Āsāḷha Puja Day

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

On the full moon day of July, we commemorate the occasion on which the Buddha delivered his first discourse, the Dhammacakkha-pavattana Sutta, so called because it ‘set into motion the wheel of Dhamma’. It was the day the teachings first appeared in the world, and the day that Venerable Kondañño became the first person to penetrate their deep meaning.

This Dhamma wheel has now been revolving through the world for over 2,500 years. During that time, those who have taken refuge in the teachings recorded in the Pāli canon have waged no wars, inflicted no violence in their name. In whatever country of the world men and women have adopted the Buddha’s training of action, speech and mind with a sincere heart, they have seen qualities of peace, wisdom and compassion grow within them. How fortunate we are that thanks to the Buddha and his disciples even now, in this day and age, ‘the gates to the Deathless’ are still open.

The knowledge that leads to the opening of these gates is profound but not complex. Venerable Kondañño’s exclamation as understanding manifested in his heart on that full-moon day was unexpectedly simple: ‘all that arises, passes away’. Deceptively straightforward, but contemplating this short phrase is of incalculable benefit to all practising Buddhists.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.