On March 7, the Central Khurul of Kalmykia “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” Held the First Day of the Great Prayer Assembly Ik Yöräl (Monlam Chenmo)

The Ik Yöräl (Monlam Chenmo) is traditionally held in the first days of the first lunar month — Tsagan Sar. It was precisely in these days that Buddha Shakyamuni, during his debate with the false teachers, displayed his miraculous powers. On the 15th lunar day the Buddha completed his display of miracles, decisively defeating the false teachers and thereby strengthening in his disciples faith in the “Three Jewels”.

In honor of this momentous victory of Buddha Shakyamuni, the Ik Yöräl (Monlam Chenmo) was established, which began to be celebrated from 1409 (the year of the Earth Ox) in Lhasa. This festival was established by the great Zunkva Gegyan (Lama Je Tsongkhapa) in honor of the miraculous deeds of Buddha Shakyamuni.

The practical purpose of the “Ik Yöräl” lies in the fact that, according to the words of Nagarjuna, when auspicious wishes are made together with the great Bodhisattvas, the results will be so powerful that they can, for example, prevent wars, catastrophes and epidemics and bring immense benefit to all living beings.

What happened in these days in the time of the Buddha is told in the Sutra of Wisdom and Folly (Dzanlundo). The sutra tells how six false teachers — advisers to the younger brother of King Bimbisara, who had led the king himself and the people of his land astray from the path of the Teaching — attempted to shame the Buddha by challenging him. It was precisely in these days that Buddha Shakyamuni, during his debate with the false teachers, displayed his miraculous powers.

On the first day the Buddha performed the first miracle. He thrust a wooden toothpick into the ground, which at once began to grow and swiftly grew into a huge tree whose flowers were the size of a cartwheel and whose fruits were the size of a large jug. The trunk, branches, foliage and fruits of this tree were made of all manner of jewels, which outshone the sun with their light, and when the wind blew, the branches gave forth the melodious sound of the Dharma. Those who tasted its fruits found them divine. Merely to smell the sweet fragrance of the tree and its fruits made people joyful and happy. This tree gave rise in the gathered people to thoughts of faith. Then the Buddha bestowed the Teaching, and those present attained many spiritual fruits.

On the second day the Buddha performed the second miracle. To his right and left he created two very large mountains made of jewels of five colors. On the mountains grew lush trees with juicy fruits, flowers bloomed, and melodious sounds rang out. On the summit of one mountain grew juicy and delicious fruits, with which all the gathered people were amply satisfied. And the summit of the second mountain was covered with lush, velvety grass, which the inhabitants of the animal world enjoyed. After this the Buddha bestowed the Teaching, and the minds of the gathered were completely purified.

On the third day the Buddha performed the third miracle, rinsing his mouth after the meal and spitting out the water. The water began to spread and turned into a large pond adorned with jewels. The water of the pond possessed eight miraculous qualities, and its surface was covered with a multitude of lotuses of all colors. The radiance emanating from these lotuses lit up the sky and the earth with light. After this the Buddha bestowed the Teaching, and the number of those who took the path of performing deeds that generate good merit increased.

On the fourth day the Buddha performed the fourth miracle. On this day he caused eight great channels to appear at the corners of the jeweled pond, the water from which flowed out, encircled the pond, and poured back in. And in the murmur of the flowing water one could hear a voice that preached about the various aspects of the Teaching. Many were imbued with the Teaching, listening to this voice of the Dharma, and set out on the path of becoming a buddha.

On the fifth day the Buddha performed the fifth miracle. Parting his lips, the Victorious One emitted a ray of golden light and illuminated the sphere of the great thousand worlds. Those living beings whom this ray touched were freed from the three poisons and the five defilements, and attained bodily and mental tranquility like a monk immersed in the third dhyana. After this the Buddha bestowed the Teaching, and many of those present gave rise to thoughts of the highest spiritual awakening.

Photo: Aldar Kishtenov