Kathina 2023: It is an offering to the Sangha Jewel

This year I made offerings consisting of the Sangha robes and alms bowl to the Sangha. On many levels, these 2 items have many meanings. For example, the Sangha robes represents the three bodies of the Buddha and the bowl represents the wealth of wisdom and compassion. On a mundane level, it’s planting the causes conditions for a healthy human body in the future life and having the necessary wealth and sustainable livelihood. Whoever thinks making offerings to the Sangha is a waste of money is hugely mistaken. Certainly not in the case of Kathina offerings!

This is a picture of the Sangha full set of robes and the alms bowl that I had offered to the Sangha. The full set of robes I had handed it to the Ven. Maha Nayaka Aungsi Sayadaw, whereas the alms bowl was handed to the Ven. Ashin Kumarra Sayadaw. 

The Kathina occasion is governed by procedures stated in the Vinaya. For example, it has to be held within one month from the end of the vassa period (rains retreat). During the rains retreat, the monks do not go outside the temple and mainly stay within to do their cultivation. Therefore, during these 3 months of intensive practice, the Sangha especially generated lots of merits from their practice. In fact, they may even gain some attainments during this period. Therefore, to offer the robes and other requisites to the Sangha after the rains retreat is especially wonderful and appropriate. The merits generated will be TREMENDOUS. Even though during the Kathina event, you will offer it to one particular monk, but according to the Vinaya rules, the Kathina offering is an offering to the entire Sangha as a whole. Therefore, it is an offering to the Sangha Jewel, representing the Triple Jewel. 

Due to this, if one has the intention of saving one's departed ones from the lower realms (as in the case of Venerable Monggalana's mother), then other than to offer Ullamabana Dana to the Sangha, one may offer the Kathina robes to the Sangha during the Kathina Day too! The merits generated is on par with that of the merits from Ullambana Sanghika Dana.

It is a pity that in the Mahayana tradition, they do not have this auspicious occasion. Even if they are located in a country where the rainy season does not happen, they can hold the winter retreat (for example). I understand that in some Zen temples, they do have the 3-months winter retreat. However, after the retreat ended, there is no offering of robes or requisites to the Sangha. It is such a pity that this practice of Kathina is done away with!  

Even though it is necessary to make donations to help our society and those who are less fortunate, we need to also contribute and generate karma to support our Dharma practice. Otherwise, we may have not enough merits to continue our Buddhist practice in future rebirths. Or, we may have the merits to continue our practice, but we will lack access to Dharma books, Dharma teachers, Buddhist temples may be located far away, etc etc. Remember this point. 

#kathina #Ullamabana #merits

Please refer this post, also on  https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-do-true-repentance.html Even after doing repentances, the karma created does not simply disappear. But it may ripen as a lesser (or more bearable) karma. Remember this word by the Buddha - KAMMASAKA. All beings experience the karma they have created themselves. I may talk more on this in future blog post. Most of us are careless creating unnecessary negative karma, but then fear bearing its consequences when it ripens. Okay, that's all for now. Please help share my blog to others, if you think it is beneficial. If you need to comment, please do so. I will read your comments later, if any. Happy reading.