Abhayagiri Kathina: October 23, 2016

Each year since the time of the Buddha, at the end of the three-month Rains Retreat, the lay community around every Buddhist monastery has gathered to celebrate the completion of the retreat and to offer to the monastic community gifts of cloth and supplies that will be useful for the coming year. The cloth is then cut, sewn and dyed by the monks to make a robe on that day to offer to one of the Saṅgha. This 2,500-year-old tradition is still carried on here in the West in the Theravadan monasteries. It is initiated by a lay supporter or a group of supporters who request to organize the preparation and formal offerings. It is both a significant and joyful occasion that, over time, has become emblematic of the richness of the relationship that exists between the lay people and the monastics. This relationship is characterized by deep bonds of friendship and commitment to mutual support. All year round, the monastery functions solely on offerings from the lay community.

Please plan on carpooling if possible. Parking is limited.

Please be here well in advance of the 11 am meal offering.

Sunday, October 23rd:
11 a.m. Meal Offering People are welcome to bring a dish to share.
1 p.m. Kathina Ceremony Refuges, Precepts and Dhamma Talk.

This year, we invited senior monks from five other North American monasteries associated with Ajahn Chah lineage to attend our Kathina, and they all accepted the invitation. We will be hosting:

• Ajahn Vīradhammo from Tisarana Buddhist Monastery near Ottawa
• Ajahn Sona from Birken Forest Monastery near Kamloops
• Ajahn Jayanto from Temple Forest Monastery in New Hampshire
• Ajahn Punnadhammo from Arrow River Forest Hermitage near Thunder Bay
• Ajahns Sudanto and Karuṇadhammo from Pacific Hermitage.
• Ajahn Kusalo from Bodhinyanarama in New Zealand will also be attending.

There aren’t many plans for how these senior monks will spend their time here. Our present plan is to invite Ajahn Sona to give the usual Saturday night talk and Ajahn Vīradhammo to speak at Kathina. Ajahn Sona has been invited to give a talk at Stanford at 6 pm on Tuesday, October 25. We will modify this page and the Abhayagiri calendar if any more events are scheduled.

Anyone who wishes to make offering for Kathina can consult the Kathina Dana List.

For more information, please contact Hitesi at abhayagirikathina@gmail.com or (415) 302-3390.