"Katina"
The Celebration of Personal Spiritual Practice with the Community
Sunday, October 23rd
The Katina Robe Ceremony is an event that is honored and celebrated through personal spiritual practice and generosity in Buddhist tradition. As the Buddha said, the Noble Community’s greatest spiritual gain is from its unity between members. This unity is like a string; it becomes stressed when having to support heavy objects and breaks with little force. However, when many strings combine to create a rope the strings can support thousands of pounds without breaking. The Buddha’s advice was to come together to create a strong commitment to the practice, supporting life’s challenges and not breaking when those challenges become heavy. This event celebrates the idea of completing one robe by using thousand of strings. However, this celebration does have its conditions. To celebrate Katina, a community must have monastics in the Buddhist Order and those Monastics should observe the monastic retreat with the support of a community. These monastics must complete the retreat successfully. According to Buddhist tradition, this ceremony is considered to be the biggest meritorious act compared to all others.
As you may recall, the rains retreat began in July when some of you came to the center for formal invite to monks/teachers. From that day, the four monks observed the unique monastic retreat at the center.
Katina is scheduled on Sunday, Oct 23rd. representing all over the world and the roots of Buddhist spirituality branches. the event begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. and lasts until 12:00 p.m. at the Mindfulness Center (212 North Chestnut Street, Chaska, MN 55318). Please be there by 9:45 am. We will have 10 Monks and Nuns from Nepal, Vietnam, Burma, and Sri Lanka in our presence.
We thank you and look forward to seeing you at this special event!
To Be a Supporter
We decide to not to have a special sponsor this time, having as a community event that allows the entire community to be part of the event. Invite your family and spiritual friend to participate.
Make your offering here
Wishing Tree (this is a 2,600-year-old tradition)
The Wishing tree has been placed at Mindfulness Center! You place gifts (medicine, clothing, money, etc.) that are needed to support the teachers/center under a special Wishing Tree. This not only directly helps them but is also seen as both a literal and symbolic form of unconditional giving. Some even believe they will receive what they have offered. For example, those who are facing health challenges may offer medicine or support for medical needs. For housing and financial challenges, they offer money.
Please visit our website, where the TGN wish list is updated regularly. You may drop off wish list items and donations at any TGN meditation location.
Clothing
Please wear semi-formal clothing that is light in color, preferably white. We recommend white (or light colored) skirts, pants and shirts. No shorts, please.
Schedule
9:45 am: Arrival
10:00 am: Introduction
10:10 am: Metta practice
10:30 am: Dhamma Talk
10;50 am Offering Special Robe by a community member
10:55 am Offering to Buddha/ offering robe/ healing chanting
11:30 am: Offering Lunch to Monks
11:50 pm: Offering Gifts to Monks
12:00 pm: Lunch for Everyone
Make your offering here