Significance of Kathina and Robe Offering

TI-SARANA BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION 90, DUKU ROAD, SINGAPORE 429254. TEL: 6345 6741 Fax: 6348 0844 Email: tisarana@singnet.com.sg Website:www.tisarana.org.sg NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2006 Significance Of Kathina And Robe Offering - page 1&2 Metta Butterfly Project Update Parents Day Celebration Sangha Abode Consecration Ceremony - page 4 VAS 2006 Invitation VAS 2006 Activities Sunday Dhamma Classes Conferment Of Buddhist Name - page 7 Kathina & Robe Offering Programme - page 3 - page 5 - page 6 - page 8 Significance of Kathina and Robe Offering Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association will celebrate the Kathina and Robe Offering ceremony on 29th of October. This is an apt occasion to reconsider how and why Buddhist devotees make these offerings to the mahasangha. References are made often in the Buddhist texts to the monks Four Requisites consisting of (I.) Robe, (II.) Alms, (III.) Lodgings and (IV.) Medicine. Popularly, these four requisites are known as food, clothing, shelter and medicine, the requirements of any human being to lead a normal life. Introduction of Eight Requisites I. At the beginning of the dispensation since monks had not been enjoined a specific attire, they followed the ascetics of that time and used to pick up pieces of cloth thrown away in cemeteries and garbage heaps and stitched them together as outer garments. They dyed them with cow-dung or yellow clay but they soon became badly coloured and foul smelling. Once the Buddha saw a paddy field in Magadha, partitioned attractively with banks and cross-banks for irrigational purposes and suggested the design of the paddy field for stitching up pieces of cloth of different sizes to make the robes of monks. This innovative design gave a pleasant tailoring finish to the robe as well as the double and inner robe which were later prescribed as the remaining two of the threefold set of monks garments. In a later occasion, considering the colour and the smell, dyes made of roots, trunks, barks, leaves, flowers and fruits of trees were prescribed. With the gradual growth of the dispensation, it was necessary to add five more items to this set of three, making it a set of Eight Requisites (Atthaparikkhara), namely; Robe, Double robe, Inner robe, Belt or Girdle, Alms Bowl, Razor and Needle with thread and Water-Strainer. Monks were allowed to accept them from devotees when they were offered. II. The normal practice was for the monks to go on alms round for food. In addition to going for alms round, they were allowed to accept food offered on invitation and offered at their lodgings. III. At the earliest stage of the dispensation, monks lived in caves or on heaps of straw or under the foot of trees. But later, the Buddha allowed lodgings of different kinds. IV. Seeing some monks afflicted with an autumnal disease, monks had been allowed to use ghee, fresh butter, oil (sesame oil, mustard oil, oil containing honey, castor oil and oil from tallow) honey and molasses as medicine. The Buddha paid special attention to ailing monks and set an example by attending to them personally. With the evolution of the dispensation, not only numerous kinds of medicine and medical facilities were prescribed but also medical wards with attendant monks were allowed to be setup in monasteries. 1 continue on page 2

What is Kathina and Robe Offering? Kathina is the robe or the robe material offered by devotees at the end of the three months Rainy Retreat. Being grateful to services rendered in the form of assistance to their spiritual growth, devotees offer the Kathina robe to the monks who observe the retreat at that particular premises. This is a robe that can be offered only once a year, in a monastery where a higher ordained monk or monks have observed the retreat. The offering of Kathina is described in the early Buddhist texts as an extraordinary meritorious deed yielding many happy returns for the donors. Other additional robes offered on the Kathina day are distributed among monks who are in need of robes, perhaps in other countries as well. May all beings be well and happy! Ven. Dr. P. Gnanarama Maha Thero Kathina Day At Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association As Ven. Gnanarama wrote in the foreword of this newsletter, the offering of Kathina robe is an extraordinary meritorious deed yielding many happy returns for the donors. It can be offered only once a year where a higher ordained monk or monks have observed the three months Vassana retreat at that particular premises. Hence, you are encouraged to offer robes or the eight requisites to the Sangha to show your respect, appreciation and gratitude to the Sangha. Order(s) for the robes [at $40 each] or eight requisites [at $80 per set] or other offerings can be placed by completing the attached form provided with this newsletter and submission made to the Honorary Treasurer, Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association. This year, the annual Kathina and Robe Offering Ceremony at Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association will be held on 29 October 2006. After the Kathina Ceremony, these robes will be brought to Sri Lanka in December 2006. These robes will be offered to the monks who will be invited to the 100 th year anniversary celebration at Ven. Dr. Gnanarama s temple at Colombo, Sri Lanka and the opening ceremony of Ven. Ratanasiri s Metta Youth Centre at Matara, Sri Lanka. You are invited to attend Kathina and the Robe Offering Ceremony at Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association on 29 October 2006 (Sunday). The Kathina Programme is on page 8 of this newsletter. Do come with your family, relatives and friends to share the joy and merits of offering robes to the Sangha. You will be able to participate in the cutting of the Civara cloth before it is sewn into a Kathina Robe for offering to our Venerables during the Evening Puja Service at 7.30 pm. 2

