Kathina Ceremony 2014

This year’s Kathina Ceremony will take place on Sunday, October 12th.

Each year since the time of the Buddha, at the end of the three-month Rains Retreat, the lay communities near Theravada Buddhist monasteries have gathered to celebrate the completion of the retreat and offer to the monastic community gifts of cloth and supplies that will be useful for the coming year. The cloth is cut, sewn and dyed by the monks that same day to make a robe to offer to a member of the monastic Sangha.

This 2,500-year-old tradition is still carried on here in the West, initiated by a lay supporter or group of supporters who request to organize the preparation and formal offerings. It’s a significant and joyful occasion that’s emblematic of the richness of the relationship between lay people and monastics, a relationship 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.

We and other people traveling to the monastery from the Bay Area are experiencing delays due to traffic and construction. Please plan accordingly. See the bottom of this news article for a real-time Google Traffic estimate from San Francisco to the monastery.

Sunday, October 12th:

11 a.m. Meal Offering People are welcome to bring a dish to share. Please plan to arrive and have any food offerings here by at least 10:45 am (to avoid last minute rush)
1 p.m. Kathina Ceremony Refuges, Precepts and Dhamma Talk.

Ajahn Amaro, the former co-abbot of Abhayagiri and current abbot of Amaravati in England will be offering the afternoon Dhamma reflection.

Anyone who wishes to help can consult the Kathina Dana List.

For more information, please contact Catherine at AbhayagiriKathina@gmail.com or (415) 595-7050.