Buddhism As Education

Venerable Khedup Rinpoche and his Lamas from Nepal held a Grand Smoke Offering and the Amitabha Chang Chok Puja from 16 August to 18 August 2013. The event was held at the Karma Norbuling Buddhist Centre where the Rinpoche is the resident master. The Gand Smoke Offering and Amitabha Chang Chok Puja was held in conjunction with the 7th lunar month in order to promote merit making, with mantra recitation, chantings and passing the merits to the departed one as well as the wondering spirits and souls.

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...

Samaneras (trainee monks) listening attentively to the guidance of the Venerable Sir A Senior Venerable chanting the suttas in the presence of other venerable sirs The Venerable Sanghas acknowledging the offerings of monks' requisites from devotees Venerable Sanghas acknowledging the offerings of daily requisites from devotees Our Venerable Sanghas began the chanting of suttas for the samaneras and devotees Samaneras and devotees following attentively to the chanting of suttas Sanghas and samaneras led by Abbot Ven.Dhammasubho began accepting various offerings of food and drinks Other Sanghas and samaneras began to receive the food offerings served on the hall Various kinds of food offerings delivered over by the devotees Devotees and well-wishers began to take the food after the Sanghas and samaneras were offered In conjunction of the Vassa period (rain retreat - monks go into intensive practice), a number of activities and programs were organized by Nandaka Vihara in ord...

While residing at the Jetavana Monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Mattakundali, a young Brahmin. Mattakundali was a young Brahmin, whose father, Adinnapubbaka was very misery and never gave anything in charity. Even the gold ornaments for his only son were made by himself to save payment for the workmanship. When his son fell ill one day, no physician was consulted, until it was too late. When he realized that his son was dying, he had the youth carried outside on the veranda, so that people coming into his house would not see his possessions. On that morning, the Buddha arising from his deep meditation of compassion, saw in his Net of knowledge, Mattakundali lying on the veranda. So when entering Savatthi for alms-food with his disciples, the Buddha stood near the door of the Brahmin Adinnapubbaka. The Buddha send forth a ray of light to attact attention of the youth, who was facing the interior of the house. The young man saw the Buddha and he was v...

In this ceremony, devotees hold a lit candle after sunset as they pave around the perimeter of a temple, holy object or monument in walking meditation as they chant mantras or the Buddha's name in praise of Him. The ceremony represents the passing of the light of wisdom (sharing of the Truth) to every direction of the world to dispel the darkness if Ignorance. On personal level, it has the significance of lighting up one's inner lamp of Wisdom. The indefinite passing on of the light to countless others without one's own flame dying illustrates that Wisdom can be shared without loss on one's part. The burning of the wick with the melting of the candle reminds us of the impermanence and transience of all conditional things, including our own lives. Reflecting so helps us to treasure every moment alive without attachment. Mindfulness is practiced in not letting the flame be extinguished. This is symbolic of the constant guarding of the Mind against negative factors detrime...

Upavasatha Days On Upavasatha or new and full Moon days (the first and fifteen days of the lunar month), many Buddhist assemble in temples to meditate, make offerings, recite sermons and perform acts of veneration to the Triple Gem. Many also take vegetarian meals on these days as they observe the Eight Precepts. Ullambana Day Ullambana is an expression of Buddhists' respect for their ancestors and their Compassion for all beings suffering in the realms of misery. The observance of Ullambana on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month is based on the incident of Venerable Mogallana, a disciple of the Buddha who discovered through his meditative powers that his mother had been reborn in one of the realms of misery. Distressed, he approached the Buddha for help, who then advised him to make offerings to the Sangha, as their merit of doing so would help to relieve the suffering of his mother and that of other beings in the realms of misery. Making offerings to relieve the sufferin...

Offering of Lights The offering of light reminds us of the illuminating brightness of Wisdom which dispels the darkness of Ignorance on the path towards Enlightenment. This urges us to seek the light of ultimate Wisdom. Reverencing the Buddha, we offer candles and lamps: To Him, who is the light, we offer light. From His great lamp, a lamp we light within us: The lamp of Bodhi (awakening) shining within our hearts. Offering of Flowers The offering of fresh and beautiful flowers which soon becomes withered, scentless and discoloured serves as a reminder of the impermanence of all things, including our very lives. This urges us to treasure every moment of our life while not becoming attached to it. Reverencing the Buddha, we offer flowers: Flowers that today are fresh and sweetly blooming, Flowers that tomorrow are faded and fallen. Our bodies too, like flowers will also pass away. Offering of Incense The offering of fragrant burning incense which fills the air symbolizes the virtue and ...