Māgha Puṇṇamī Pūjā Kathā

Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Rightly Selfawakened One.(3x)

Today is the full moon day in the month of Magha, the date on which the Tathagata — the Worthy One, Rightly Self- awakened — held the four-factored meeting of his disciples and gave the Patimokkha Exhortation.

At that time, 1,250 monks — all entirely free of defilements, all recipients of the Come-Bhikkhu ordination, all unnotified of the meeting — came to the Blessed One's presence in the Squirrels' Feeding Ground in the Bamboo Forest on the afternoon of the full moon day in Magha. In that meeting, the Blessed One led an utterly pure full moon observance and gave the Patimokkha Exhortation. This was the only time our Blessed One held a four-factored meeting with his disciples, 1,250 monks, all entirely free of defilement Now, on this same date — the full moon day in Magha — remembering the Blessed One, even though he long ago gained total liberation, we have come to this memorial to him We take these offerings — candles, incense, and so forth — and make our bodies a vessel for them.

Reflecting on the Blessed One's virtues as they actually are, we will circumambulate this image shelter [stupa] three times, paying homage to him with the offerings we hold. Although the Blessed One, together with that Community of his Noble Disciples, long ago attained total liberation, they are remembered through their virtues.

May he accept the offerings we hold, for the sake of our long- term welfare and happiness.