✨Kathina Celebration + our 10th Anniversary✨ Sunday 5am-3pm (drop-in)
Details
Join the traditional annual "Kathina celebration" at Charlotte Buddhist Vihara, a joyful program organized by the Buddha himself to bring together the larger community of his clergy & supporters.
You'll also help us celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the founding of Charlotte Buddhist Vihara.
Kathina is a family-friendly day of teachings, traditional ceremonies, shared meals (potluck), meditation, and lots of goodwill! More on Kathina, below
SCHEDULE
5:00 AM Early meditation
7:00 AM Offer 8 Precepts, Heel dana, Breakfast
8:00 AM Welcome and Kathina Robe ceremony. Sewing begins.
9:00 AM Dhamma talk on Kathina by Ven Ayya Sudarshana Mahatheri
10:00 AM Recognition of 10th Anniv special guests Vihara founders.
10:30 Dhamma talk on Sangha by Ayya Sobhana Theri
11:00 AM Offer 5 Precepts, make offerings to the Buddha. Opportunity to give gifts to the Sangha. Followed by lunch (potluck) dana for ordained Sangha & 8 Preceptors, then lunch for everyone.
12:30 PM Dhamma talks by guest bhikkhunis; meanwhile sewing continues
2:00 PM Spreading Kathina Robe
3:00 PM End
✨ Participating Bhikkhunis:
*Bhikkhuni Sangha Founder Venerable Ayya Sudarshana Mahatheri (fully ordained in 1996, Founder of Samadhi Meditation Center in Tampa)
*Ayya Sudinna Mahatheri (2002, Chief Monk of Carolina Buddhist Vihara, Greenville SC)
*Ayya Sudhamma Mahatheri (2003, Founder of Charlotte Buddhist Vihara)
*Ayya Pannavati Theri (2004, Founder of Embracing Simplicity at Heartwood, Hendersonville NC)
*Ayya Sobhana Theri (2006, Prioress, Dhammadharini, Sonoma County CA)
*Ayya Soma (2020, Resident of Embracing Simplicity at Heartwood, Hendersonville NC)
*Ayya Dhammadinna (2022, Founder of Dhamma Center USA, Winchester VA)
More on Kathina:
One of the two biggest occasions on the Buddhist calendar, the Kathina celebration was created by the Buddha himself. He wanted all his lay devotees to attend together with his bhikkhus or bhikkhunis. It takes place at the end of India's rainy season (Vassa).
There's nothing like the solemnity and joy of this annual occasion that brings together ordained clergy in harmony for the Kathina ritual, cooperating together like the vast numbers who came before us - every year - throughout the past 26 centuries.
For this community, this is a rare occasion in which we have gained the necessary quorum of at least five bhikkhunis to hold a real Kathina.
For an overview of the topic see Wikipedia on Kathina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathina.
For the history and more details than you imagined possible: http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/kathina.pdf