Everyone is invited to attend this event, celebrating the presence of the monastic community in Sumedhārāma. This year we will have Ajahn Vinīta as our special guest. Ajahn Vinīta is originally from Sri Lanka, and lives now in Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, in England. 

Programme:

9h30 – arrival to the monastery (bring a dish to share for the meal)

10h00 – Requesting the Five Precepts, followed by chanting

10h30 – Offering of rice (Pindapat)

11h00 – Meal offering to the monks; A meal for the lay community

12h30 – Procession and Offering of the new Buddha Rupa (Buddha image)

12h45 –  The community offers the traditional monastic cloth

13h15  – A Dhamma talk by Ajahn Vajiro

14h15 – Informal Period with the Sangha

In the rains season (Vassa) in Asia (a period which correlates to summer in Europe), the monks undertake the determination to remain in one place for three months.

According to the scriptures, at the end of this period, The Buddha allowed the monks to ask for cloth with which they could amend their cloths or even make new clothes.

The cloth the monks collected consisted of rags that had been discarded. As time went by, people, realizing this need, began hanging fabric from trees, so that the monks could ‘find’ them.
The custom then developed in such a way that not only pieces of fabric were left on the trees, but also ready made clothes.
People spotted the opportunity to make offers of other requisites to the monks, as a gesture of support and appreciation for their practice.
Hence a ceremony called ‘Kathina’ was created, ‘Katina’ being the name of the loom that the monks use to sew their clothes using the cloth offered. During this ceremony, the monks offer Dhamma talks and there is also a time for people to meet and talk with the monks in a more informal way. In this event, the connection between the lay community and the monastic community becomes evident, as well as their benefit from this dynamic.

These Dhamma Study Sessions, led by Ajahn Gavesako, are intended for those who wish to further their Buddhist knowledge by studying the Suttas together, with some guidance. We will be following this study guide: The Buddha Smiles.

These sessions will take place from 4pm to 5.30pm and are open to everyone, with no need to book in advance. They will be lectured in English.

Ajahn Vajiro will offer an on-line Dhamma Session organised by the Theravada Buddhist association called Vivekarama.

The Dhamma session will be in English and translated into French.

You can participate using: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6290605702

or: Meeting ID: 629 060 5702

Ajahn Candasiri, one of the first four nuns to ordain in our tradition, will lead a Dhamma Session in Sumedharama, this Sunday, the 20th of August, from 4pm to 7pm.

There will be space for Questions and Answers a Guided Meditation.

There is no need to book in advance.

The retreat will be led by Ajahn Candasiri and will take place in Biovilla, in Serra da Arrábida.

This event is organised by Ana Cristina Farto.

For more informations and bookings please click here.

With best wishes from the Forest Sangha at Sumedhārāma

Ajahn Vajiro’s Birthday

Saturday, 3rd of June

On this very auspicious occasion we will be celebrating Ajahn Vajiro 70th birthday and also the 43rd anniversary of his life as a bhikkhu.

To commemorate this date we will have the inauguration of our new stupa and a Dhamma talk by Ajahn Vajiro and by Ajahn Jayasaro, who will be visiting Sumedharama over this precious weekend.

13h30 – Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Vajiro and Ajahn Jayasaro

15h – Stupa Inauguration

19h30 – Evening Puja until midnight

20h20 – Stupa Circumambulation

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Vesak Celebration

Sunday, 4th of June

The Vesak Celebrations will take place in Sumedharama, thus commemorating the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbana of Gautama Buddha.

On this very auspicious occasion, we will also have the following program:

10h00 – Taking the Precepts, followed by Parittas (Protection Chants)

10h30 – Rice ceremony (pindabat) and meal offer

11h00 – Lunch

12h00 – Ajahn Jayasaro and Ajahn Vajiro will offer a Dhamma Talk

13h30 – Stupa Celebration

All are invited to participate and to enjoy the commemorative and contemplative atmosphere of the occasion and space of the Monastery.

This Sunday, the 16th of April, we will be celebrating the Thai New Year – Songkran – at Sumedharama.

As in Western New Year celebrations, in Songkran there is also the intention of reflecting, leaving the past behind, renewing energies and asserting determinations for the new year.

The festivities will begin at 9 a.m.

At 9:30 am, the monastic community will perform the traditional Chants of Protection – Paritta. The visitors can ask for the Five Precepts at this time.

Then, at 10 am, the Rice Offering Ceremony and the main meal of the day will take place. (you can bring a dish to share)

After the meal, around 12:00, the traditional Water Pouring Ceremony will take place.

From 4 pm to 6 pm we will have our usual Sunday Meditation Workshop.

All are welcome.

This Dhamma Talk is organised by the Italian Association ‘Progetto PienEssere’.

Wednesday, 8th of March, from 18:30 to 20:00 (WET)

You can participate through the Zoom link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84193388344?pwd=T0VIVUxRa2RFaXRkUkFvb3pLZ1dEZz09

or

Meeting ID: 841 9338 8344
Passcode: 230503