Buddhasavika Foundation

Yasodhara newsletter on international buddhist woman's activities
Vol.19 No.2 (no.74) January-March, B.E. 2546 (2003)

Nov.3,2002 Donors for the Kathina ceremony. The hall was rearranged to accommodate more people, nevertheless it was still too small. Many had to remain on the ground floor. Bank-notes on a banana tree (on the left) is unique for this annual offering.

          The Robe-Offering ceremony can be held only the one month period after the end of the rain retreat. This year the Robe-offering period fell between Oct.21-Nov.19. At Songdhammakalyani Temple, Nov.3 was fixed for this annual event.
           Letter of invitation were sent out to all the members of the Buddhasavika Foundation and the members of the temple two months ahead of time to allow ample preparation. The members of the temple itself worked doubly hard particularly the one week prior to the actual ceremony.
           Herbal medication was blessed wit the chanting of Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha) dharani 108 rounds for three days after both morning and evening chanting. The playground in front of the school is now converted to a spacious parking lot with new trees planted to provide shade for the cars. The Venerable worked with female students every morning for two hours before the sun got too strong. All of them were dead tired but as a result the appetite increased for the midday meal.
           The interior of the main shrine was completely rearranged to provide for more space during the actual robe-offering ceremony, still it was not enough for the large crowd attending the ceremony.