admin, Author at Sumedharama Buddhist Monastery

Luang Por Sumedho supporting the construction of an abbot’s kuti for Ajahn Vajiro at Sumedharama

Luang Por Sumedho would like to dedicate financial support given for him during the year of his 90th birthday

to support the construction of an abbot’s kuti for Sumedharama Monastery, as an offering to Ajahn Vajiro.

If you would like to contribute specifically towards the Abbot’s kuti, please add to your donation a mention ‘For Ajahn Vajiro’s kuti’:

https://sumedharama.pt/support-en/support-donations/

With much appreciation from the Sangha

Anumodana

By admin|2024-12-21T19:02:34+00:00May 16, 2024|EN|Comments Off

Vesak Celebrations – Sunday, the 26th of May

On Sunday, the 26th of May, the Celebrations of Vesak will be held at Sumedharama. This day celebrates the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbana of the Buddha Gautama. The programe will be as follows:

10 a.m. – Precepts and Auspicious Chanting (Parittas)

10.30 a.m. – Rice pindabat ceremony and meal offering

11 a.m. – Meal

12h15 – Meditation session by the Sangha and the Thai Community in Portugal, dedicated to the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King Vajiralongkorn’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary, on the 28th of July 2024.

12h30 – Ajahn Vajiro will give a Dhamma talk

1:30 p.m. – Stupa Circumambulation

All are welcome to participate and enjoy this celebration and the contemplative atmosphere of the monastery.

May all beings be well

By admin|2024-05-18T06:50:37+00:00May 11, 2024|EN|Comments Off

Luang Pô Sumedho in Sumedharama – from 1 to 14 June 2024

It is with great joy that we announce that Luang Pô Sumedho will be in Sumedharama from 1 to 14 June.

Luang Pô Sumedho was the first Western monk to ordain himself in the Thai Forest Tradition – Ajahn Cha Lineage, and the founder of the many monasteries of this tradition in the West.

Luang Pô Sumedho has a close connection with the Monastery Sangha in Portugal and the name of the Monastery – Sumedharama – was thus chosen in his honour.

During his stay in Sumedharama, Luang Pô Sumedho will give two Dhamma Public Lectures, in days 2 and 9 June, both at 3 p.m.

By admin|2024-05-04T08:19:37+00:00May 4, 2024|PT|Comments Off

Thai New Year – Songram – Sunday 14 April





	As in Western New Year celebrations, Songkran also has the idea and purpose to reflect and leave behind the past, renewing the energies and determinations for the new year.
	The festivities start at 9 a.m.
	At 9.30 a.m. the monastic community will make the traditional Songs of Protection – Paritta, at which time visitors will also be able to make the request of the Five Precepts. Then, at 10am, the Rice Offer Ceremony and the meal of the day will take place. (You can bring a dish to share.) After the Meal, around 12 noon, the traditional Water Ceremony will take place, in which everyone can participate. Everyone is Welcome

By admin|2024-04-13T15:18:42+00:00April 13, 2024|PT|Comments Off

Donation from a Buddha Statue from Sri Lanka to Sumedharama Buddhist Monastery, in Portugal

In a historic and symbolic gesture, Rasika & Gayathrie Withanage, distinguished Sri Lankan residents living in Portugal, had requested a Buddha statue from the venerable Weduruwe Sri Upali Thero, Anunayake of the Asgiriya Temple attached to the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Ven. Upali Thero accepted the request and handed over the Buddha statue on 1st August 2023 in Sri Lanka. This statue, with deep historical significance, was then donated Sumedharama Buddhist Monastery, a Theravada Thai Buddhist Monastery in Portugal, 500+ years after the arrival of the Portuguese in Sri Lanka.

The Asgiriya Temple, nestled in the cultural heart of Kandy, Sri Lanka, was renowned for its spiritual significance and historical connections to the Temple of the Tooth, where the sacred relic of Lord Buddha’s tooth is enshrined. Upali Thero, the esteemed deputy chief of Asgiriya Temple, had graciously endorsed the request made by Rasika and Gayathrie, recognizing the profound cultural and historical significance of this exchange.

This exceptional Buddha statue, chosen with care, had traveled from the sacred grounds of Sri Dalada Maligawa to find its new home in Sumedharama Buddhist Monastery, in Portugal. The donation ceremony, symbolized a bridge between two cultures, uniting historical narratives and spiritual traditions.

Rasika and Gayathrie expressed their deep gratitude to Upali Thero and the Asgiriya Temple for their support and cooperation in making this cultural exchange possible. In a joint statement, they shared, “This initiative was not only a tribute to the rich history and enduring spirituality of Sri Lanka but also a celebration of unity and understanding between our two nations. It was an honor to contribute to the cultural legacy of Portugal with this significant donation. In addition, we would like to express our special thanks to the members of the Bandaranayake, Dasanayake, Withanage, Dhammika families, and the members of the Sri Lankan organising Committee, residing in Portugal, who have supported in making this event a success.”

