This weekend is the Buddhist full moon ritual known as Māgha Pūjā, one of the three great festival days in the Theravāda Buddhist calendar, also known as “Saṅgha Day,” celebrating the spiritual community. The tradition remembers a day when the first 1,250 arahant (fully awakened) disciples all spontaneously returned from their travels and came together with the Buddha. Honoring this ancient ritual, we will practice together in global spiritual community, reflect on the preciousness of spiritual friendship in these times (and all times), and learn to chant the Ovāda Pātimokkha, a single verse containing the essence of the training, which the Buddha taught to the monastics at this gathering.
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