Dear Friends,
Ata Sil and Meditation program for “IL Poya day” will be held on Saturday, 20th November 2021 from 7am to 5pm.
Important incidents occurred on IL poya day.
First of all it celebrates the Future Buddha:
- The Future Buddha Metteyya:
Metteyya Bodhisatta was born to a family in the City of Sankassa,
during the time of Gautama Buddha. His father’s name was Siriwaddha. Metteyya had a complete Education under the Great Teacher Disapamok. After entering the Order, and at the end of the Rainy Season, Metteyya Thera, received a very valuable pair of robes. He donated one of the robes to Gotama Buddha.
After receiving the robe the Blessed One uttered thus:-
“Dear Monks, this Bhikkhu will be the future Buddha. He will be born in a kingdom known as Ketumati. The Emperor of this Kingdom will bear the name Sankha. His father’s name will be Brahma and he will be the Chief Consultant to the king. His mother’s name will be Brahmavati. He will attain Buddhahood under a Naga tree.
- Sakyamuni Buddha addressed the first sixty Arahats thus:
Oh! Bhikkhus for the Welfare of the many, for the Happiness of the many, through Compassion to the World, Go Ye Forth, and spread the Doctrine of Buddha Dhamma for the benefit of Devas and Human Beings.
In this manner, the first Buddhist Missionaries commenced their journey on Il Poya day to various directions.
- The Jatila Brothers
The three Jatila Brothers Uruwela,
- Passing Away of Sariputta Thera
The passing away of Sariputta, Senior Chief Disciple, occurred on Il Poya day. A week before he passed away, he visited his beloved mother Rupasari, who did not believe in the Triple Gem. She was residing in a village named Nalaka, in the Magadha Province.
Sariputta Thera’s main ambition was to make his mother a follower of Buddhism. After listening to her son Sariputta‘s sermon, she attained Sotapanna or the first stage out of four stages towards the realization of liberation.
Theruwan Sarani
SLSBS