2600 Sambuddhathwa Jayanthiya celebrations at the Mahamevnawa International Meditation Centre (MIMC)

Report & Pictures by Mahamevnawa International Meditation Centre

May 2011 marks 2600 years since the Lord Buddha attained Supreme Enlightenment or Nibbāna. This rare and wonderful occasion known as Sambuddhathwa Jayanthiya falls on the full moon day of May, 2011. Although the annual commemoration of Vesak, the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar commemorating the three-fold incidence (Temagula) of the birth, attainment of Supreme Enlightenment and the Parinibbāna (the Great Passing Away) of the Gautama Buddha falls on this day, this year it is uniquely significant as it is the 2600th year of the Buddha’s Enlightenment. Especially in an era where the world is confronted with many conflicts as well as natural and man-made calamities, the Buddhist Doctrine of non-violence, understanding, compassion and peace holds hope for mankind.

The 2600^th Sambuddhathwa Jayanthiya (or Vesak 2011) was celebrated by Buddhist devotees on May the 07^th at Mahamevnawa International Meditation Centre (MIMC) now based in Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex. It was a spectacular day, where over 600 devotees arrived to listen to discourses and pay great respect to the Gautama Samma Sambuddha during the extraordinary 24 hour programme.

MIMC was officially formed in the UK in mid-2009 to disseminate the extremely rare and pure teachings of the Gautama Buddha. Since its inception, MIMC has grown tremendously in the UK and now conducts regular monthly programmes in Watford, Billericay (Essex), Sutton, Dagenham and Hounslow. The monastery was recently moved to a spectacular new property on a 3 acre land located in Billericay, Essex. The resident monks of MIMC strictly adhere to the Dhamma (the teachings) and Vinaya (the discipline) as preached and set out by the Buddha, respectively. The venerable monks are highly knowledgeable in discourses (the Suttas) taught by the Buddha. The significance of MIMC lies in its focus on disseminating the original teachings of the Buddha based on the longest surviving collection of the Tipitaka (the Pali Canon). The founder of the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, the Most Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnānānanda Thero, has skilfully translated many volumes of the Pali Canon into simple Sinhalese language and is available for anyone to read and understand the profound teachings of the Buddha. MIMC has brought much hope and satisfaction to the Sri Lankan community in the UK as a Buddhist organisation for accessing and practising the original teachings of the Gautama Buddha. The centre will continue to flourish in the UK and Europe.

At MIMC, the buzz and excitement of the 2600^th Sambuddhathwa Jayanthiya began several months ago, where the resident venerable monks and many devotees worked cooperatively and happily together to prepare for the wonderful event. Teams of people volunteered and gathered together to contribute any way they could in order to make the day as special and exceptional as possible. A new Buddha statue carved out of dolomite stone was brought from Sri Lanka and respectfully placed in the Buddha shrine, new pedestals for two Buddha statues were built and many other tasks were completed in order to prepare the venue for the wonderful occasion. Much work was performed on the breathtaking monastery gardens in order to create a tranquil and peaceful environment around the monks’ residence. A gigantic and beautiful marquee was hired and assembled for the programme in order to accommodate several hundred devotees. Many multi-coloured Vesak lanterns depicting emblems of Buddhism were built over several days to decorate the monastery gardens.

On the day of the programme, the stage was decorated with stunning displays of beautiful and lavish flower arrangements and pillars, capturing all attention with stunning hand-painted and hand-constructed displays with carefully thought out lighting to capture every moment of the day. Brightly decorated orange umbrella’s shielding the Seven Buddhas beautifully decorated the main Buddha hall. Over 120 Vesak lanterns were hung on garden trees. The Lanterns were lit at night with multi-coloured light bulbs which illuminated the lush and tranquil gardens of MIMC. On the middle of the garden lay 7 large beautiful pink handmade Lotus flowers to commemorate the Lord Buddha’s first 7 steps from birth. All the wonderful displays were lit with precision coloured lighting and laced with candles. Candles also paved the pathways from the discourse hall to the monks’ residence, and more candles were laid on the grass; a dazzling and amazing sight to behold. A large white heart-warming Chetiya was beautifully built and nestled under a tree near the garden pond, all in all, giving the warm feeling of being in Sri-Lanka.

The special and brilliantly organised programme began at 7.00 am on May 07^th with the Kiripindu danaya offering to the Seven Buddhas, following shortly by Kiripindu poojawa. The first of a series of Dhamma sermons began at 8.00 am leading to meditation on the qualities of the Buddha and the Dahawal Buddha Poojawa and food offerings towards mid-day. The afternoon was spent on commemorating the Gautama Buddha’s wonderful attainment of Enlightement followed by a Dhamma sermon, meditation and the special Sathbudu Wandanwa towards the evening to recollect and revere the Seven Buddhas who attained Supreme Enlightenment during the past 100 aeons. The evening was marked by a magnificent discourse of the Mahā Parinibbāna Sutta based on the Great Passing Away of the Gautama Buddha. This was followed by sessions to commemorate the Temagula and meditation towards midnight. The early morning hours shone with Dhamma discussions and offering of flowers to the Great Hair Relics of the Gautama Buddha which were respectfully placed in a relic casket enclosed within a hand-made beautiful Chetiya on the stage. The Great 32 Distinctive Physical Features (Detis Mahā Purusha Lakshana) of the Buddha were discussed in the morning and the programme concluded at 7.30 am with the morning Buddha poojawa and offering of merits thereby bringing the programme to a close, a very happy and fulfilling day.

Mahamevnawa International Meditation Centre (MIMC), Oakleigh, Harding’s Elms Road, Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex CM1 2UH, Tel: 0126 853 3870