On the eve of the sangha entering the Vassa retreat, you are cordially invited to come and join us at Santi for the Kathina celebrations after vassa, on Sunday 11th November. This year, Santi’s Sri Lankan devotees from Dubbo are sponsoring and organising the Kathina celebrations, and they are gathering support amongst the community who know and frequent Santi Forest Monastery.
In previous years, different groups have sponsored and organised the Kathina day at Santi – last year it was organised by supporters from the Cambodian community in Canley Vale, and the previous year by devotees from the Vietnamese community living in the Sydney and Canberra regions. Every year is always a special event and we hope to see everyone connected with Santi who can make it on this special occasion.
The word ‘kathina’ actually refers to a type of wooden frame used to make robes in the time of the Buddha. The traditional ‘kathina’ allowance for the sangha was laid down after one rains retreat, when the Buddha allowed the monastics to receive cloth and sew a robe for one among them. If there are four or more Bhikkhunis or Bhikkhus who have spent the rains retreat together, there are formal procedures called ‘sanghakamma’ they need to perform with the kathina cloth offering. If less then four however, those particular formalities are not required by the sangha.
For the Buddhist laity, Kathina season (the month following the monastic rains retreat period) has become a traditional time to express their gratitude to the sangha by offering requisites and other support for the monastery. It’s a very special occasion for recollecting and generating the blessings of the Triple Gem.
If you would like to get involved or help organize this event you’d be most welcome… Please just contact us at the monastery at santioffice@gmail.com we can forward your mail to the organisers.
We look forward to seeing you there.
