal of redemption.
Amorn & Amornrat Malhotra (left) attends to his
family as they listen to the preaching of the revered Sat Guru Ji.
Namdhari Sikhs enjoy the ‘langar’ (community
lunch).
Vasinee ‘Rani’ Malhotra tenderly places an ice
cream cone in the child’s hand.
Prateep Singhchavala distributes the delicious
sweet ‘roti’ to the children who thoroughly enjoyed this Indian treat.
After the meal the children thank the
benefactors for their benevolence.
Manin Kukreja enjoyed the afternoon as much as
the children did.
Ekachai Chawalarat helps his brother make merit
in the name of Sat Guru Ji.
BCCT networks at Chaophya with junior golf champions
Mike Franklin
The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand held an unusual and interesting
networking ‘event’ at the Chaophya Park Hotel, Bangkok, on the evening of
Thursday February 9, 2006. Andrew J. Wood, general manager, hosted the
networking evening, together with Bromsgrove International School sponsoring
the sumptuous buffet.
 Graham
Macdonald, vice-chairman British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, welcomes
everyone to the event.
The Chaophya Park Hotel has a unique sporting facility, a state-of-the art
two tier driving range, the only one of its kind in a hotel in Thailand and
the basis of the evening’s BCCT ‘event’ activity.
Jeffery Topp, headmaster of Bromsgrove International School,
enthusiastically promotes sports involvement at the school; especially golf
with the support of Ian Davison, the chairman of Bromsgrove.
A team of five talented golf scholars traveled to the United States
mid-summer 2005 to compete in the prestigious Callaway Junior World Golf
Championships. This annual event attracts junior golfers from all over the
world playing in boys and girls categories from as young as 6 years old and
under, to a maximum of 17 years.
A wide range of golf courses at San Diego, California, provided the
challenge from July 12th - 15th for the junior golfers to compete.
 Andrew
J. Wood, general manager of the Chaophya Park Hotel, Bangkok, hosted the
networking evening.
Bromsgrove International School was represented by golf scholars between
ages 8 and 13 years. The tournaments were played at the Cottonwood courses
at the Rancho San Diego Golf Club and all five distinguished themselves by
having a ‘top ten’ finish in their respective age category.
Pailin Rattanasupagid (Pailin), aged 8, took 1st place and the Champion’s
trophy in the Girls 7-8 year category. Next best was Nond Ounmuang (Nond)
now aged 13, but playing then in the Boys 11-12 and taking 2nd place.
The results for the five Bromsgrove juniors were as follows:
1. Paveenuch Sritragul, Jenny age 12, 7th Girls 11-12
2. Suchaya Tangkamolprasert, (Cherry) age 11, 4th Girls 9-10
3. Supakirinee Nivatvongs (Sup), age 10, 10th Girls 9-10
4. Pailin Ruttanasupagid (Pailin), age 8, 1st Girls 7-8
5. Nond Ounmuang (Nond), age 13, 2nd Boys 11-12
Also present at the BCCT evening was Panuphol Pittayarat (Coconut), age 13,
who played the tournament with Bromsgrove in July 2004, winning 4th place in
the Boys 11-12 category.
The excellent driving range at the hotel provided these junior golfers with
the opportunity to demonstrate their skills to the BCCT members and guests
who were suitably impressed with this young talent, some perhaps wishing
that their school had afforded them the same opportunity to take up the game
at such an early age.
Scholars Pailin and Nond have won exemption to play in the 2006 Calloway
World Junior Golf Championships and, to their credit, the other four
Bromsgrove juniors have qualified through success in Thailand junior
tournaments later in 2005.
Hopefully, we will be able to report good results again at San Diego, in
July 2006.
It was a fun and highly successful networking evening with a record
attendance of around two hundred members and guests, due to the added
attraction of the junior golfers being present.
Proceedings were formally opened with speeches from Jeffrey Topp, Bromsgrove
headmaster; Andrew J. Wood, GM Chaophya Park Hotel & Resorts and Graham
Macdonald, vice-chairman British Chamber of Commerce Thailand.
H.E. David Fall, British ambassador, was unfortunately unable to attend, so
the BCCT was pleased to welcome Steve Buckley, director of trade and
investment at the British Embassy, as the guest of honor.
Golf was the theme of the BCCT networking fun event, so it was hardly
surprising that the six-strong Bromsgrove Junior team put down a ‘Nearest
the Pin’ challenge to the British Embassy. Steve Buckley graciously rose to
the challenge, and the target was set at a blue flag over the water on a
small green a little inside 100 yards. The six juniors were allowed one shot
each matched by an equal number of shots by Steve Buckley. After four shots
by each side it was tied at 2-2. With the tension rising, and the juniors
having been practicing for most of the evening, the result was close, but
perhaps inevitable. The British Embassy flag stood proud but acknowledged a
final score of 4-2 in favor of Bromsgrove Juniors. Much applause followed
and warm appreciation given to a very sporting Steve Buckley, who then
performed the final duty of filling a pyramid stack of glasses with
champagne. An enjoyable and successful networking event, and one that will
hopefully be repeated, thanks to the initiative of the British Chamber of
Commerce Thailand.
Junior golf is going from strength to strength in Asia, closing the gap set
by the Americans over many years, to the point where young teenage amateurs
are competing in, and occasionally winning, professional tournaments.
Who knows, some golfing stars in the future might well have had a Bromsgrove
International School start to a successful career in the challenging and
respected game of golf.
(L to R) Andrew Wood, Mark
Butters, Graham Macdonald, Bob Lee, Steve Buckley, and David Garrad enjoy
each others’ company, and the libations.
(L to R) Peter Malhotra, Bruce
and Juddy Hoppe and their friends visiting from the USA, with Andrew Wood to
the right, take a moment to pose for posterity.
Guest of honor Steve Buckley,
director of trade and investment at the British Embassy, fills a pyramid
stack of glasses with champagne to begin the celebrations of the BCCT’s 60th
anniversary.
(L to R) Jeffery Topp,
headmaster of Bromsgrove International School, Ian Davison, chairman of
Bromsgrove, Steve Buckley, director of trade and investment at the British
Embassy, Riza Sripetchvandee, director of Bromsgrove International School,
Andrew J Wood, general manager of the Chaophya Park Hotel, and Graham
Macdonald, BCCT vice-chairman, were all vital to the success of the evening.
Mike Franklin interviews (from
left to right) Cherry, Fond, Coconut, Sup, Pailin and Jenny for Pattaya Mail
on TV.
Future stars of the golf world
(L to R) Fond, Coconut, Sup and Eddy Stacker.
|
