Kathina Celebration

**** Please bring your bowl, cup, and other utensils you need to help solve the plastic crisis and reduce waste. ***

Please join us for the Kathina offering ceremony to be held at Empty Cloud Monastery in West Orange, NJ. It is a blessing to have Buddhist monastics nearby, and this is exactly what the traditional Buddhist holiday called Kathina celebrates. Organized by lay members of the community, Kathina marks the end of the Vassa, a three-month period during which Buddhist monastics commit to living in one location, focusing on study, meditation, and teaching the lay community. When the Vassa comes to an end, the lay community responds by expressing their appreciation through gifts to support the monastic community. All are welcome to join us for all or part of the day.

As the Empty Cloud Monastery community has grown, there are a number of items that are needed to support the monastics as well as to continue upkeep of the monastery building. You may find a list of required items at: https://tinyurl.com/4yzjc5k9

The gathering will begin at 10am, We will start with the traditional alms-round rice offering to the sangha at 10.30 am. You are invited to bring food to share and set up for the potluck lunch at 11 am. After lunch will be the offering ceremony (when robes and other supplies are offered to the monastics), followed by a Dhamma talk and blessing ceremony then a sangha gathering for socializing.

As the event will be outdoors, please wear a mask/face covering, warm clothing, and bring something comfortable to sit on.

Schedule

10:00am: Introductory Remarks

10:30am: Pindapata (Alms-round)

10:45am: Prepare Potluck Food Offering

11:00am: Shared Community Meal

12:45pm: Kathina Offering Ceremony

1:30pm: Dhamma Talk

2:30pm: Sangha Gathering

4:00pm: End of the Day

LIST OF NEEDED ITEMS

Please contact the lay organizer, Benz at wanidaskim@gmail.com before and after you choose an item to offer, so as to keep track of donated items.