Buddhism As Education

The Taiping Bodhi Langka Ram Buddhist Temple today held its Kathina Day at its temple premises. The ceremony was presided by the temple's resident monk Venerable Anandajoti. About more than 100 devotees and friends attended today's meritorious event. Asides, a Dhamma session with all devotees and friends at the temple's shrine was also held by Venerable Kumara of the Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS), Taiping. The event was later followed by Pindacara, Offering of Pindapata, Buddha Puja, Offering of Potential Requisites and Sanghikadana. A dedication of merits was later recited by the Sanghas and devotees to ensure all beings benefited from today's meritorious event. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!

The Nandaka Vihara Meditation Society situated at Lot 1250 Mukim 17, Jalan Kolam, Cherok Tokun, 14000 Bukit Mertajam will be holding its Kathina and Ground Breaking Ceremony concurrently on 11th November 2012. Programs for the event are as follows: 07.00 am - Welcome the Kathina Robes ceremony 08.00 am - Pindapata (Almsround) 08.30 am - Food Stalls Open To Devotees 10.00 am - Ground Breaking Ceremony for New Building Project 10.30 am - Sanghikadana (Offering of Food to the Sangha) 12.00 pm - Robes Offering to the Sangha, Dhamma Talk, Paritta Chanting and Sharing of Merits 01.30 pm - Blessing of Food Stall Sponsors at Dana Hall How to Donate? You can come personally to the vihara to make your cash donation; by telegraphic transfer (TT) direct into the vihara's bank account no. 3151741619 under the name of Persatuan Meditasi Nandaka Vihara or you could also pay by cheque/bank draft payable to PErsatuan Meditasi Nandaka Vihara. Kindly write your name and contact detai...

The Dhammavijaya Buddhist Centre at Lot 850 Jalan Besar, Kampung Sungai Buah Luar, 43800 Dengkil, Selangor will be holding its annual Kathina and Sanghikadana Ceremony on the 4th November and 5th November 2012 respectively. The Kathina on the 4th November shall commence from 9.00 am while the Sanghikadana on the 5th November will commence at 11.00 am. For more details on the event and sponsorship, please contact HK Chong at 019-2377799 or Christine Wong 012-2876650. May you be well and happy. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.

The Management Committees of Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society and Buddhist Missionary Society is organizing the Annual Kathina Celebration at the Buddhist Maha Vihara on the 4th November 2012, at 123 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. The Kathina programme on that day would be as follows: 6.45 am   Buddha Puja & Offering of Morning Alms to the Sangha 7.00 am   Procession Round the Temple by members, devotees and well-wishers 7.45 am   Offering of Kathina Civara (Robes) to the Sangha 9.00 am   Tailoring of the Kathina Robes 11.15 am  Buddha Puja and Sanghikadana, Transference of Merits 12.15 pm  Lunch for Devotees 6.30 pm    Illumination of the Vihara premises 7.30 pm    Gilampasa Buddha Puja (Blessing Service) and Sermon You can participate by sponsoring: RM50.00   - Food items, medicines and toiletries RM100.00 - Monks' robes in varying sizes RM250.00 - Monks' robes, alms bowl, medicines, to...

The Samadhi Vihara of the Buddhist Missionary Society of Malaysia is organising the Annual Kathina Robes Offering ceremony which marks the completion of the three months Vassana retreat observed by the members of the Sangha at the Vihara. During this ceremony, robes and other allowable requisites are offered to the monks as well as gifts for the upkeep of the vihara. Members of the Sangha are the protectors and teachers of the Noble Dhamma, the teachings of the Buddha and if diligently practised, will lead to final liberation. As such, lending support to the Sangha members will enable them to continue spreading the Noble Dhamma. This act of support and reverence is one of the highest meritorious deeds that you may accrue when you participate in this ceremony. Date: 21 October 2012 (Sunday) Time: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm Venue: Samadhi Vihara, 1B Jalan Pegaga U12/8, Seksyen U12, Kawasan Perindusrian Bukit Raja, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor. You are therefore cordially invited to jo...

Nandaka Vihara will be holding its annual Kathina Robes Offering ceremony on this Sunday 23rd October 2011. Nandaka Vihara is a forest monastery situated in Bukit Mertajam near to the Cherok Tokun Recreational Forest. Surrounded by orchards and forest reserve land, the quiet environment makes it suitable for meditation practice. The forest monastery is established to encourage the practice of meditation not only to monastic but also laymen and laywomen. Laypeople also come to participate in other activities such as Dhamma talks, Dana (charity, offering of food to monks), Dhamma discussions, Pali chanting class and Sunday Dhamma class for children as well. For this year's Vassa period, Nandaka Vihara is honoured to have 7 Venereble monks residing in the monastery in conjunction of the rains retreat. The programme for the Kathina Day shall be as follows: 8.00 am - Pindapata (Alms round) 8.30 am - Food Stalls Open for Devotees 10.30 am - Sanghikadana (Food Offerings) 12.00 pm - Kathin...

The rains retreat of the monks (Vassana Kala) ends on the full moon day of October. During the Vassana retreat that lasted for three months, the monks served the community of followers and devotees in various ways such as preaching of Dhamma, meditation, counselling and serving in many other ways. The monks end the retreat by performing a Monastic Disciplinary Act (Vinaya Kamma) called the Pavarana. After this, the monks are free to leave the place where the retreat was held. Before they leave, it is the custom for the devotees to hold a farewell ceremony for the monks which is called the Kathina ceremony. During this ceremony, many gifts are offered to the monks as well as gifts for the upkeep of the monastery (Vihara). A very important part of this ceremony is the offering of a special robe called the Kathina Civara, which is made in a special way, through contributions and collective effort by many devotees. This is also offered in a special way by carrying the "Kathina Robe...

The Kathina at Mahindarama Buddhist Temple in Kampar Road, Penang will be held on 16th October 2011, next Sunday corresponding to the 20th day of the 9th Lunar Month. The Kathina ceremony in Mahindarama will commence at 7.00 am with the procession around the Main Shrine Hall three times carrying along the Kathina Cloth and other offerings, follow by the Offering of Kathina Robes to the Sangha and offering of other requisites as well. Upon the offering of the Kathina Robes and other requisites, the ceremony shall continue with the Buddha Puja (Offering to the Buddha) and Sanghikadana (Offering of Alms to the Sangha. Co-Sponsors: RM500, while Ordinary Sponsors will be RM120. Every Co-Sponsors and Ordinary Sponsors shall be given a tray of requisites to be offered to the Sangha. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!

In Pali, Kathina literally means unshakable or immovable. The merits accrued in offering this kind of rob is unshakable by the other small demerits. Whenever the donors of Kathina Robe enjoy the results of these meritorious deeds in Samsara, the other small demerits - except the Five Weighty Karmas cannot interrupt or cannot shake its effect just like the great Earth or Mount Meru cannot be shaken by the wind. Therefore, it is called "Kathina". In Buddhist countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, the annual offering of Kathina Robes has assumed a great auspicious significance and this religious function receives even the Royal Patronage and favour. As such, devotees for this important annual occasion with great enthusiasm to take part in the celebration. Kathina Robe cannot be accepted by all monks. Only monks who had received Higher Ordination and observe the Vassa or Rains Retreat for three months can accept the Kathina Robe. Those who are novices,...

The rain retreat of the monks (Vassa Kala) ends on the full moon day of October. During the Vassa retreat that lasted for three months, the monks serve the community of followers in various ways such as teaching the Dhamma and meditation, counselling and serving in many other ways. The monks end the retreat by performing a Monastic Disciplinary Act (Vinaya Kamma) called the Pavarana. After this, the monks are free to leave the place where the retreat was held. Before they leave, it is the customs of the devotees to hold a farewell ceremony for the monks. This is called the Kathina ceremony. During this ceremony, many gifts are offered to the monks as well as gifts for the upkeep of the monastery (Vihara). A very essential part of this ceremony is the offering of a special robe called the Kathina Civara, which is made in a special way through the contribution and collective effort of many devotees. This is also offered in a special way by carrying the Kathina Robe in a parade (Perahera)...

In the commentary to the Kathinakkhandaka (Section on Kathina) of the Vinaya Pitaka, kathina is defined as a concept of conglomeration which means bringing things together. It is a concept that arises because of certain things that come together. For example: A Bhikkhu/s (Buddhist monk/s) who has/have spent the first vassa; A Sangha (Community of Bhikkhus) comprising at least five bhikkhus; Robe season (the Kathina month) - first month after the end of the first vassa i.e. final month of the rainy season; A rightfully acquired robe - the robe to be donated must not be requested by a member of the Sangha, nor must any hint be given for the robe to be offered, rather the robe must be offered spontaneously by the donor. These are some criterias that come together for the concept of kathina to arise. In fact, two meanings of kathina are given in the Vinaya Commentaries: A frame used during the Buddha's time for sewing double layered robes together. The edges of one robe were fixed to...

Nandaka Vihara in Cherok Tokun, Bukit Mertajam will be having its Kathina Day (Annual Offering of Robes) on 31 October 2010 (Sunday) from 8.00 am to 12.30 pm. The Kathina programme for that day are as follows:- 8.00 am - Pindapata (Almsround) - Rice only 8.30 am - Food Stalls Open for Devotees 10.30 am - Sanghikadana (Food Offerings to the Sangha) 12.00 pm - Kathina Robes Offering; Dhamma Talk, Paritta Chanting; Sharing of Merits 12.30 pm - Adjournment All are devotees and friends are welcome. May the Sasana remain forever. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!

How the kathina ceremony came about is recorded in the Mahavagga, the third book of the Vinaya Pitaka (Vin III. 351 ff). The following is a summary of the account. At one time monks of Pava were on the way to see the Lord who was staying at Savatthi in Jetavana, Anathapindika's monastery. They were all forest dwellers, all alms men, all wearers of rag robes, all wearers of the three robes. As vassa was approaching, they were unable to reach Savatthi in time, so they entered vassa on the way at Saketa. They spent the vassa in a state of longing, thinking: "the Lord is staying close to us, six yojanas (about 60 kilometers) from here, but we are not getting the chance to see the Lord". Ten after the vassa, the monks continued on their journey to Jetavana, Savatthi where the Lord was staying. It was raining and the waters were gathering, while swamps were forming. By the time the monks arrived at their destination, their robes were drenched and they were all exhausted. Having...

The full moon day of Asahla (Vassa) is an auspicious day for Buddhist devotees. On this day, meritorious deeds are done specially due to the following reasons:- 1) It was on this day that the Bodhisatta was conceived in Queen Maya's womb; 2) It was on this day that the Bodhisatta renounced the world to seek Enlightenment; 3) It was on this day that the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta or the Discourse on the Turning Wheel of the Dhamma. Thus, the Bodhisatta came into the human world, renounced his worldly pleasures and left the mundane world and delivered the first sermon. Because of these three great events, this day has a special significance for all Buddhist. When the Bodhisatta was about to pass away from the Tusita deva realm after enjoying the luxuries of a deva and Brahmas entreated, "it is time to be a Buddha in the human world". Thus, the Bodhisatta was conceived in the royal mother Queen Maha Maya's womb on the Full Moon Da...

The Taiping Bodhi Lankarama Buddhist Temple will be organising its Kathina (Annual Robes Offering Ceremony) on 1 November 2009 from 7.15 am to 1.00pm. All Buddhist devotees and friends are invited to participate in this annual meritoruos deed. Apart from Robes offering, a Dhamma Talk will also be held, follow by Pindacara and offering of Pindapata and Maha Sanghikadana..

The Taiping Bodi Langka Ram Buddhist Temple in Perak will be organising its annual Kathina celebration on 9 November 2008 from 7.00am to 1.00pm. The Kathina robes (which includes a Bowl) sponsorship is RM150 per person. All devotees and friends are most welcome to participate in this event. For further information you may contact 05-8077216.

Mahindarama Buddhist Temple at Jalan Kampar, Penang will be holding its annual Kathina (presentation of Robes and otther requisites) celebration on 19/10/2008 from 7.30am to 3.00pm. Each sponsorhip of a robe will be RM120.00 and all devotees and friends are welcome to participate in this event. For more information, please contact 04-2825944 or log into the Mahindarama Web .