Spiritual Activities on Saturdays
Lankarama Buddhist Institute

Our Meditation Instructor
Bhante Sumitta 
(Doctoral Candidate & 
Adjunct Faculty
at the University of the West):

Meditation for Beginners - 
Morning Meditation Schedule at Lankarama:
every Saturday - 7AM-8AM
Venue
Lankarama Buddhist Institute
398 Giano Ave
La Puente CA 91744


Bhante Sumitta has been conducting meditation at the Lankarama Buddhist Institute for the past few years and his simple and practical way of meditation has been helping many individuals and groups in the Los Angeles area. 


Our Meditation Instructor
Bhante Sumitta 
(Doctoral Candidate & Adjunct Faculty
at the University of the West):

Yoga + Meditation Schedule at Lankarama:
every Saturday afternoon
 - 4PM-6PM
Venue
Lankarama Buddhist Institute
398 Giano Ave
La Puente CA 91744

Bhante Sumitta has been conducting meditation at the Lankarama Buddhist Institute for the past few years and his simple and practical way of meditation has been helping many individuals and groups in the Los Angeles area. 
He has attended a number of Retreats conducted by very well trained Burmese and other Meditation teachers in different Retreat centers in California, Sri Lanka and India.His teaching and guidance are basically aimed at the introductory level of meditation and practitioners can advance to the next levels of meditation later on with other senior meditation teachers. 

He conducts 
  • Ānāpānasati  Bhāvanā (Contemplation on Breathing)
  • Mettā Meditation (Contemplation on Loving Kindness)
  • Guided Meditation









Our Pali Class Instructor
Bhante Sumitta 
(Doctoral Candidate & Adjunct Faculty
at the University of the West):

Pali Class for Beginners Schedule at Lankarama:
1st & 3rd Saturday afternoon
 - 2PM-4PM

Venue
Lankarama Buddhist Institute
398 Giano Ave

La Puente CA 91744

This class can also be held at (please double check with +6263657097 to confirm)
Dhamma House 
14614 Palm Ave
Hacienda Heights
CA 91745




Our Dhamma School Instructors
Bhante Sumitta
Bhante Rakkhita
Inoka Jayasinghe :

Saturday Dhamma School at Lankarama:
every 2nd & 4th Saturday - 2PM-4PM

Venue
Lankarama Buddhist Institute
398 Giano Ave
La Puente
CA 91744





Our Yoga Instructor
Mark Ragsdale 
(PhD student at the 
University of the West):

Yoga + Meditation Schedule at Lankarama:
every Saturday - 4PM-6PM

Venue
Lankarama Buddhist Institute
398 Giano Ave
La Puente
CA 91744
Mark is a very experienced Yoga instructor who has been working with us for years. He is such a kind hearted gentleman who has been helping the community with his skillful Yoga exercises to help individuals from all age groups.  

Mark has a wide range of Yoga exercises to help benefit our community to improve their general health and meditation. 


We wanted him to help our community to sit properly on the floor to meditate for a longer time and it eventually worked in such a way that the Yogis found their general health improving in due course. His Yoga style definitely suits the people who like to follow simple Yoga practices to help themselves to benefit their general health and also their meditation sessions.










Buddha Vandana & 
Paritta Chanting at Lankarama:
every Saturday - 6PM-7PM
Venue
Lankarama Buddhist Institute
398 Giano Ave
La Puente CA 91744













The Resident monks of the Lankarama Buddhist Institute and the lay devotees will do this protective chanting together to invoke blessings upon everyone followed by transferring merits to the departed ones. This is a wonderful opportunity for the people around La Puente city to learn more about this rhythmic Pali chanting and be blessed.







Deva Puja at Lankarama:
every Saturday - 7 PM
Conducted by Venerable Nagitha
Venerable Nagitha is a resident monk of the Lankarama Buddhist Institute.

Venue
Lankarama Buddhist Institute
398 Giano Ave
La Puente
CA 9174

Join us every Saturday  from 7:00 AM along with your family members and friends and enjoy the blissful moments at our temple. 