Metta-Butterfly Project Update Mr. Hemasiri Lim and Ms. Kala were in Sri Lanka for 6 days in June. The trip was to assess and coordinate the construction and resident intake for the Metta Youth Centre. Two volunteers, Ms Yin Ling and Ms Koon Ngan also accompanied them on this trip. Ms Yin Ling is a qualified holistic counsellor and is part of the team of therapists who will provide training and counselling support to the residents of the Centre. Ms. Koon Ngan has volunteered to help with the system management and documentation of the operations of the Metta Youth Centre. Construction Progress Construction works are in progress and according to schedule. Roofing works for dormitories are near to completion. Roof walls to support the roof truss for the kitchen and library blocks were completed while that for the office block was 90 % completed. Work is in progress for the construction of the roof truss for the male dormitory block No. 2. The workers are in the process of levelling the road leading to the main entrance and building the main entrance driveway. Foundation work for the entrance to the car park were completed. Applications for Resident Intake Meetings were held in two temples in the Hambantota area. The meetings were primarily to inform the villagers about the setting up of the Metta Youth Centre in Matara. Intake application forms were distributed during the meetings. More than 50 applications had been received. In addition, 250 applications had also been received from other sources, Opening Ceremony A working committee had been formed to organize the opening ceremony. A meeting was held in Matara to discuss the details for the ceremony. The library, computer training and the electrical training rooms will also be inaugurated at the same time. The residential centre is scheduled to start its operations from 1 st Dec 2006. The counselling and therapy training programmes have been scheduled during the period 15 th Dec to 25 th Dec 2006. The Metta Youth Centre is scheduled to be ceremonially opened on 26 th December 2006 to coincide with the day of the Tsunami in 2004. 3

Snap Shots Celebrating Parents Day On 11 June 2006 Organized By Sunday Dhamma Classes Residents From Kheng Chiu Happy Lodge At Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association Sangha Abode Consecration Ceremony On 9th July 2006 Cleaning & Shifting Ceremonial Day 4

Vasanna 2006 VAS Invitation On 10th July 2006 Snap Shots At Changi Airport On 9th July Welcoming The Sayadaw VAS Invitation Suttas & Parittas Chanting 5

VAS 2006 Activities Samatha & Vipassana Meditation Sayadaw U Agganna and Venerable U Nyanacara are the meditation teachers for the two groups of participants. The session for the 1 st group commenced on 15 th Jul and continued until 12 th Aug 2006. The session for the 2 nd group is from 14 th Aug to 9 th Sep 2006. Samatha Meditation classes will also be held on three Tuesdays (15 th Aug, 22 nd Aug and 29 th Aug 2006) from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm at Foo Hai Ch an Monastory, 87 Geylang East Ave 2 Singapore 389753 at their Admin Block, Room 2 on the 1 st floor. Meditation Retreat at Aloha Changi (Cranwell Bungalows 1 & 3) Sayadaw U Agganna and Ven Nyanacara will be conducting the meditation retreat which will be held from 21 st Sep 06 to 1 st Oct 06. The number of participants will be limited to 40. Please email or mail the registration form [enclosed with this newsletter] to Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association, 90 Duku Road, Singapore 429254 Email : tisarana@singnet.com.sg Closing Date of Registration: 15 th August 2006 Confirmation of acceptance of application is via phone/sms/email by the organiser. Things to bring along: Sufficient clothing for the retreat. Toiletries for personal use. Blankets, pillows, pillow cases and bed sheets. Mattress will be provided, however you can bring your sleeping bags. Personal medication, water tumbler, slippers and torch-light. Please do not bring valuable items to the retreat. For direction to Aloha Changi, please visit www.aloha.gov.sg/sections/loyang/busschedule2.htm Chanting of Suttas and Parittas Group chanting of Suttas and Parittas from the Great Book of Protections had commenced. Do come and join in the recitation as participation in group chanting can create positive mental vibration in spiritual development, discipline and strengthening of confidence in our daily livelihood. Dates: 10 Jul 2006 to 29 Oct 2006 Time : Every evening after the 7.30 pm Abhidhamma Class The sessions on Sundays had started. Dates : 23/7/2006, 30/7/2006, 6/8/2006, 13/8/2006, 20/8/2006, 27/8/2006, 3/9/2006 & 10/9/2006 Time : 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm Venue : Shrine Hall, Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association, Lecturer : Venerable U Nyanacara from Pa-Auk Monastery, who is observing VAS at Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association 6

