Welcome to Wat Sacramento Buddhavanaram

A Thai Buddhist temple in the Dhammayut tradition

Our temple is a center for Buddhist and those interested in Thai culture to meet and explore.

We offer you a place where your knowledge can grow and you can focus on a way of life and living that leads to greater understanding and achievement along the Lord Buddha's great path.

Makha Bucha
Sunday, March 4th, 2012

Makha Bucha Day commemorates a day, nine months after the Buddha achieved enlightenment, when 1,250 monks, all from different places and on their own initiative, spontaneously came to pay homage to the Buddha and receive the first sermon of Lord Buddha following His Enlightenment.

Noteworthy and significant points regarding Makha Bucha are;

• 1,250 monks gathered spontaneously where the Buddha was residing,
• Every one of the attending monks was an Arahant, having already achieved enlightenment, each having been ordained by the Buddha himself,
• At that first sermon, the Buddha delivered The Ovadhapatimokha, or the Principles of Buddhism,
These principles are:
1. To do no evil,
2. To do what is good,
3. To purify or cleanse one's mind,
• This event occurred on a full moon day - auspicious to Buddhist

It is usually celebrated on the night of the full moon of the third lunar month, corresponding to late February or early March.

We hope you will join our community at Wat Sacramento Buddhavanaram in observing Makha Bucha.

New Year's Eve at the Temple

What better way to bring in the New Year than with Dhamma friends.

There is no need to wait until the dawn of a New Year to begin practicing.

Be eager and get a head start!

The lay community comes together, with commitment and purpose, to join the Sangha in greeting a new moment of this Buddhist life we all share.

No matter where you are, at the dawn of a new year or just taking a fresh breath before beginning any new day, be sure to be in the moment, committed to making your heart pure and still. Be whole, with ever-expanding Metta, Panna, Sila, Sati, and Dana as your focal point in every moment. Take the precepts to heart. Cultivate your dedication the Triple Gem and the greatest prosperity will be yours.

How fortunate we might be

Every day, and in every moment of each and every day, we are fortunate to have this valuable opportunity. Which opportunity? The rare chance to be aware of and to carefully follow the path and practice that the Buddha discovered and delivered to us.

The times we are in now may appear to be difficult but we should take a moment to consider the cycle of cause and effect that has been in motion throughout time. This lifetime, this human birth, is a treasure we have earned in the past and it should be carefully guarded in the present.

Develop the virtue, commit to the precepts, engage in the practice, and strive for the release the Buddha has made available - if only by our own effort.

Begin, if motivation is helpful, with the Buddha's story - the latest beginning of this path. The Supreme Buddhahood by Most Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero.

The one hundred and eight Brahmins called to the palace cast a telling picture of his destiny, as either a householder King or a Samma Sambodiyha. But just one, the last one of the one hundred and eight, saw the true future, holding up one finger - only the path to Buddhahood.

We are fortunate for many reasons. First, our birth in this human realm is a rare and auspicious opportunity. Second, we exist in a time when the Buddha and the Four Noble Truths are known. Lastly, it is possible to achieve the goal, the deathless, with right effort and we are free to attempt just that.

Seek a capable teacher, make your practice diligent and right, and reap the benefits of this fortunate opportunity.

An Auspicious Day

Atītaṃ nānvāgameyya Nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṃ Yad'atītam-pahīnantaṃ Appattañca anāgataṃ

He would not range after the past, Nor wonder about the future. What is past has been left behind, The future is as yet unreached.

Paccuppannañca yo dhammaṃ Tatha tatha vipassati Asaṃhiraṃ asaṅkuppaṃ Taṃ viddhā manubrūhaye

Whatever phenomenon is present, he clearly sees right there, right there. Unvanquished, unshaken, That is how he develops the mind.

Ajjeva kiccam-ātappaṃ Ko jaññā maraṇaṃ suve Na hi no saṅgarantena Mahāsenena maccunā

Doing his duty ardently, today, For — who knows? — tomorrow death may come. There is no bargaining With Death & his mighty horde.

Evaṃ vihārim-ātāpiṃ Aho-rattam-atanditaṃ Taṃ ve bhaddeka-ratto'ti Santo ācikkhate munīti.

Whoever lives thus ardently, relentlessly both day & night, has truly had an auspicious day: So says the Peaceful Sage.

  — An Auspsicious Day — Access to Insight

Kalyanamitta

And what is meant by admirable friendship? There is the case where a lay person, in whatever town or village he may dwell, spends time with householders or householders' sons, young or old, who are advanced in virtue. He talks with them, engages them in discussions. He emulates consummate conviction in those who are consummate in conviction, consummate virtue in those who are consummate in virtue, consummate generosity in those who are consummate in generosity, and consummate discernment in those who are consummate in discernment. This is called admirable friendship.

  — Dighajanu Sutta – Anguttara Nikaya 8.54

The Lotus-like Lay-follower

Thus spoke the Buddha:

A lay-follower (upasaka) who has five qualities is a jewel of a lay-follower, is like a lily, like a lotus. What are these five qualities? He has faith; he is virtuous; he is not superstitious; he believes in action (kamma) and not in luck or omen; he does not seek outside (of the Order) for those worthy of support and does not attend there first.

  — Anguttara Nikaya 5.175