✨ WELCOME to Dhammadharini's Bhikkhuni Sangha Kathina - Saturday October 26th ✨
❧ Dhammadharini Monastery
Greetings dear Venerable monastics and Dhamma friends -
The Dhammadharini Bhikkhuni community has completed a beautiful and rich Vassa. It has been such a beneficial time for the community to gather, practice, and train together.
Now, with the successful completion of the Vassa, the whole Dhammadharini monastic community from Dhammadharini Monastery and Aranya Bodhi Hermitage will be gathering together at our Dhammadharini Monastery in Penngrove CA, in the San Francisco North Bay, for the celebration of Kathina “Offering the Robe of Merit” on Saturday October 26th.
Register to join us in person or online on October 26th!
The Kathina Civara Dana ("Gift of the Kathina Robe/s") aka Kathina Puja ("Honoring the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha through offering the Kathina") comes in the month after the end of the Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat, and is a celebration of community and generosity. It is the traditional time of year for the lay community to express their support for the monastic Sangha by offering essential requisites (food, robes & clothing, shelter, and medicines).
The central feature of Kathina is the offering of the Kathina cloth (Kathina dusam) to the Sangha, who awards it to one of their Bhikkhu/ni members — in some traditions, this cloth is then sewn into a robe before dawn of the next day. This year, the Kathina robe cloth will be offered by recently-retired-president of Dhammadharini support foundation, Srisakul (Susie) Chareonsiri Kliks.
You are most welcome to offer additional cloth or robes or any other requisites for the Kathina as a gesture of appreciation to all the Bhikkhuni Sangha past, and as a gesture of welcome and support to the Bhikkhuni Sangha going forward. Donors may pledge to participate in a special Kathina Season order of useful robes for the Bhikkhunis from Thailand. For this purpose, there will be ten extra robe packs kindly provided by Wat Buddhanusorn, which aspiring robe donors may join in giving during the Kathina Sanghadana Ceremony as a token of their pledge. Other requisites and useful things to offer are listed in the Kathina Wish List.
We are expecting a total of 7 bhikkhunis (2 theris and 5 new bhikkhunis) and 1 anagarika who completed the 2024 Vassa with Dhammadharini. This year we are celebrating the completion of Dhammadharini's 20th Vassa, since Dhammadharini's launching at the beginning of 'second vassa' in August 2005! (noting Dhammadharini is planning on commemorating our 20th anniversary --2005-2025 counted in years rather than vassas-- on Dhammacakkappavattana "Wheel Turning" Day in 2025) We also note with special appreciation that Dhammadharini is the only place in the contiguous United States where a complete Bhikkhuni Sangha observed and completed the Vassa together–we invite you to join in blessing and rejoicing in the outstanding support of our Vassa-time supporters who made that possible.
We hope that you will join us on Saturday!
This event will be in-person at Dhammadharini Monastery, with certain parts of the day being live streamed as well, on Zoom, Youtube and Facebook Live. Please register to let us know you are coming in person, or to receive the Zoom link for the day. Live streamed portions of the day will be from 10-11am and 1:30-4pm PDT. There will be an opportunity to participate in Kathina Sanghadana from afar for those on Zoom who wish to do so.
The day is planned to include:
9:30am: Arrival and setup for Lunch Dana (Amisa Dana) Offering to the Bhikkhuni Sangha
10am: Offering of Kathina robe cloth and sewing supplies to the Bhikkhuni Sangha by Srisakul (Susie) Chareonsiri Kliks & Family
Community Offering of Sanghadana of additional robe cloth, robes, and monastic requisites
Bhikkhuni Sangha Kathina Sanghakamma bestowing robe cloth on worthy Bhikkhuni11am: Rice Pindapat, Offering of Lunch Dana to the Bhikkhuni Sangha, followed by community feast for all (Lunch dana will be offered by Srisakul Kliks, Khun Jarurin T Pua and friends. All are warmly welcome to bring food and beverages to share. For advice about what food to bring, contact Susie Kliks)
Opportunity for everyone to join in sewing of the Kathina robe
1:30pm: Words from Dhammadharini Support Foundation Board and Inspiring Generosity
1:45pm: Dhamma program
Celebrating the completion of Dhammadharini's 20th Vassa
Introducing the Bhikkhuni Sangha Lunar Calendar Commemorative Dates
Dhamma talks from our Bhikkhuni Sangha: What we've learned about "Practicing for Peace in a World on Fire"
3:00pm: Kathina Offering Parade (everyone is invited to join in holding up the Kathina robe, and carrying their offerings of robes and requisites)
Kathinatthara “Spreading the Kathina” by the Kathina recipient Bhikkhuni honoree
Community Offering of Sanghadana to the Bhikkhuni Sangha of additional robes, robe cloth, and monastic requisites
Formal offering and blessing of new pickup truck
Anumodana Dhamma Talk from the Venerable Kathina recipient Bhikkhuni honoree
4:00pm: Dedication & Closing with Maha Mangala Blessings from the Bhikkhuni Sangha
Friends welcome to stay and help with cleanup
COVID Safety
We know it is still around. With loving kindness to the vulnerable members of our community, the event will be held outdoors with COVID safety precautions in place. We ask everyone’s kindness, compassion, generosity of heart, mindfulness and care in providing a safe space for those who are medically vulnerable, and ask everyone attending to behave as if visiting a vulnerable family member. This includes not coming inside any of the buildings except for the public restroom. All event activities and facilities will be outdoors. Thank you and many blessings to you for your kind understanding.
Volunteers needed and welcome!
On the afternoon of Friday October 25th, to help with setup.
On the morning of Saturday October 26th
To stay after the event and help with cleanup.
Please tel/text +1 707-583-9522 or email Dhammadharini Monastery if you can help.
For Kathina donations, see the Kathina Donations page, or go straight to the Kathina Wish List.
For information about supporting our community during the auspicious Kathina season, please see the Support page on dhammadharini.net
Want to invite others to join in Kathina together?
Warm welcome to forward this email, share the cards in this email anywhere on social media, or share this Kathina post on Dhammadharini's page on Facebook.
We look forward to having you join us on Kathina Day together!
With metta,
the Dhammadharini Community
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Dhammadharini Monastery
6791 Sturtevant Dr., Penngrove CA 94951
tel or text: +1 707.583.9522
email: dhammadhari...@gmail.com
more info on the web @ dhammadharini.net