EXAMINATION BLESSINGS CHILDREN S DAY CELEBRATION 23 rd Sep 2006 (Sat.) at 3.00 pm For PSLE, O, A Levels and Final Term 1 st Oct 2006 (Sunday) TIME CHILDREN S DAY PROGRAMME 10.00 am Assemble at Shrine Hall 10.15 am Morning Puja 10.45 am Assemble at 3 rd floor Relic Chamber 10.50 am Game time organized by the Youth Group 11.15 am Come enter into the World of Magic 12.00 pm Dismissal and Lunch Conferment Of Buddhist Name Reasons For Having A Buddhist Name A Buddhist should have a Buddhist name for three reasons: 1] In Theravada tradition, a Buddhist name is given in Pali which was the language the Buddha preached. A Pali Buddhist name is always meaningful and positive. 2] A Buddhist name establishes one s Buddhist identity. 3] By his/her Buddhist name, one is reminded of his/her obligations and commitments as a Buddhist. How To Have A Buddhist Name Every year, Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association [TBA] arranges for the conferment of Buddhist names on Kathina Day. A devotee who wishes to have a Buddhist name conferred on this coming Kathina Day should submit his/her particulars on the form provided with this newsletter. The duly completed form is to be submitted to Ven. Dr. Gnanarama at TBA by 15 October 2006. Conferment of Buddhist Name On Kathina Day Devotees who have requested for Buddhist names must attend the Refuge Taking and Conferment Of Buddhist Name Ceremony on Kathina Day (29 October 2006). In the ceremony, certificates with the Buddhist names will be presented to the requestors. For this ceremonial occasion, devotees must be attired in white and be at TBA before 12 noon. 7

Programme On The Eve Of Kathina Day 28 October 2006 [Saturday] 7.30pm 8.15pm 8.20pm 8.30pm 9.00pm 10.00pm Gilanapaccaya for Venerables Light Refreshment for Members/Devotees Invitation of the Buddha Relics to Shrine Hall Invitation of Maha Sangha to commence Special Chanting Blessing service to Members/Devotees by Maha Sangha Kathina Day Programme 29 October 2006 [Sunday] Day 7.00am Members/Devotees assemble for Procession 7.15am Procession of Kathina Civara to Shrine Hall 7.30am Arrival of Maha Sangha 7.50am Invitation of Maha Sangha to participate in Robes Offering 8.00am Address by President of Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association Address by Chief Religious Advisor Offering of Kathina Civara to Maha Sangha Offering of robes to Maha Sangha 8.20am Blessing service for Members/Devotees by Maha Sangha 8.35am Offering morning Dana [Breakfast] to Maha Sangha 9.00am Devotees to continue with offering of robes to Maha Sangha 10.00am Cutting & Sewing of Kathina Cloth 11.00am 11.45am Dana for Venerables 12.00 noon Vegetarian Lunch for Members/Devotees 12.30pm Refuge Taking & Conferment Of Buddhist Name Ceremony Evening 7.30pm 8.15pm 8.30pm 8.45pm 9.00pm 9.05pm Devotee s Offering of the Kathina Robe to Venerables Dhamma Talk by Venerable Blessing service for Members/Devotees by Venerables Gilanapaccaya for Venerables Light Refreshment for Members/Devotees 8