ROYAL KATHINA CELEBRATION
Sunday, October 20, 2024
According to the Department of Religious Affairs, the Bureau of the Royal Household has deemed it appropriate for Bhuridattavanaram Temple in Ontario, CA to receive the Royal Kathina Robe. The temple committee has invited the Consul-General of Thailand to Los Angeles to attend as well as fellow patrons to join in honor of the charitable event.
Buddhist Temple of America would like to invite you to join in the Royal Kathina Celebration. This special event only takes place once a year; the robe will be offered and celebrated on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
If you wish to reserve an affiliated rope tree or wish to join the alms booth, please contact Penny at (909) 319-1630.
SCHEDULE
| 9:30AM | ALMS ROUND |
| 10:30AM | FOOD OFFERING TO THE MONKS |
| 11:30AM | LUNCH |
| 1:30PM | CELEBRATION OF KATHINA IN THE SANCTUARY |
The temple has a free canteen serving food and drinks.
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.