May All Beings Be Well & Happy & Healthy!!!
Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!!!

Lankarama Buddhist Institute
398 Giano Ave
La Puente CA 91744
Tel: 626-913-0775
Tipiṭaka Chanting Project 
(Turn CC on for subtitles)

Dear friends, we have launched the long awaited Tipitaka Chanting Project with Dhammapada being the first text to start with.
We have started recording chapter by chapter and the subtitles and English meaning are also included for the benefit of the many.
Please watch it and share your feedback so that we can improve our future videos.
Thank you everyone for helping in many different ways to make this noble chanting project a success.
Our plan is to chant the entire Pali Tipitaka no matter how long it takes.
With some volunteer help we can turn the recordings into videos with a faster pace.

Please share your opinions.
If you wish to dedicate these videos to transfer merits to any of your departed relatives, we can mention their names in our attached description.
Kindly email us for more details.
May this noble Dhamma Project reach many millions!
May all beings be well and happy and healthy!

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!!!!

Recordings so far:

  1. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 01 > Yamaka Vagga (The Pairs)  
  2. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 02 > Appamāda Vagga (The Heedfulness) 
  3. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 03 > Citta Vagga (The Mind) 
  4. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 04 > Puppha Vagga (The Flowers) 
  5. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 05 > Bāla Vagga (The Fool)
  6. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 06 > Paṇḍita Vagga (The Wise) 
  7. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 07 > Arahanta Vagga (The Worthy)
  8. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 08 > Sahassa Vagga (Thousands)
  9. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 09 > Pāpa Vagga (Evil)
  10. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 10 > Daṇḍa Vagga (Punishment)
  11. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 11 > Jarā Vagga (Old Age)
  12. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 12 > Loka Vagga (The World)
  13. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 13 > Buddha Vagga (The Buddha)
  14. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 14 > Atta Vagga (The Self)
  15. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 15 > Sukha Vagga (Happiness)
  16. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 16 > Piya Vagga (Affection)
  17. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 17 > Kodha Vagga (Anger)
  18. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 18 > Mala Vagga (Impurities)
  19. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 19 > Dhammaṭṭha Vagga (Just or Righteous)
  20. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 20 > Magga Vagga (The Way or Path)
  21. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 21 > Pakinnaka Vagga (Miscellaneous)
  22. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 22 > Niraya Vagga (The Woeful)
  23. Tipiṭaka Chanting Project - Dhammapada 23 > Naga Vagga

Click here for The Structure of the Canonical Literature. 
We are going to chant this entire canonical literature with your support and blessings.

Images taken at Lankarama Buddhist Institute, La Puente, California. 

Meditation for Beginners
Instructor – Bhante Sumitta

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Medium – English/Sinhala
Venue – 398 Giano Ave, La Puente, CA 91744
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Every Saturday 
starting November 16 
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
*****************
at Lankarama Buddhist Institute
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  • Activities with mindfulness & Loving Kindness
  • Dhamma Sermons
  • Discussions
  • Meditation
Please RSVP here

Come and join us for an inspiring Saturday morning with Bhante Sumitta. This is an introductory level Meditation Retreat and all are welcome to join this free event. However, volunteer donations are welcome to support the Lankarama Buddhist Institute.


    *****************************
    An invitation to discover your inner-self
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    Bhante Sumitta –
    A Sri Lankan monk who is currently pursuing his PhD at the University of the West, Los Angeles. His thesis topic is “Philosophy of Arahanta Ideal as Depicted in Mahaniddessa”. 

    Bhante Sumitta is an ardent advocate of teaching and applying Buddhist meditation, Pali language and Buddhist Philosophy to improve daily life of different communities in the Los Angeles and surrounding area.

    He is the founder and president of the UWest Pali Society, and he was teaching as an Adjunct Professor at the University of the West. As a special outreach program, he formed a Dhamma USA, a charitable community organization that provides community and spiritual care.

