Katina is not only traditional but also one of the most important Buddhist celebration for Buddhists around the world.  “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 (Community or assembly of monks) council. At the time of the Buddha, rainy season last for three months in India. Therefore; it was inconvenience for monks to travel outside during the rainy season. Buddha mentioned for monks to reside in the temples during this rainy season but with exceptions. Lot of monks from California participated this ceremony. Ven. Dhamamapala explained about the meritorious deed that accumulate one who offers Katina robe. Also, he mentioned that the monks know their rank not by the day they ordain but by the Vassa which meant by the number of Katina that they participated determines their rank. Ven. Dhammapala mentioned about alms-giving and attachment that how one should give alms-giving without attachment or let go.

Main sponsors of this Katina Ceremony are Mr. Sunil S. Amarasinghe, Mr. Wije Thennakoon, Mr. Anura Kapugamage, and Bindu Mudunkothge families.

May Noble Triple Gem Bless You!

Dhamma Talk by Most Ven. Dhammapala from Nepal

            We are delightfully  welcome his visit this Sunday, most Ven. Dhammapala from Nepal currently resided in Sambuddhaloka Temple Riverside, California. As a part of his monastic mission, this is not the only time he visited Nevada Buddhist Temple. He visited Nevada Buddhist Temple last year as well. His Dhamma talks attracted youth last year as well and stories told gave our community deeper meaning and lessons to our life. This Dhamma talk is specially directed towards youth nonetheless also ideal to everyone.

             We would like to share some information about Ven. Dhammapala’s monastic life with all of you.

              “Ordained in 1998, august 18th, in Nepal under a Burmese Monk. He Came to sri Lanka in 2000 January 17th and started primary education from Nalanda Pirivena, Mount Lavinia and secondary education from Parama Dhamma Chetiya Maha Pirivena at Ratmalana, Sri Lanka. He obtained BA General degree with following subjects: Buddhist Civilization, Pali and Sanskrit in 2007 from the Buddhist & Pali University, Sri Lanka and passed BA (Hons) Special Degree on Psychology from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in 2010. He completed all levels of examination held by Oriental Studies society of Sri Lanka (Pracheena Bhasa Sangama) Royal Pandith Degree (Rajakeey Panditha), 2010 and served as a Visiting Lecturer of Psyhcology in the University of Peradeniya 2011 – 2012, and served at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Independence square, as a visiting Lecturer of Psychological Counseling (Resource Person) 2011-2012.”  

                 Listening to the Dhamma or teachings of the Buddha is one of the ways to gain meritorious deeds. It has mentioned in books that at the time of the Buddha, one day Buddha preached Dhamma to his disciples. There was a frog listened to Buddha’s teachings. It did not mean frog understand the “Pali” language. It means, frog listened to the voice waves and  the frog’s mind might have purified at the moment. So there was an old man came with a cane and without seeing the frog, this man stick the cane right on top of frog’s head. Frog died instantly and born in the celestial realm. Frog remembered while in celestial world that the last action before died was listened to the Buddha’s teachings which resulted in born in celestial world. Probably Buddha saw it or communicated with the frog’s spirit after died and appeared in celestial world because Buddha had various levels of wisdom to do such things that ordinary human beings cannot comprehend. The lesson is that purity in the mind listening to Dhamma Sermons allows us to gain meritorious deeds and Buddha stated in “Maha Mangala Sutta” that listen to the Dhamma as one of the auspicious acts. Likewise, Dhamma discussion also one of the auspicious acts which we can gain meritorious deeds. By committing all these acts, purity arise in the mind removing desire, delusion and anger in the mind which is how  meritorious deeds generates in the mind.  

May Noble Triple Gem Bless You!

                  Since the day we were born, we have been in contact with this Physical world. This physical world is what we think that matters to almost all of us and we try to win this physical world that we live in. In the previous article you may have read that people are successful winning the physical world but this article is more focused toward people who are trying to win the human world and in that sense realizing the world that matters most. 

                 Considering this, what is hard to realize is that we dwell in this physical world so much that we do not think that this physical world is good only until we exist. This physical world does not matter at all once we die. So trying to understand the physical world to the maximum level today will not help realize the world that matters to you most.

                 We can find that Buddha did not give the meaning “World” not only to this physical world. According to the Buddha’s teachings, one definition of the “World” means human body. Buddha said, “The human body about a fathom with perceptions, sensations, and Vinnyana is the world that one should realize to the fullest.” Since it is very difficult to give an English meaning to Vinnayana, imagine it is as a form of energy in the body that keeps a living being alive consist of memories of life times.

                 In conclusion, this is why we find monks in temples whom guide those who are lucky to seek them may full fill the path to realize their own world which is fundamental teachings of Buddhism to permanently cease mental or/and physical suffering in cycle of life, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness.

    People have been always dedicated their lives, time and money to win the physical world in significant ways. It is shocking that people who lived in the past had the courage to establish a civilization in a desert like Las Vegas that temperature reaches unbearable limits in some months. People have not only dedicated their lives but also sacrificed as we come to know when the Hoover Dam was built many years ago having equipped with limited technology unlike today.

    It is clear that will of the people whom once lived in Las Vegas won the physical world and left the current generation with habitat as well as knowledge of technology to survive while maintaining the victory. Winning the physical world is also part of winning extreme weather that cause trouble for people in Las Vegas. Having utilities such as electricity and gas energizes the community console thousands of people in Las Vegas. 

   However; we are seeing that there are lot of people in Las Vegas who are in a quest of winning the human world. They have realized that the only way to win the human world is by purifying the mind. Purifying the mind involves practice of Dharma. Among many meanings, one meaning of Dharma is teaching that helps to win the human world. This Dharma can be practiced by anybody regardless of any religion or any denomination. This Dharma helps to understand within self, practice by self, realize within self, and see the results within self. This is why Dharma is valuable. 

   Existence of Nevada Buddhist Temple and devotional monks in the temple have been guiding people in Las Vegas for years regardless of their nationality, denomination, and religion to win the human world. We are humble to exist in a place like Las Vegas to guide people for the well being, purify the mind by the power of Dharma to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the human world by ceasing mental and/or physical suffering in cycle of life, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness.