The full-moon day of Asalha month marks the occasion when the Buddha first preached the “Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta” to His five disciples gathered in Benares.

For seven weeks after the Buddha’s Enlightenment, He contemplated on the Dhamma with His perfectly clear faculty of comprehension.  Then, He travelled for seven days from Bodhgaya to Sarnath, where He preached the First Sermon (the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the Five Ascetics in Isipatana two full-moons after His Enlightenment.

Today, on the full-moon day of Asalha month, we commemorate this momentous occasion when the ‘Wheel of Dhamma’ was set in motion.  The Dhamma – ‘principles which uphold the natural order of the universe’, leads us on the path to our own Enlightenment should we undertake efforts to learn, internalise and then realise for ourselves.  It is on this very path, that we can relinquish hatred, anger and jealousy, and gain the joys of loving-kindness, compassion and contentment here and now.

On this blessed day, take time to reflect on our own spiritual aspirations, and fill our hearts with deep gratitude for the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha who afforded us the opportunity of realise our full potential as a human being.  Let us embark on this noble journey, which is unsurpassed by any other, with courage and hope.  Happy ‘Dhamma Day’.