THAI NEW YEAR “SONGKRAN” FESTIVAL
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Due to heavy rainstorms from the past year, the roof of the monk’s quarters has been damaged and there are many leaks. These buildings have been established for more than 35 years with little to no maintenance and the damage incurred has impacted the monks. The temple administration committee has set forth to repair the damaged roof. Therefore the committee decided to set up offering of the robe to Samakkhi in order to raise funds during the “Songkran” event.
The temple would like to invite you to donate funds according to your beliefs and we wish you and your family good heath and prosperity.
If you would like to contribute, please make check payable to “Buddhist Temple of America”. Or via Zelle to “Buddhist Temple of America” (909) 319-1630.
SCHEDULE
9:30AM | ALMS ROUND |
10:30AM | FOOD OFFERING & MORNING CHANTING |
12:00PM | WATER POURING/BLESSING CEREMONY |
1:00PM | ROBE OFFERING TO SAMAKKHI |
Sunday, April 14, 2024
SONGKRAN FESTIVAL
The Songkran festival is the Thai New Year’s festival.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
VISAKHA PUJA DAY
This day, sometimes called “Buddha Day,” commemorates three key events in the Buddha’s life that took place on this full-moon day: his birth, Awakening, and final Unbinding (parinibbana).
Saturday, July 20, 2024
ASALHA PUJA DAY
This day, sometimes called “Dhamma Day,” commemorates the Buddha’s first discourse, which he gave to the group of five monks with whom he had practiced in the forest for many years. Upon hearing this discourse, one of the monks ( Ven. Kondañña) gained his first glimpse of Nibbana, thus giving birth to the Noble Sangha. The annual Rains retreat (vassa) begins the following day.
Sunday, July 21, 2024
RAINS RETREAT (VASSA) BEGINS
The Vassa, a three-month rains retreat, was instituted by the Buddha himself and was made obligatory for all fully ordained bhikkhus; the details are laid down in the Mahavagga of the Vinaya Pitaka (3rd and 4th chapters). The retreat extends over a period corresponding to the North Indian rainy season, from the day following the full moon of July until the full-moon day of October. During the Vassa the monks are expected to dwell permanently in their temples and suspend all traveling.
In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. Some Buddhist lay people choose to observe Vassa by adopting more ascetic practices.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
END OF RAINS RETREAT (VASSA)
Sunday, October 20, 2024
THE ROYAL KATHINA CEREMONY
The kathina is a ceremony in which donors present cloth and other requisites to the monks who have spent the Rains Retreat together without break. As it may be held only between the full moon dates in October and November, and only once a year in any given monastery, it is considered a very special opportunity for donors to join in and develop the virtue of generosity together.
In the time of the Buddha, the last month of the rainy season (October/November) was the time when monks would prepare their requisites for the upcoming eight-month period when they could wander and meditate freely in the forest. In particular, this was the time when they would patch their old robes or sew new ones if the old ones were beyond repair. Lay supporters thus took the opportunity to provide the monks with cloth at this time, and the Buddha established the custom of the kathina, in which donors would present cloth to a community of monks as a whole. The monks would then make the cloth into a robe within that day and present it to one of their members whose robes were old and worn, or who was deserving in any other way.
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
NEW YEAR’S EVE – CHANTING OF METTA
A special evening chanting to welcome the new year. It starts after the daily evening chants, usually around 8 p.m.