    For more info on Dhamma USA activities please refer to:

    Organized by – 
    Lankarama Buddhist Institute
    398 Giano Ave, La Puente, CA 91744
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    May All Beings Be Well, Happy & Healthy!
    Sādhu! Sādhu!! Sādhu!!!
    ************************************
    Recommended Online Readings:
    Bibliography
    Ajahn Brahm. Mindfulness, Bliss, and beyond : A Meditator’s Handbook. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2006.
    Dorjee, Dusana. Mind, Brain and the Path to Happiness: A Guide to Buddhist Mind Training and the Neuroscience of Meditation, 2014.
    Forem, Jack. Transcendental Meditation: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Science of Creative Intelligence. New York: Dutton, 1973.
    Gunaratana, Henepola. Mindfulness in Plain English, 2011.
    Hart, William. The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation as Taught by S.N. Goenka. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987.
    Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World through Mindfulness. New York: Hyperion, 2005.
    Nhất Hạnh, Mai. The Miracle of Mindfulness : A Manual on Meditation. Rev. ed. Boston: Beacon Press, 1987.
    Nyanaponika. The Heart of Buddhist Meditation (Satipaṭṭāna)  a Handbook of Mental Training Based on the Buddha’s Way of Mindfulness, with an Anthology of Relevant Texts Translated from the Pali and Sanskrit. [1st American ed.]. New York: Citadel Press, 1969.
    Nyanasatta, C. The Foundations of Mindfulness: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta : A Discourses [Sic] of the Buddha. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society, 1974.
    Ornstein, Robert E. Meditation and Modern Psychology. Los Altos, CA: Malor Books, 2008.
    Ṭhānissaro. Purity of Heart: Essays on the Buddhist Path. Valley Center, CA: Metta Forest Monastery, 2006.
    ———. Right Mindfulness: Memory & Ardency on the Buddhist Path. Valley Center, CA: Abbot Metta Forest Monastery, 2012.
    ———. The Wings to Awakening : An Anthology from the Pali Canon. 5th ed., rev. [Valley Center  Calif.]: Metta, 2007.

    Annual Kaṭhiṇa Robe Offering Ceremony - 2019
    &
    Maha Saṅgha Dāna
    Lankarama Buddhist Institute
    398 Giano Ave
    La Puente - CA 91744
    Phone: 626-913-0775

    Dear Dhamma Friends & Family,

    You are cordially invited to make merits by participating in the Kaṭhiṇa Ceremony 2019 to be held on November 2, 2019 (Saturday) & November 3, 2019 (Sunday).

    Please join us in this special Buddhist Festival, which comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy retreat for Theravāda Buddhists.



    Schedule
    November 2, 2019 (Saturday)

    07:30 PM - Aṭavisi Buddha Vandanā (28 Buddha Vandanā)
    Conducted by Ven. Dr. K. Gunaratana Thera  
    Abbot of Mahā Karuṇā Buddhist Center, 
    Head of the Religious Affairs of 
    Lankarama Buddhist Temple, Singapore

    November 3, 2019 (Sunday)

    06:30 AM - Offering of Kaṭhiṇa Clothe to the Mahā Saṅgha
    07:30 AM - Buddha Vandanā
    07:45 AM - Breakfast Dāna to the Mahā Saṅgha
    10:00 AM - Kaṭhiṇa Perahera (Parade)
    11:15 AM - Buddha Vandanā
    11:30 AM - Offering of Kaṭhiṇa Robe & 
                       Lunch Dāna to the Mahā Saṅgha
    12:30 PM - Kaṭhiṇānisaṃsa (Benefits of Kaṭhiṇa) & 
                       Trasnfering Merits by 
                       Ven. Dr. K. Gunaratana Thera
    01:00 PM - Lunch for the attendees


    Sponsors of Kathiṇa 2019 
    Sanjiv & Manil Gunasekara 
    B. J. Perera
    Janaki Wickramaratne
    Greeta Dissanayake
    Ruwan Dissanayake
    Amali Dissanayake
    Salintha Gunasekara
    Gamini & Sunila Weerasuriya
     Michael & Pushpa De Silva   
    Sylvia Wijethunge
    Prasanna & Sumudu Silva
    Nilani Leula
    Vishakha Wikramasinghe
    Sujatha Gunathilake
    Yvonne Tseng
    May Carolyn Goh

    Note: Anyone who would like to be volunteers, donors or participating in offering foods, kindly contact the Lankarama Buddhist Institute.
    Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!


