so sorrow drops from those
who are free of toxic craving.
Dhammapada v. 336
The sorrows of life readily convince us that they are the most
important thing. They seem to demand a huge amount of attention.
However, the Buddha teaches us that mindfulness and wise reflection
are most important. If mindfulness practice is mature, we will be able
to observe suffering when it arises without becoming too fascinated by
it. We will also be able to reflect on the reality of the moods we
have, not just be sensitive to them. They are not ultimate – they come
and go. And there is a cause for their arising. Once this cause is
recognised, the Buddha says, suffering simply falls away.
With Metta, Ajahn Munindo
Magha Puja Day (Fourfold Assembly or "Sangha Day")
Magha Puja Day takes places on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March). This holy day is observed to commemorate an important event in the life of the Buddha. This event occurred early in the Buddha's teaching life.
After the first Rains Retreat (Vassa) at the Deer Park at Sarnath, the Buddha went to Rajagaha city where 1250 Arahats,(Enlightened saints) who were the Buddha's disciples, without prior appointment, returned from their wanderings to pay respect to the Buddha. They assembled in the Veruvana Monastery with the two chief disciples of the Buddha, Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggalana.
The assembly is called the Fourfold Assembly because it consisted of four factors: (1) All 1250 were Arahats; (2) All of them were ordained by the Buddha himself; (3) They assembled by themselves without any prior call; (4) It was the full moon day of Magha month (March).
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