The great assembly

When I was recently writing about the Mahavana Forest in Nepal, it struck me how underrated the place is. Most people overlook it, probably because there’s no major landmark there. Just a quiet expanse of forest without even the hint of ruined structures. Even the Buddhist pilgrimage tours from Malaysia and Singapore tend to skip it entirely. Yet, I would argue that Mahavana deserves to be an essential stop for anyone who wants to better understand the activities of the Buddha.

Some time ago, I was reminded that this year's 10th of June corresponded to the full moon day of the lunar month, known as Navon in the Burmese calendar. This full moon day in June is an important date in the Buddhist calendar, especially in Burma where it’s marked as Mahasamaya Day, meaning The Great Assembly day. It becomes a time to reflect on a remarkable event from the Buddha’s time: an event that combined compassion, wisdom and cosmic significance.

It all began with a very earthly quarrel. In the fourth year after his enlightenment, the Buddha learned of a serious conflict brewing between two neighbouring states: the Sakyans of Kapilavatthu (his own people) and the Koliyans across the Rohini river. A terrible drought had struck the region and the two sides were fighting over water for their crops. The tension was so severe that war seemed inevitable.

The Buddha intervened. He travelled to the border where the two armies were facing off. With gentle words and calm reasoning, he reminded them that water was not worth shedding blood over. Through his wisdom, the conflict was diffused. The two sides saw the error of their ways and laid down their weapons.

To express their gratitude, the rulers of both states each ordained 250 princes, 500 in total, into the Sangha. But these newly ordained monks, though sincere, still struggled with worldly attachments. Their wives, left behind in the royal palaces, tried to win them back with music, perfume and sweet food. As the young monks’ minds wavered, the Buddha led them away into the serenity of the Himalayan forests, to a place called Kundala Lake. There, under the cool shade of trees and the silence of nature, he taught them the Story of the Kundala Bird, using 300 verses to illustrate the path of letting go. By the end, the monks reached the first stage of enlightenment, Sotapatti. 

The Buddha then brought them to Mahavana, the Great Forest near Kapilavatthu. Seated in a cave on the night of the full moon of Nayon, he gave them guidance in meditation and one by one, they attained full enlightenment or Arahantship.

And then something extraordinary happened.

Word of the great assembly of enlightened monks spread. Not only humans, but devas, yakkhas, nagas, Brahmas, beings from the heavenly realms and all across the cosmos, began arriving. They came in vast numbers, shining with celestial light, drawn to the power of the Dhamma. The Buddha turned to the monks and said, “The deva hosts have approached. Detect them, monks.”

The monks, deep in their meditation, opened their inner vision. Some saw a hundred celestial beings. Some saw a thousand. Some saw uncountable numbers. The entire forest, it seemed, was glowing.

Seven thousand yakkhas came from Kapilavatthu. Six thousand more from the Himalayas. Three thousand from Mount Sata. Another 500 from Vessamitta. And Kumbhira, the great yakkha of Mount Vepulla, brought an entourage of over 100,000.

Then came the Four Great Kings: Dhatarattha from the East, lord of the gandhabbas (celestial musicians); Virulha from the South, ruler of the kumbandas; Virupakkha from the West, king of the nagas (serpents); and Kuvera from the North, sovereign of the yakkhas. They stood, radiant, at the four corners of the forest. Their entourages followed: hosts of devas, raucous and reverent, bearing names like Pañcasikha, Matali, Timbaru and Suriyavacchasa. The naga kings from Lake Nabhasa, Vesali and the Yamuna river came, as did the mighty Garudas, ancient bird-beings who, for once, made peace with the nagas.

The sky shimmered with the arrival of devas from the sun and moon, from the constellations, from the four elements - water, fire, earth and air. The gods of the Tavatimsa heaven came, led by Sakka, the deva-king. Even the high Brahmas arrived: Sanankumara, Subrahma, Harita, and Great Brahma himself — resplendent, serene and wise. Altogether, 60 great groups of celestial beings came from across the heavens. Each arrived quietly and reverently to hear the Buddha speak.

But not all were pleased. From the shadows came Mara, the Lord of Delusion. Seeing so many gathered in peace and joy, his dark heart burned with envy. With a thunderclap, he summoned his army. “Surround them! Distract them! Trap them in passion and fear!”

But the monks were unmoved. They remained calm, clear and beyond Mara’s reach. The Buddha once again said, “Mara’s army has approached. Detect them, monks.” And once again, they did. Mara saw he had no power here, and thus he fled.

In the stillness that followed, the Buddha delivered the Mahasamaya Sutta, a discourse so powerful and universal that countless celestial beings attained various stages of enlightenment. An unimaginable number reached Arahatship. Others reached the first, second or third stages of liberation. It was a moment of cosmic harmony. A great meeting of awakened minds and a turning point in the spiritual history of the world.

And that is why Mahasamaya Day is honoured. It reminds us of the Buddha’s role as peacemaker, teacher and guide among humansc and across all realms of existence. It tells us that peace is possible, even in the face of conflict. That wisdom shines brighter than power. And that the Dhamma speaks to all who are ready to listen, from kings and queens to yakkhas and nagas, from monks in the forest to devas in the sky. Above all, it teaches that true peace begins with the taming of our own hearts.