Monastery’s Activities
The Monastery
The Monastery is open daily to all devotees and visitors from 9:00am to 5:00pm during standard time and from 9:00am to 6:00pm during daylight saving time. Details regarding the monastery's activities are displayed on the notice boards in the main hall. A monk or a lay person will usually be present to give additional information and assistance to new comers.
The Library
The Library contains sets of the Buddhist Canon in English and Asian languages, bound sets of periodicals, books on Buddhism and related subjects over 1000 items.
The library is open to all.
Classes/Retreat
Meditation class is held every Saturday at 3PM. A short sermon is also given after the meditation.
Saturday and Sunday Service
A Buddhist Service is held every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 1PM. Service sheets or Chanting guides are provided giving Pali stanzas with English translation. Dana, chanting, blessing, short sermon and discussion periods are part of the service.
Monthly Dana Offerings
Due to the keen interest in the devotional expression of generosity by lay Buddhists, the monasteries held a monthly Dana offering for those wishing to offer food and other offerings to the monks. In NSW, the monthly Dana offering is held every First Sunday of the month for Wat Pa Buddharangsee, Leumeah; every third Sunday of the month for Wat Buddharangsee, Stanmore; and every last Sunday of the month for Wat Buddharangsee, Annandale.
Festivals
There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the Monastery. The most significant celebration happens every May on the night of the full moon, when Buddhists all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It has become to be known as Buddha Day.
Buddhist Festivals are always joyful occasions. Typically on a festival day, lay people will come to the monastery and offer food to the monks and take the Five Precepts and listen to a Dharma talk. In the afternoon, they share food together and in the evening join perhaps in a ceremony of circumambulation around a Pagoda or Cetiya three times as a sign of respect to the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha. The day will conclude with evening chanting of the Buddha's teachings and meditation.
Major festivals held by the Monastery
• Magha Puja Day (Fourfold Assembly or Dhamma Day) - (March)
Magha Puja Day takes places on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March). This holy day is observed to commemorate an important event in the life of the Buddha. This event occurred early in the Buddha's teaching life.
After the first Rains Retreat (Vassa) at the Deer Park at Sarnath, the Buddha went to Rajagaha city where 1250 Arahats, (Enlightened saints) who were the Buddha's disciples, without prior appointment, returned from their wanderings to pay respect to the Buddha. They assembled in the Veruvana Monastery with the two chief disciples of the Buddha, Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggalana.
The assembly is called the Fourfold Assembly because it consisted of four factors: (1) All 1,250 were Arahats; (2) All of them were ordained by the Buddha himself; (3) They assembled by themselves without any prior call; (4) It was the full moon day of Magha month (March).
• Songkran (SE Asian New Year Celebration) - (April)
In Theravadin countries, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao, the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. People enjoy sprinkling perfumed water on the monks, novices and other people.
Songkran is a Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck.
Dana, chanting, blessing, short sermon, fund raising Food Fete, SE Asian traditional dances are part of the celebration programmes.
Songkran funds are used for new building projects, living expenses required for the monastery and its inhabitants.
• Visakha Puja (Buddha Day) - (May)
Traditionally, Buddha's Birthday is known as Vesak or Visakah Puja (Buddha's Birthday Celebrations). Vesak is the major Buddhist festival of the year as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May, except in a leap year when the festival is held in June. This celebration is called Vesak being the name of the month in the Indian calendar.
• Asalha Puja Day (Sangha Day) - (July)
Asalha Puja means to pay homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It commemorates the Buddha's first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the five ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near Benares city, India. Where Kondanna, the senior ascetic attained the first level of enlightenment (the Sotapanna level of mind purity).
• Kathina Ceremony (Robe Offering Ceremony) - (November)
The Kathina is held on any convenient date within one month of the conclusion of the three month rains retreat season (Vassa) for the monastic order. Katthina is a Ceremony which celebrates the mutual appreciation between the lay Buddhist community and the monastic Sangha (community of monks). The Sangha provides teachings of the Dhamma (Buddha's teachings) freely every day. Thus this Katthina celebration allows lay people to express gratitude by making donations or offering material requisites for the Sangha. It is also known as the "Robes Offering ceremony". It is according to Buddhist tradition, that after the Rain's retreat, robes are offered to monks that have spent the time in the rains on their fixed abode.
Pastorial Care
Pastorial care includes Wedding Blessings ceremony and Funeral Service. Visits to the sick and needy at home or in hospital may be arranged.
Facilities are also available to schools, educational groups etc to visit the Monasteries by prior arrangement.
Outside talks to schools, interfaith groups etc can be arranged.