    Please share with all your near & dear ones!

    Venue: Lankarama Buddhist Institute
    398 Giano Ave
    La Puente, CA 91744
    Phone: 626-913-0775

    Sabbe sattā averā hontu
    Sabbe sattā abyāpajjā hontu
    Sabbe sattā anīghā hontu
    Sabbe sattā sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu

    May all beings be free from enmity/danger.
    May all beings be free from mental suffering.
    May all beings be free from physical suffering.
    May all beings take care of themselves happily.

    May All Beings are Well & Happy & Healthy!
    (Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā)
    Click Flower decorations to see the ongoing preparations.
    Click All the photos of the event.

    Learn more about Kathina Robe Offering & Rains Retreat:
    Kaṭhiṇa Robe Offering Ceremony - History and Development

    Meaning of Kaṭhiṇa

    Rough, hard, stiff, difficult, durable. The Pali-English Dictionary of Venerable Buddhadatta also mentions ‘the cloth annually supplied to the monks for making robes.’

    Mahāvagga Pāli of the Vinaya Piṭaka mentions that Kaṭhiṇa robe offering is the most meritorious act of skillful deeds with immeasurable merits.


    Four Requisites 

    cīvara - robe
    piṇḍapāta - food
    senāsana - dwelling
    gilānapaccaya – medicine
    are the four basic requirements for a Buddhist monk. 

    Eight Great Wholesome Deeds (Aṭṭḥa Mahā Kusala Kammāni)
    There are eight wholesome deeds as have been maintained by the popular tradition. 
     
    Kahiaṭṭhaparikkhāra 
    Vāsadāna ca uttama 
    Buddhappamukha saghassa 
    Dāna dhammassa lekhana 
    Khetta dāna ca buddhassa 
    Paimā karaa pi ca 
    Karaa vaccakuiyā 
    Aṭṭha puṅṅāni vuccare 
    1. offering of Kaṭhiṇa robe 
    2. offering of Eight Requisites
    3. offering of noble Residential places
    4. offering of meal to the Buddha and the Saṅgha
    5. offering of Dhamma text writing
    6. offering of paddy fields to the Buddha
    7. offering of Buddha Statue making
    8. offering of rest-rooms
    The Buddhist community is committed to fulfil these noble meritorious acts in their capacity to help preserve the Buddha sāsana along with their spiritual leaders called bhikkhus (monks).

    History of This Unique Tradition

    According to Vinaya Piṭaka which represents the Code of Moral Conduct for Buddhist monks and nuns, during the Buddha's time, the monks have been advised by the Buddha, to wander forth for the benefit of the many including humans, deities and all other sentient beings. Hence, the monks kept traveling from one place to another helping the community in many different ways teaching the noble message of their spiritual master. Unlike in California today, it rains in India during the monsoon season and when it rains it rains with gust of winds and the downpours can be quite heavy. But the monks kept traveling as they have been advised by the Buddha to do so even during this hard time. Having seeing the monks traveling during the rainy season especially walking on the beautiful green meadows, the other religious communities started accusing them of killing the mono-organ grass which was supposed to be a life according to them. Traveling during the rainy season was particularly not a very pleasant experience for monks due to many reasons. When the Buddha heard of this situation, he made a wonderful decision to allow the monks to use this opportunity completely focus on their own spiritual achievement. The Buddha asked the monks to observe rains retreat during which they are supposed to stay in one place practicing with sheer determination to achieve their own spiritual goals. 

