Kathina 2008; The representation of the Mara Conqueror

2th November, 2008 Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Thailand

At the end of Buddhist lent, the joyful moment comes to hearts of all Buddhists. It is the time of robe offering ceremony, Kathina. The Kathina ceremony comes every year and takes place in all temples across the country. Kathina means embroidery frame which monks use to sew their robes; also it means the equipment for monks to get a new robe after having been used for a year. In the Lord Buddha lifetime, robes or clothes are much abbreviated, therefore, monks used only cloths remaining on the carcass. Some laypeople knew this difficulty and tried to offer monks a new robe. Thus, the Lord Buddha allowed monks to take a new robe from laypeople at the Kathina ceremony.

The Kathina ceremony is done by offering the Kathna’s robes among the assembly of the monks in that temple. The abbot or the chief monk of that temple will unanimously arrange these robes to monks who have qualifications to receive Kathina; the qualifications are those who take a full vassa (three months rain retreat) in that temple, that temple must have at least five monks staying during that vassa. The Kathina will be arranged within one month after the end of Buddhist lent; thus, the Kathina ceremony is not the normal ceremony which can be taken place in any time but it is limited. The Kathina is the jubilant moment which all Buddhists really want to meet, as it happened in the past in the story of Tinnapala, the gardener. In the lifetime of Buddha Kasapa, the previous Buddha’e eon, there was a nameless pauper who worked in the garden. People in that time called him Tinapala, it means the gardener. He worked for only daily support such as foods and beverages in a millionaire’s house. At the end of Buddhist lent, the millionaire wanted to offer robes in Kathina ceremony, then, he told his pupils to follow. Tinnapla heard that news and wanted to offer some robes but he did not even have a cloth himself. So, he sold his last cloth which he was wearing and able to buy only a needle and a spoon of thread to be his necessities for the monks. Then he wore leaves as a cloth. When the millionaire knew his action, instead of blaming on him but he praised him with his delight. The Amarindra Sakka, King of Tavatimsa heaven realm, heard his good deed then appeared in front of him and praised him with the wishes. In stead of wishing to be rich or wealthy, Tinnaplay wished four things; he wished himself not to harm any females by any actions, not to be parsimonious, not to have fool association, but to have a noble wife. After the Amarindara blessed him, the king of the country heard his good deed and called him to appear for an audience and asked him share some of his merit. With his sharing merit to the king, he was rewarded by the king a lot of properties. At the last day of his breath, he reappeared in the heaven and was born in this Buddha’s eon, The Gotama Buddha, the present Buddha’s lifetime. With his merit cultivated from his past life, he could attain the Arahanthood and completed the Nirvana.

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Phramongkolthepmuni (Sodh Candasaro) The re-discoverer of Vijja Dhammakaya

This year Kathina in Dhammakaya Temple, special moment of Kathina will arrive in our mind again. This year is very special since it is the first time of the Dhammakaya temple that respectfully engage the most venerable Pramongkolthepmuni (Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro) to be the president of the ceremony. By representation of his golden statue, this will be like his real appearance showing up in front of millions of laypeople. Making merit with him even he was dead is worthy like he was alive. He used to say in a sermon that “Everyone who dedicates something in him for merit whether he is dead or alive would receive the same fruits”. This Kathina are the special opportunity for laypeople who donate gold for casting him; they will have the chance to engrave the name of donator in the golden plate at the rounded Jhana base of the golden statue. The rounded Jhana base of Luang Pu Pramongkolthepmuni is the state of inner attainment of dhamma. In meditation, the Jhana base supports and lifts the body of enlightenment (Dhammakaya). So, the Jhana Base is very important in term of meditation practice. Moreover, the Jhana is the state of meditation that ones who can attain will have jubilant feeling and happiness. Therefore, any donator whose name can be engraved in the golden plate at the rounded Jhana base of Luang Pu Pramongkolthepmuni’s statute will be appeared in his sight and received the happiness forever. As one of Luang Pu's speech related to the Jhana that; “Comfort in Jhana is the most happiness in these three realms, all things will be forgettable”

The Ceremony for The Excellent World Emperor’s Kathina robe-presentation ceremony with Phramongkolthepmuni (Sodh Candasaro), The Discoverer of Dhammakaya Meditation, as the President of the Ceremony Friday, 10th October 2008 at Dhammakaya Meditation Hall

Morning Session:
08:30 AM.	Morning Chanting
09:00 AM.	Paying homage to the Triple Gem / Meditation practice, lead by Phraratbhavanavisudh
09:30 AM.	Paying Homage to the Triple Gem / Meditation Practice
10:45 AM.	Meal Offering to the Sangha
11.15 AM.	Lunch Break
Afternoon Session:
12.15 PM.	An interview with special guests
01.15 PM.	Arrival of Phraratbhavanavisudh at the ceremony
01.20 PM.	Delivery Ceremony of the Excellent World Emperor’s Kathina Robe
02.00 PM.	Phraratbhavanavisudh, the monks’ chief, leads the meditation practice
03.30 PM.	Donation Session, Phraratbhavanavisudh gives a teaching.
Evening Session:
05.15 PM.	The laypersons chant praising verses in unity as worship to Dhammakaya Cetiya and Venerable Meditation Masters
05.45 PM.	The End of the Ceremony. Laypersons return home safely
06.00 PM.	Phraratbhavanavisudh and the monastic order attend the representation of Kathina robe ceremony at the main chapel.

Each participant receives a Buddha amulet as a memorabilia from the monks at gate 1 and gate 5 (for participants who put on completely white clothes and joined the ceremony at the Dhammakaya Meditation Hall only) Note: From today until 1st November 2008, the Memorial Hall of Phramongkolthepmuni will be open daily during the following periods of time: 09.00 - 10.30 am 12.30 - 14.30 pm 14.30 - 16.30 pm 16.30 - 19.00 pm For Sunday, the memorial hall will be open from 11.00 am - 12.30 pm only. International visitors can attend the ceremony by borrowing a translation device from our staff at column C18 of the Dhammakaya Meditation Hall. Translation is available in Chinese, English, and Indonesian.

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