Just as other years, after ending three months rain’s retreat, 2011 Katina Ceremony was one of the successful Katina Ceremonies held in the Nevada Buddhist Temple. The great meritorious deed of offering the Katina Robe was sponsored by: Mr. & Mrs. Mangala Wijekularathna and their children, Dharsana, Randi, Dr. & Mrs. Dilan Munuweera and Dr. Lambert Abeythunga along with the devotees of the Nevada Buddhist Temple. With the participation of many monks from various states around the country, lot of devotees and Katina Parade with drumming simulated the atmosphere that Katina ceremonies held in Sri Lanka. Dhamma sermons that were held by monks  emphasized that the word “Katina” means the idea solid or firm refers to strong karma (good action(s) and good thought(s) generates positive energy by offering Katina robe to the sanga council. Also, Ven. Maitipe Wimalasara mentioned the importance of the monks and lay people that without each other Buddhism cannot or will not go on. Therefore; having such an important ceremony and after spending the past three months period performing meritorious acts layman did care and look after monks at the temple bind the relationship between the layman and the monks. Ven. Wimalasara Thero also mentioned that although that rain is not frequently occur in Las Vegas, rain’s retreat was a law that Buddha enforced to the monks in India that rain is frequent there in the past three months.  He also mentioned that Katina ceremonies have been continuously held every year since 2600 years ago, passed away of the Buddha. Ven. Dedunupitiye Upananda explained a stanza that Buddha stated in Buddhist scriptures. Buddha stated that layman referred to as peacock and monk refereed to swan. Swan is not beautiful as peacock but can fly faster whereas peacock cannot fly fast and need to stop frequently although peacock is beautiful. Monk’s life is simple whereas layman’s life is not simple. Ven. Dedunupitiye Upananda thero pointed out that key difference between monk and layman. Also monk has the ability to travel faster along the path to Nirvana whereas layman travel slow just peacock cannot fly fast but swan can.

At the end of the Katina Ceremony, Ven. Alawala Subhuthi thanked and appreciated the arrival of the monks, sponsors, and the devotees who contributed their valuable time and energy to make this Katina Ceremony well worth meritorious act this year.

Please click the link to view more pictures >>>KATINA 2011 PICTURES

Mother’s day celebration was held on May 9th at Nevada Buddhist Temple with the blessings of most Ven. Alawala Subhuthi thero and Ven. Dhammarathana thero. Ven. Dhammarathana thero has emphasised that the significance of mother’s day in Buddhist point of view that Buddha described more than 2500 years ago, how parents must be treated with hospitality. Follow the link for more detail Click [Here].

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Photographed by: Rakitha Perera

Poson Poya is a one of the most important events took place which was introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka during the 3rd century. The arrival of Mihindu Thero from India as well as eighteen different caste members enriched the people’s minds to build a civilized society within the country. As a remembrance, the observance of Poson poya day, Sri Lankan community in Las Vegas were gathered with serene and virtue to the Buddhist temple. Chief incumbent, Ven. Alawala Subhuthi and Ven. Dunukeulle Dhammarathana Thero both emphasized the importance of Poson Poya and some of the events that took place in a day like this.

Katina festival was princely held in the Nevada Buddhist temple with participation of many monks from different areas in California. Ven. Alawala Subhuthi  cordially welcomed all the monks and devotees who participated in the festival. Ven. Sutadhara was briefly highlighted that Katina is a festival held each year after the rain’s retreat. Ven. Sutadhara also mentioned at the time of the Buddha, he ordered the monks to stay inside the temples for three months period until the rainy season was over.  At the end of three months period, laymans and monks together held this festival called Katina. He also underlined the inter dependency between the laymans and monks where such festival was impossible to held without the unity of each party. Also, he emphasized to understand the changing nature where in the morning that it was a piece of cloth, later it was sitched and offered as a robe to the community of monks which the end result was to attain merits by offering the robe to the monks. Monks then circled around and decided to offer the robe to the Ven. Subhuthi. Those merits attained by offering the robe, the positive energy he epxressed can be used to overcome the negative energy that we may have gathered performing small sins in daily life. Ven. Saranasiri also expressed some thoughts why Katina festival is significant to laymans and how fortunate the devotees who organized the festival that they can be happy remembering this event.