Following a peaceful and precious three month vassa retreat at Santi, this year’s Kathina celebration on Sunday 11th November was a resounding success in many ways:
- We were blessed by the ‘weather devas’ with sublime conditions – the perfect temperature, a small breeze and a clear blue sky;
- despite the large influx of people in the small confines of the Santi infrastructure, with approx. 300 people attending, everything went off without a hitch;
- and the harmony and goodwill among the diverse Buddhist traditions and cultures attending was palpable and inspiring.
We are very grateful to many people: particularly the key organisers of this year’s Kathina, Sam and Shashika and their family and friends from the Sri Lankan community in Dubbo and around 
NSW; and to Gia Hieu and Tam Ngan who organised a large gathering of supporters from the Vietnamese community in the Sydney region to come for the day and who also helped to organise the event. And, of course, the many wonderful friends of Santi who helped organise and prepare the monastery on the lead-up and on the day itself. A special mention is also due to Sam’s mother, Mallika, who devotedly and lovingly stitched the magnificent gold lotus cushion for the Kathina robe and the canopy under which it was carried in the colourful procession bringing it to be offered to the sangha.
All of us at Santi were very touched by the great warmth, kindness and generosity of the large multi-cultural community who attended and supported Santi Monastery for this year’s Kathina. It was certainly a day of celebrating the joy of community as much as the Kathina itself.
It was auspicious to have the fourfold sangha represented on the day – Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, Upasikas and Upasikaas (lay men and lay women). We were honored to have the presence of Venerable Thich Vien Thuc from Vietnam, and Venerable Minh Thuong from Sydney, and two Sri Lankan Bhikkhus from the vihara in Canberra. We also had the pleasure of hosting Venerable Sudhira Bhikkhuni from Sydney and Venerable Sukhi Bhikkhuni from Newbury monastery in Victoria. Overall, the monastic presence was also a lovely multi-cultural representation. Words of encouragement were offered by our visiting Bhikkhus from Sri Lanka and Vietnam, as well as Ayya Nirodha, and Dhamma reflections offered by Ajahn Jitindriya who led the proceedings from the Sangha side of things.
The lay supporters generously offered requisites to the sangha and financial donations to the Monastery on this very special day of the Buddhist year, recollecting and rejoicing in the power of the Triple Gem in their lives and in the world today. The Santi community and committee are most grateful for this generous support, without which the monastery could not continue to function as a refuge of Dhamma practice and teaching as it does, as well as a forest abode for the nuns.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem and much merit come to all who offered their faith and generosity in so many ways on this occasion.
With respect and metta to all beings,
Venerable Jayasara and the Santi nuns
There’s more great photos to see if you click on the link below!
Santi Kathina 2018 in pictures *
(here is the url if the above link doesn’t open: https://photos.app.goo.gl/5jU9JkNe9m39NF4s9 )