    Anujānāmi bhikkhave vassāne vassaṃ upagantuṃ.
    (I recommend you monks to observe the rains retreat during the rainy season.) – 
    Vinaya Piṭaka, Vassūpanāyikakkhandha

    Hence, the monks started adjusting to the new culture by selecting a suitable place for their spiritual practice. Most of them would go to a remote jungle area to practice but also trying to stay somewhat closer to the human settlements in order to survive themselves with alms round for food. They would observe something called Sattāhakaraṇīya (satikaraṇa) meaning they are supposed to return to their original place of rains retreat observation just in case they had to leave for some other place due to some reason. 

    sace me koci antarāyo na bhaveyya, sattāhabbhantare puna nivattissāṃi.
    (I will return back to (this place) just in case I don't meet any life-threatening situation.) 

    Then they would observe the rains retreat in a small simple kuṭi (hut) provided to them by the lay devotees or by themselves, in a cave or in any other safer place such as a root of a comfortable tree or a rock etc. They determined themselves to observe the rains retreat as regular mundane monks wanting to achieve arahantahood before the end of the rains retreat. Then they would practice day and night completely engrossed in the practice of meditation for the entire rains retreat. There are numerous stories about these monks achieving perfect liberation (Nibbāṇa) during the three months' period and hundred and thousands of them would visit the Buddha as arahantas to pay respect to their master. The devotees would also take good care of these practicing monks during this period and they themselves gained lot of merits in the process. Some even started to follow the spiritual path using the opportunity of seeing the monks practicing with sheer determination. At the end of the retreat, the lay devotees would offer them a robe and it was called Kaṭhiṇa robe with some special benefits and privileges compared to the other robes. It is a very unique opportunity for the lay people to offer a Kaṭhiṇa robe to such a powerful and determined monk and no wonder they would receive more merits in return. When doing so, the lay devotees also would observe eight precepts or ten precepts to help themselves proceed at least to a certain extent in their spiritual journey while engaging in their secular day-to-day activities such as cultivation and other professions. 

    The robe offering was a very powerful merit because the monks those days used to wear any ragged clothe picked from the cemeteries, streets, rubbish heap etc. and putting those worn-out pieces of clothes together. They would dye this clothe using natural herbal colorings extracted from jack trees and many other trees, roots, barks from different plants. This process also helped their clothe to take a unique color and sanitized naturally from any prospective germs when they would pick the clothe from different places. Finding a piece of clothe was not so easy those days and offering a robe to such a spiritual practitioner would naturally be very meaningful as well. Hence, the Kaṭhiṇa robe offering became a very popular among the folks in the course of time. That was the tradition of the sewing and dying process of the robe which has taken many different shapes today. 


    Rains Retreat – is a symbolic representation of sheer determination, firmness and stability on the spiritual path. Both the practitioners and the sponsors can receive immeasurable merits due to the powerful spiritual energy associated with the process in the three months. 

    Some Important Rules Pertaining to the Kaṭhiṇa Robe 

    ·      Only those who successfully complete three months of Vassāna (rains retreat) can accept the Kaṭhiṇa Robe
    ·      Offering of Kaṭhiṇa Robe should be done in the month called Pavāraṇa (conclusion) which falls in between September-October or October-November (Lunar Month) which is also called Assayuja – Kattikā in Pāli.
    ·      Lay people offer the Kaṭhiṇa robe and a group of at least four monks officially hand over the Kaṭhiṇa robe to a selected monk with everyone’s approval. 
    ·      That monk can no longer receive any other Kaṭhiṇa robe during that month. 
    ·      Later observers (Pacchimikā) cannot receive a Kaṭhiṇa robe.
    ·      Only early observers (Purimikā) can receive the Kaṭhiṇa robe.
    ·      Proper time is prescribed as from sunrise to the dawn. (24 hours)
     
    Five Privileges of the Kaṭhiṇa Robe Receiver

    o   Free to go to meal invitation without having informed to another monk
    o   Usually monks have to carry a full set of three robes wherever he travels. But the monk who receives the Kaṭhiṇa robe is allowed to go without the full set of three robes for a specific time period. 
    o   He can enjoy a group meal with four or more monks.
    o   He can use as many robes.
    o   He can receive other robes offered to the Saṅgha during the rains retreat and on the Kaṭhiṇa robe offering day.