The Sumedharama Buddhist Monastery, eagerly anticipated the arrival of this special Buddha statue. On the 5th of November, 2023, during their Kathina ceremony, the Abbot of the Monastery, Ajahn Vajiro, welcomed the Buddha statue as a symbol of harmony and cultural connection between Sri Lanka and Portugal. The event was a testament to the power of cultural exchange in fostering understanding and collaboration. It underlined the shared humanity that transcended geographical boundaries and historical differences.

By admin|2024-10-30T20:32:45+00:00November 7, 2023|EN|Comments Off

Online meditation and Q&A with Ajahn Vajiro:
14 March 2022
11.30 – 13.00 (WET)

Dear friends,

A Little Bangkok Sangha organised an online Dhamma session with Ajahn Vajiro via the Zoom platform.

To participate you can use the following link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6871703208

e

Meeting ID: 687 170 3208

With best wishes,

the Sangha of Sumedhārāma

By admin|2022-03-10T16:59:59+00:00March 10, 2022|PT|Comments Off

Ajahn Vajiro:
Make Peace and Open Your Hand

Dear friends,

Saturday 11 December 2021, Ajahn Vajiro will give a Dhamma Lecture hosted by Bandar Utama Buddhist Society (Malaysia).

You can watch it through:

Zoom Link : www.bubs.my/zoom/tav

meeting ID : 864 7971 6663

Passcode : 211211

Order of events:

8.30 p.m. (Malaysia) / 12.30 p.m. (Portugal) – Small Guided Meditation

20:45 (Malaysia) / 12:45 (Portugal) - Dhamma Lecture: Make Peace and Open Your Hand

21.30 (Malaysia) / 13.30 (Portugal) - Questions and Answers

21.45 (Malaysia) / 13.45 (Portugal) – Merit Sharing and Closure

22h (Malaysia) / 14h (Portugal) – End

With best wishes,

the Sangha of Sumedhārāma

By admin|2021-12-07T09:40:57+00:00December 7, 2021|PT|Comments Off

Meditation and Silence Retreat - 7-9 January 2022

This retreat will be guided by Ajahn Vajiro and will take place at the St. Ignatius Retreat House in Sintra.

The organization is in charge of Helena Gallis.

Registration is now closed as the maximum number of participants has been reached.

With best wishes from the Sumedhārāma Forest Sangha

By admin|2021-11-15T10:15:56+00:00October 31, 2021|PT|Comments Off

Kathina 2021

Celebration of Kathina in Sumedharama

Sunday 24 October 2021

Everyone is welcome to participate in this occasion, celebrating the presence of the monastic community in Sumedharama:

Programme:

9.30 a.m. – Arrival at the Monastery (bring a meal to share)

10 a.m. – Request for the five precepts, followed by songs

10.30 a.m. – Rice supply (Pindapat)

11 a.m. – Dinner for monks and lunch for the lay community

12.30 p.m. – The community offers the traditional monastic habit

1 p.m. – Lecture by Ajahn Vajiro

From 14:00 – Informal conversation with the monks.

In the rainy season (Vassa), in Asia, (the period corresponding to summer in Europe) the monks undertake to stay in a certain place for three months.

The story goes that at the end of this period, the Buddha allowed the monks to look for fabric with which they could patch up their old habit or even make a new one. The fabrics that the monks collected consisted of rags that had been thrown away. Over time people, realising this need, began to hang fabric from the trees so that the monks could ‘find’ them. The custom then developed so that not only pieces of cloth were left on the trees, but also the habits already made. People saw here an opportunity to make offerings of other requirements to monks, as a gesture of support and appreciation of their practice. The ceremony was called Kathina, which is the name of the loom that monks use to sew their habits with the fabrics offered.

In this same ceremony the monks offer lectures on the Dhamma, and there is also a period where people have the opportunity to meet and talk to the monks more informally. In this event it becomes quite evident the interconnection of the lay community with the monastic community and how both benefit from this dynamic.

By admin|2021-11-05T21:12:52+00:00September 10, 2021|PT|Comments Off

Outside and Inside - New Audiobook

With great joy, Sumedharama Monastery held its first Audiobook,
which we hope will be beneficial to all those who have the opportunity to listen to it.

This is the book ‘Outside and Inside’ by Ajahn Jayasaro.
It presents a series of “Questions and Answers that may be of interest to you.

To access the book please click here.

With our best wishes

The Sangha of Sumedhārāma Forest

By admin|2021-11-05T21:13:40+00:00June 19, 2021|PT|Comments Off

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On Sunday, the 26th of May, the Celebrations of Vesak will be held at Sumedharama. This day celebrates the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbana of the Buddha Gautama. The programe will be as follows:

Celebration of Kathina in Sumedharama

Sunday 24 October 2021