Poson, the dawn of plenty and prosperity

 Over the years Wijeya Newspapers Ltd introduced the “Aloka Pooja”, a concept of Chairman R.S. Wijewardene, which enables the illuminating of ‘Tantirimale’ for the annual Poson Festival

• The Maha Samana, delivered his maiden sermon based on “Chulla Hatti Padume Sutta” to the king of Sri Lanka 
•  History reveals that Prince Aritta and 50 members of the Royal family entered the order of Maha Sangha
• The Maha Samana advised the King to make a request from the emperor, since Maha Samana had no authority to enroll Bhikkhunis

On a resplendent ‘Full Moon Day’ in the month of June, Poson festivities are celebrated in Sri Lanka.  This splendid occasion is to commemorate and pay homage to the wonderful appearance of Maha Samana Arahant Mihindu, accompanied by a spiritually advanced six-member Royal emissary, sent by the great emperor Dharmasoka of Jambudeepa, on a similar Poson Poya day 2013 years ago.  

The venue of the event was ‘Missaka Pawwa’ or Ambustala rock, 100 feet above the plain, named Mihintale, nearby Anuradhapura. 
Arahant Mahendra (Mihindu / Maha Samana), was none other than the only son of emperor Dharmasoka. Tissa, Tissa! the Clarian command addressing the King by his name, stunned King Devanampiyatissa, and his Royal escort, who were engaged in an annual deer hunting round armed with bows and arrows.   
“Samana Mayam Maha Raja Dhamma Rajassa Sewaka-Themeva Anukampaya Jambudeepa Idagata”.  
Oh! Great King, Samanas are we the disciples of the King of Truth.  With compassion towards Thee – we come from Jambudeepa”.
Instantly, the King Devanampiyatissa wisely recollected emperor Dharmasoka’s sacred offer and respectfully approached the Maha Samana and his group.  
Following a brief discussion the King and his men, took refuge in the sacred Triple Gem embracing Buddha Dhamma.
Further the Maha Samana was invited to the Royal Palace the following day.
The members of the royal family as well as civilians in large numbers attended the event.  
The Maha Samana, delivered his maiden sermon based on “Chulla Hatti Padume Sutta.  History reveals that Prince Aritta and 50 members of the Royal family entered the order of Maha Sangha.
Meanwhile Queen Anoma and a feminine group expressed their earnest desire to enter the “Bikkhuni Sasana”.         
The Maha Samana advised the King to make a request from the emperor, since Maha Samana had no authority to enroll Bhikkhunis.  
The emperor Dharmasoka became so delighted and arranged his own daughter Arahant Sangamitta Theri, to accompany a group of Bhikkhunis to proceed to Sri Lanka and establish a Bhikkhuni Sasana.
The emperor further made arrangements for Arahant Sanghamitta, to carry a right Bo Sapling from the “Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi” in a golden bowl to Sri Lanka for the next Unduwap Poya Day.  The Bo sapling was respectfully received and planted in “Maha Mewna Uyana”.
Being the oldest living tree in the World, the “Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi” blessfully still remains at Anuradhapura.
As a result of this blessed event the social, economic and educational renaissance was gained.  
Even during present times, crowds have thronged to Mihintale all throughout poson poya. To facilitate pilgrims climbing the Ambastala Rock, our ancestors made unbelievable sacrifices in making a grand granite stairway comprising 1800 steps.  According archaeologist this is still the World’s largest stone stairway.  
At present Mihintale has become more glamorous due to the Maha Seya being electrically illuminated. 
Associated Newspaper of Ceylon Ltd. as well as Wijeya Newspapers Ltd introduced this “Aloka Pooja”, a concept of Chairman R.S. Wijewardene.  Since more volunteers surfaced, the Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. took interest in illuminating ‘Tantirimale’ for the annual Poson Festival.  
Tantirimale, earlier Thivanka Bamunu Grama, is where Princes Hemamali and Prince Danta remained on their arrival, carrying the sacred Tooth Relic.
Upon Enlightenment the Exalted One analysed how the theory of Cause and Effect (Dependent Arising – Paticca Samuppada), the beings are led to continuous suffering in life and its origination step by step.  He also reflected the same process in reversible order explaining how this whole mass of suffering be eradicated (cessation). 
01.Dependent on ignorance arise (Avijja) moral and immoral conditioning activities (Sankara).
02.Depending on Conditioning Activities arise consciousness (Vinnana).
03.Depending on consciousness arise mind and matter (Nama – Rupa).
04.Dependent on mind and matter arise the Six Spheres of Sense (Salayathan).
05.Dependent on Six Spheres of Sense arise Contact (Passa).
06. Depending on Contact arises Feeling (Vedana).
07. Dependent on Feeling arise Craving (Tanha).
08. Dependent on Craving arise Grasping (Upadana).
09. Dependent on Grasping arise Becoming (Bhava).
10. Dependent on Becoming arise Birth (Jati).
11. Depending on Birth arise Decay (Jara), death (Marana), sorrow (Soka), lamentation (Parideva),     pain (Dukkha), grief (Domanssa), despair (Upadyava).
If the ‘Cause’ exists the ‘Effect’ too exists.  If the Cause does not exist there won’t be Effect.  Therefore in order to cease Effect, Cause has to be eradicated.  Accordingly with the cessation of ignorance, conditioning activities cease. 

• With the cessation of conditioning activities consciousness (Vinnana) cease. 
•  With the cessation of consciences mind and matter cease.  
•  With the cessation of mind and matter six spheres of sense cease.
•  With the cessation of six spheres contact cease. 
•  With the cessation of contact feeling ceases.  
•  With the cessation of feeling, craving ceases. 
•  With the cessation of craving grasping ceases. 
•  With the cessation of grasping becoming ceases. 
•  With the cessation of becoming birth ceases.  
•  With the Cessation of Birth, decay death sorrow, lamentation pain, grief and despair cease.

There upon no more ‘cause and effect.’  This means the end of the life cycle.  In the absence of Disappearance and Reappearance of life process is the attainment of the Sublime State.    
“Buddhism is a key to open the doors of reality”. Mrs. Rhys Davids, explains that Abhidhamma deals with – what we find within us; what we find around us and what we aspire to find. 
The Late Narada Maha Thera has stated that Buddhism is not a hypothetical interpretation of the unknown (as in metaphysics), or of the inexactly known (as in ethics) or political philosophy.  It is for the wise truth seekers.
 Philosophy deals mainly with knowledge and is not concerned of practice and or realisation.
Buddhism does not demand blind faith from its adherents. Buddha is only a teacher, but we ourselves are responsible for purification.
This doctrine is profound; hard to see, difficult to understand, calm, sublime, not within the sphere of Logic, subtle, to be understood by the wise.
The Abhidhamma pitake is compiled to demonstrate higher doctrine of the Buddha, expounds the quintessence of his profound teachings.  It is a full text of the profound philosophy in teachings of the Buddha.  
The aspects of mind, thought processes and the mental properties in modern science come within the scope of the Adhidhamma.  However it does not admit of psyche or a soul.  It teaches a psychology without a psyche.   
“By one alone is evil done.  By one alone is one defiled - By one alone is evil avoided - By one alone is one purified.  Purity and impurity depend on oneself no one can purify another.”  

(The writer can be reached at [email protected])