    Kaṭhiṇa Robe Offering Today

    The three-month rain retreat (rain in California can never be compared to the torrential rains in Asian countries) of the Buddhist monks conclude with the Pavāraṇa (Conclusion) ceremony, which is ceremoniously celebrated by the offering of Kaṭhiṇa Robe to the resident monks of the particular temple. Kaṭhiṇa robe offering can be done only once a year in a temple and only one monk can receive the robe which will be determined by the monks assembly on the Kaṭhiṇa Day. In the West, it is even unique as all the Saṅgha members get together in doing so as against the traditional sectarian units in the traditional Buddhist countries. 

    In modern day Theravāda Buddhist countries, Kaṭhiṇa Robe Offering ceremony is among the topmost merit making acts in the Buddhist calendar. It is uniquely celebrated all over the world wherever the Theravāda Buddhist monks reside. Basically, the major Theravāda Buddhist countries include Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos while India, Bangladesh, Nepal, also have significant presence of Theravāda Buddhist population. Besides, with the immigration of Theravāda Buddhists to Europe, America and Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc., the ceremony is celebrated in all these countries today in a beautiful manner with their own cultural identities. 

    Today’s Kaṭhiṇa ceremonies are marked by large
    festival moods along with diverse cultural entertainments. Cultural performances, singing and dancing according to their own traditions have become indispensable part of the annual Kaṭhiṇa robe offering ceremonies. The meritorious acts include delivering Dhamma Talks and regular chanting and conducting meditation retreats by the monks, while the lay devotees have the opportunity to observe five precepts, eight precepts, offering Dāna to the Saṅgha and even to practice meditation in their free time. Usually a lay devotee would invite the monks to observe the Vassāna season (rains retreat) and will serve them during the three months period concluded by the Kaṭhiṇa ceremony. The lay devotee would also announce the Kaṭhiṇa robe offering to the monks and the monks would perform Vinaya rules to dedicate the robe to a designated monk. This merit making event will be concluded by a special Dhamma Talk called Kaṭhiṇānisaṃsa Dhamma Desanā by a senior monk reflecting the benefits of the Kaṭhiṇa robe offering which will be concluded with the sharing of merits to the departed ones and all sentient beings. 


    In fact, the dominant Theravāda Buddhist countries celebrate this ceremony with more authentic fashion, however, the other countries do not fall behind, and they too celebrate to the best of their ability in their own respective countries. For example, in the West, the Kaṭhiṇa ceremony can be attended by all kinds of people including different schools of Buddhism and not excluding the friends from other religions. Every year, the trend is getting more expansive and the ceremony is becoming more attractive but charming. California, USA can possibly be rated one of the best examples in this regard with over fifteen Sri Lankan temples celebrating this beautiful ceremony with the participation of a large number of Buddhist monks and nuns from both Theravāda and Mahāyāna traditions. Local Buddhist community represented in these ceremonies is not confined to Sri Lankan Buddhists alone. These temples also have a strong presence and affiliation with American, Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Taiwanese and Vietnamese friends (list here is given in alphabetical order). They all work hand in hand with a unique sense of brotherhood. All the monks from these communities attend these awe-inspiring ceremonies in the West today providing a wonderful example of unity in diversity. 

    How to Make It a Meaningful Kaṭhiṇa?

    Kaṭhiṇa is a Buddhist festival which comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy retreat for Theravada Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand etc. It is a time of Dāna (practicing generosity), Sīla (observing moral precepts), Bhāvanā (meditation), for the laity to express gratitude to their spiritual guides, the Buddhist monks). Vassāna season is also very significant for all the Buddhist monks as they have the opportunity to focus more on their spiritual upliftment. Most of the Arahanta monks have appeared in the world during this particular period as the monks determine themselves to attain the spiritual perfection, the supreme bliss of Nibbāṇa during this time. It has a long history of producing more Arahantas than any other time of the year. Hence, the lay devotees too are very enthusiastic in offering something to the Mahā Saṅgha as it makes sense for them to earn more merits by offering something to the worthy ones. 