The Monastery is open daily to all devotees and visitors from 9:00am to 5:00pm during standard time and from 9:00am to 6:00pm during daylight saving time. Details regarding the monastery's activities are displayed on the notice boards in the main hall. A monk or a lay person will usually be present to give additional information and assistance to new comers.
The Library
The Library contains sets of the Buddhist Canon in English and Asian languages, bound sets of periodicals, books on Buddhism and related subjects over 1000 items.
The library is open to all.
Classes/Retreat
Meditation class is held every Saturday at 3PM. A short sermon is also given after the meditation.
Saturday and Sunday Service
A Buddhist Service is held every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 1PM. Service sheets or Chanting guides are provided giving Pali stanzas with English translation. Dana, chanting, blessing, short sermon and discussion periods are part of the service.
Monthly Dana Offerings
Due to the keen interest in the devotional expression of generosity by lay Buddhists, the monasteries held a monthly Dana offering for those wishing to offer food and other offerings to the monks. In NSW, the monthly Dana offering is held every First Sunday of the month for Wat Pa Buddharangsee, Leumeah; every third Sunday of the month for Wat Buddharangsee, Stanmore; and every last Sunday of the month for Wat Buddharangsee, Annandale.
Festivals
There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the Monastery. The most significant celebration happens every May on the night of the full moon, when Buddhists all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It has become to be known as Buddha Day.
Buddhist Festivals are always joyful occasions. Typically on a festival day, lay people will come to the monastery and offer food to the monks and take the Five Precepts and listen to a Dharma talk. In the afternoon, they share food together and in the evening join perhaps in a ceremony of circumambulation around a Pagoda or Cetiya three times as a sign of respect to the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha. The day will conclude with evening chanting of the Buddha's teachings and meditation.
Major festivals held by the Monastery
• Magha Puja Day (Fourfold Assembly or Dhamma Day) - (March)
Magha Puja Day takes places on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March). This holy day is observed to commemorate an important event in the life of the Buddha. This event occurred early in the Buddha's teaching life.
After the first Rains Retreat (Vassa) at the Deer Park at Sarnath, the Buddha went to Rajagaha city where 1250 Arahats, (Enlightened saints) who were the Buddha's disciples, without prior appointment, returned from their wanderings to pay respect to the Buddha. They assembled in the Veruvana Monastery with the two chief disciples of the Buddha, Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggalana.
The assembly is called the Fourfold Assembly because it consisted of four factors: (1) All 1,250 were Arahats; (2) All of them were ordained by the Buddha himself; (3) They assembled by themselves without any prior call; (4) It was the full moon day of Magha month (March).
• Songkran (SE Asian New Year Celebration) - (April)
In Theravadin countries, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao, the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. People enjoy sprinkling perfumed water on the monks, novices and other people.
Songkran is a Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck.
Dana, chanting, blessing, short sermon, fund raising Food Fete, SE Asian traditional dances are part of the celebration programmes.
Songkran funds are used for new building projects, living expenses required for the monastery and its inhabitants.
• Visakha Puja (Buddha Day) - (May)
Traditionally, Buddha's Birthday is known as Vesak or Visakah Puja (Buddha's Birthday Celebrations). Vesak is the major Buddhist festival of the year as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May, except in a leap year when the festival is held in June. This celebration is called Vesak being the name of the month in the Indian calendar.
• Asalha Puja Day (Sangha Day) - (July)
Asalha Puja means to pay homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It commemorates the Buddha's first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the five ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near Benares city, India. Where Kondanna, the senior ascetic attained the first level of enlightenment (the Sotapanna level of mind purity).
• Kathina Ceremony (Robe Offering Ceremony) - (November)
The Kathina is held on any convenient date within one month of the conclusion of the three month rains retreat season (Vassa) for the monastic order. Katthina is a Ceremony which celebrates the mutual appreciation between the lay Buddhist community and the monastic Sangha (community of monks). The Sangha provides teachings of the Dhamma (Buddha's teachings) freely every day. Thus this Katthina celebration allows lay people to express gratitude by making donations or offering material requisites for the Sangha. It is also known as the "Robes Offering ceremony". It is according to Buddhist tradition, that after the Rain's retreat, robes are offered to monks that have spent the time in the rains on their fixed abode.
Pastorial Care
Pastorial care includes Wedding Blessings ceremony and Funeral Service. Visits to the sick and needy at home or in hospital may be arranged.
Facilities are also available to schools, educational groups etc to visit the Monasteries by prior arrangement.
Outside talks to schools, interfaith groups etc can be arranged.
Copyright © 2006-2024 Mahamakut Ragawithayalai Foundation Incorporated
