Dhammadharini Bhikkhuni Sangha Kathina 2023

Kathina Wish List |  Supporting our Bhikkhuni Sangha

We welcome all of our Dhamma friends to join our Dhammadharini Bhikkhuni Sangha Kathina Sangha Gathering “Offering the Robe of Merit” on Saturday November 4th, at our Aranya Bodhi Forest Hermitage on the Sonoma Coast in Jenner, California.  

The Kathina comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat, and is a celebration of community & generosity. It is the traditional time of year for the lay community to express their support for the monastic Sangha by offering essential requisites (food, clothing, shelter, and medicines).

The central feature of Kathina is the offering of cloth to the Sangha, who awards it to one of their members--in some traditions, this cloth is then sewn into a robe before dawn of the next day. This year the cloth will be offered by Chathuri Senanayake & Dilshan Amarathunga Family as leading supporters of our 2567 BE/2023 CE Vassa.

This is the first time that Kathina has been held at Aranya Bodhi in 10 years! Please note that registration is required so that we may provide the information you need to reach our remote, off-grid forest hermitage - which is not located on public roads -with a minimum of disturbance to our countryside neighbors. 

The day is planned to include:

• 9:30am: Arrival and setup for Lunch (Amisa Dana) Offering to the Bhikkhuni Sangha
• 10:30am: Offering of Kathina robe cloth to the Bhikkhuni Sangha
• 11:30am: Rice Pindapat, Offering of Lunch (Amisa Dana) to the Bhikkhuni Sangha, followed by potluck feast for all
• Opportunity for everyone to join in sewing of the Kathina robe
• 2:00pm: Dhamma program at the stupa
• 2:30pm: Kathina Robe Parade from the stupa
• 3:00pm: Kathinatthara “Spreading the Kathina,” Dedication & Closing Blessings from the Bhikkhuni Sangha
• 4:00pm: Completion of program
• Friends welcome to stay and help with cleanup

Please register to receive more information as it becomes available, and for detailed directions on how to travel to our hermitage. 

Out of care for the vulnerable members of our community, the event will be held outdoors with COVID safety precautions in place.

Volunteers needed and welcome!

• On the afternoon of Friday November 3rd, to help with setup.
• On the morning of Saturday November 4th, especially to assist incoming guests with parking from 9:30 - 11:15 am.
• To stay after the event and help with cleanup.

Please write to dhammadharini.monastery@gmail.com if you can help.

We look forward to having you join us! 

For information about supporting our community during the auspicious Kathina season, please see the Support page on our website and our Kathina Wish List.