    The Story of Venerable Nagita:

    There are lot of interesting stories about the Kaṭhiṇa ceremony. Venerable Nāgita's story is foremost among them. Once the Buddha asked 500 Arahanta monks, all of whom were very powerful (catupaṭisambhidā) to attend a special assembly of monks by the Anotatta Lake in the Great Himalayas. Anotatta Lake was not a place for average mundane people to hang around. Only the very specially trained or powerful monks and practitioners could survive in such an extreme cold weather but a uniquely enchanting place. Then the Buddha addressed the monks there asking them to express their reflections upon their own spiritual journey so far because all of those 500 great arahantas were able to read their past lives. Therein those great disciples of the Buddha revealed their spiritual experience one by one including their own saṃsāric (circle of transmigration) journey and their good kammas (actions). It was a very fascinating retreat wherein the 500 arahantas explained their unique good kamma and their relentless efforts to attain the perfect liberation from all sufferings. When it came to venerable Nagita's turn, he explained how he offered a Kaṭhiṇa robe in saṃsāra so many eons ago and how he was benefited ever since in numerous ways. He said ever since he offered a Kaṭhiṇa robe, he was never born in the miserable hell realms and he was always born in blissful heavenly realms even as king of heavens in many times with more divine powers and pleasures. He was always born to good families, happy and healthy and eventually leading to the final realization of Nibbāṇa or arahantahood. 

    Hence, the Kaṭhiṇa ceremonies always highlight venerable Nagita's story and people try to be complacent by thinking that offering Kaṭhiṇa robe will solve all their saṃsāric myseries and they can live better and happy life in the saṃsāra like venerable Nagita. This is a huge misinterpretation or misreading of Kaṭhiṇa Robe offering and can lead to miserable failures if someone thinks so. To be a part of a Kaṭhiṇa robe offering can surely earn great merits for someone provided he or she acts wisely and the right manner. Preparing oneself to sponsor a Kaṭhiṇa ceremony can be a lifetime opportunity and not everyone can do it as it involves an enormous amount of preparation in many different ways. There are threefold preparations in executing a Buddhist meritorious act, especially an offering of a Dāna: 

    Pubba cetanā (intention prior to the action)
    Muñcana cetanā (intention at the time of execution)
    Apara cetanā (intention after the action)

    One has to be mentally and physically well prepared for this noble act to make this lifetime opportunity of sponsoring a Kaṭhiṇa robe offering. He or she and the whole family can practice themselves Dāna, Sīla and Bhāvanā to make their life and saṃsāra more meaningful through this wonderful merit making ceremony. Money can be an important factor in sponsoring a Kaṭhiṇa, however, it is the mind that is much more important than anything else. If someone is well prepared both mentally and physically, he or she can surely gain immeasurable merits through this wonderful act since there is a golden opportunity to practice for three months at least. However, this noble act should be extended and strengthened even after the actual three months period is over. That will surely lead he or she to an immeasurable happiness in the saṃsāra and eventually leading him or her to the supreme bliss of Nibbāṇa. 

    Na ve kadariyā devalokaṃ vajanti
    bālā ha ve nappasaṃsanti dānaṃ
    dhīro ca dānaṃ anumodamāno
    tene'va so hoti sukhī parattha.

    "Indeed, misers do not go to the abode of the devas;
    fools do not praise charity;
    but the wise rejoice in charity and
    so gain happiness in the life hereafter."

    Sabbe sattā averā hontu
    Sabbe sattā abyāpajjā hontu
    Sabbe sattā anīghā hontu
    Sabbe sattā sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu

    May all beings be free from enmity/danger.
    May all beings be free from mental suffering.
    May all beings be free from physical suffering.
    May all beings take care of themselves happily.

    May All Beings Be Well & Happy & Healthy!

    May All Attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbāṇa!

    Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!