London Buddhist Vihara 2015 Kathina Ceremony

by Tissa Madawala, Sriexpress.com, 3 Nov 2015

London, UK -- KATHINA signifies the traditional end of the Vassa (Rainy) Season pertaining to the Buddha's own home ground in Northern India. A Vihara may perform this ceremony only once in any particular year. 

Kathina is an auspicious event giving devotees the rare opportunity of offering a Kathina Robe to the Sangha who have observed the Rainy Retreat (Vassa) at this Vihara. 

The occasion also gives an opportunity for practisingDana (generosity) in providing useful requisites to the monks and to the Vihara in general. The ceremony commemorating this event was celebrated at the London Buddhist Vihara on Sunday, 01st November 2015.

Programme was organised with the guidance of the Head of the Vihara and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain Most Ven. Bogoda Selawimala Nayaka Thera.

Deputy Incumbent of Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara, Anunayake of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha and the Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura in Sri Lanka, Most Ven. Professor Bellanwila Wimalarathana Nayaka Thera attended the Pinkama as a special guest.

Head of the Thames Buddhist Vihara Ven. Ahaliyagoda Dhammapala Thera, Ven. Naradha Thera from Thames Buddhist Vihara, Head of the Lumbini Vihara, East London, Ven. Makure Mangala Thera, Head of the Read-bridge Buddhist Vihara Ven. Pethigamuwe Hemarathana Thera, Head of the Edmonton Buddhist Vihara Ven. Gunnapane Ariyawansha Thera, Ven. Sumanarama Thera from the Edmonton Buddhist Vihara and resident monks of the London Buddhist Vihara Ven. Thawalama Bandula Thera, Ven. Dedunupitiye Upananda Thera, Ven. Konwewe Ariyarathana Thera and Ven. Kalugamuwe Kassapa Thera attended the ceremony.

Kathina Ceremony was sponsored by Mr. Daya Mendis and Mrs. Rani Mendis with their family members, Dinesha Ryani Mendis, Dilshini Ramesha Mendis Sandhu and Harjit Sandu.

Many of the London Buddhist Vihara devotees also assisted the Mendis family in various ways to make this years Kathina ceremony a great success.

At the request of the Maha Sangha, In recognition of the invaluable services rendered by Mr. and Mrs Mendis, the Most Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Dharmarakkitha Vipassi Mahanayka Thera of the Malwaththa Chapter of Siam Maha Nikaya in Sri Lanka in 2002 awarded the prestige title of " Keertghi Sri Priya Dharshana" to Daya Mendis. Mrs. Mendis is a reputed Gemologist. They both are devout supporters of the London Buddhist Vihara.

Ven. Seelawimala Nayaka Thera welcomed the Maha Sangha and all the devotees and delivered a Anusaasana explaining the beginning and the significance of the Kathina Cheewara Puja ceremony. He said that Kathina Puja is the most important the annual alms giving ceremony of the Buddhist year.

Ven. Professor Wimalarathana Nayaka Thera, Ven. Dedunupitiye Upananda Thera and Ven. Konwewe Ariyarathana Thera delivered sermons.

Ven. Bandula Thera in his Punyaanumodanaa thanked the Maha Sangha, sponsors of the Pinkama, every one who attended and members of the Dayaka Sabha and all the supporters of the Vihara for their hard work to make this year's Kathina Pinkama a success.

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot
NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.


Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team


Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv


TOP