In addition to organizing 10-day or 3-day intensive meditation retreats, the Sakyamuni Meditation Center also organizes other important festivals throughout the year. These festivities serve as a gentle reminder of our shared spiritual journey and the importance of community.
1. Lunar New Year (Tết Nguyên Đán)
The Lunar New Year, or Tết Nguyên Đán, is the most important holiday in Vietnamese culture, taking place during the first three days of the lunar calendar. It is a time for people to gather with their families, remember traditional customs and roots, and reflect on the past year while preparing for the new one.
At Sakyamuni Meditation Center, the celebration of Tết is not only vibrant with preparations and decorations in the Vietnamese style, but also closely linked to the practice of Buddha’s teachings, emphasizing the importance of practicing mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom. In the first moments of the new year, monks from around the world send New Year’s greetings to the Venerable Khippapanno Kim Trieu and listen to his New Year’s teachings. During this time, Buddhists and pilgrims visiting the Meditation Center can also enjoy Vietnamese dishes, meditate, pray, make offerings to the Triple Gem, and receive lucky charms for the new year.
2. Magha Puja (Full Moon Festival in January)
The Magha Puja, a traditional festival in Theravada Buddhism, has three meanings:
1)Commemorating the day when 1,250 Arahant disciples of the Buddha, without prior arrangement or invitation, gathered at the City of Veluvana to pay homage to the Buddha on the same day.
2) The Buddha delivered the Ovada-Patimokkha Gatha, a basic teaching for later practice, summarized in the verses of the Dhammapada:
Refrain from all evil.
Achieve wholesome deeds, Keep the mind pure,
This is the Buddha’s teaching,
The Buddha often taught:
Patience is the highest practice,
Nibbana is the highest attainment,
Monks do not harm others,
Samanas do not harm others.
Do not slander or destroy,
Uphold the basic precepts,
Eat and drink in moderation,
Meditate in a tranquil place,
Focus on the higher mind,
This is the Buddha’s teaching.
3)On this day, the Buddha also instructed Anapatimokkha, establishing the Uposatha ceremony to be held on the 15th and 30th (or 29th) of each lunar month. This ceremony offers monks a space for self-reflection and adherence to moral conduct, confessing minor transgressions to one another.
The Sakyamuni Meditation Center continues to honor this ancient tradition, recognizing that the monastic code forms the bedrock of Buddhism. As long as the code endures, the Dharma will persist. The Buddha foretold that the Vinaya would be the final aspect to deteriorate, marking the end of the Dharma and the beginning of the degenerate age of his teachings.
On the anniversary of the Buddha’s Parinirvana, when he announced his passing in three months, the Sakyamuni Meditation Center observes this historic day through various ceremonies and activities. Offerings of alms, taking precepts, ordination, Dharma talks, and head-shaving ceremonies create opportunities for laypeople to nurture their spiritual growth by following the Dharma.
A unique all-night ceremony called Dhutanga encourages participants to stay awake in remembrance of the Buddha’s extraordinary life dedicated to the well-being of others. The night brims with enlightening activities such as Dharma talks, meditation sessions, Q&A discussions on Buddhist teachings, and conversations about spiritual matters. By attending this event, one can deepen their understanding of the Buddha’s teachings and strengthen their faith in the Triple Gem.
3. Vesak Day or Buddha's Birthday (Vesakha Puja)
Vesak Day, celebrated on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month, is one of the most significant Buddhist holidays. It marks three pivotal moments in the Buddha’s life: his birth, enlightenment, and passage into Nirvana.
4. Vassa - Rains Retreat (3 Months)
Vassa, a three-month annual monastic retreat during the rainy season, provides Theravada Buddhist monks and nuns with an opportunity to withdraw from regular activities and concentrate on deepening their meditation practice and studying the Dharma.
At the Sakyamuni Meditation Center, the monastic community observes the tradition of Vassa, starting on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month, Asalha Puja. This day also commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon, the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, which introduced the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Some consider this day as Dharma Day.
During the Rains Retreat, monks at the Sakyamuni Meditation Center are not permitted to leave the monastery for more than seven days. This precious time allows them to focus on meditation and gain a deeper understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.
The retreat ends on the full moon day of the ninth lunar month, Pavarana Day. On this day, monks perform the Pavarana ceremony, inviting their fellow monks to point out any mistakes or errors committed during Vassa. This practice promotes humility, openness, and the resolution of conflicts or misunderstandings.
After Pavarana Day, monks who have completed Vassa at the Sakyamuni Meditation Center are free to leave the monastery for other Buddhist activities.
5. Vu Lan Parents Appreciation Festival
The Vu Lan Festival is a time to remember and honor the boundless kindness of our parents and ancestors. The Buddha taught that we should venerate our parents as if they were Buddhas in his absence. By engaging in virtuous acts, making offerings, and dedicating merit to both living and deceased parents and relatives, Buddhists pray for their health, happiness, and well-being. Honoring one’s parents and ancestors is not only a religious duty but also a way to preserve and develop the Buddha’s teachings through compassion, love, and gratitude.
6. Kathina - Robe Offering Ceremony
The full moon day of the ninth lunar month marks the end of the Rains Retreat (Pavarana) for the monastic community and the beginning of the one-month Kathina Robe Offering season. The community and lay followers rejoice and celebrate together, preparing offerings for monks and participating in Kathina ceremonies at various Theravada Buddhist temples. Monks especially appreciate this day, as it signifies another year of spiritual growth.
Following the ending of Vassa, the Buddha authorized the observance of a Kathina ceremony within a specific one-month window, from the 16th day of the ninth lunar month to the 15th day of the tenth lunar month. It is essential to understand that a Kathina ceremony can only occur once per year during this designated period, with a single ceremony taking place each month. In India, the year is divided into three seasons—cold, hot, and rainy—each lasting four months. As Vassa spans three months, there remains one month during which monks must not travel for the purpose of propagating the Dharma and must stay at their monasteries until the rainy season ends. Thus, this month is an appropriate time for the Kathina Robe Offering ceremony. Organizing the ceremony outside the allotted month means the Kathina merit cannot be achieved.
To be eligible for a Kathina robe, a monk must complete an uninterrupted three-month Vassa at the monastery. At least five fully ordained monks (bhikkhus) must be present, with four participating in the robe offering and one receiving the robe. The robe recipient is either a monk with a worn-out robe or one nominated by the monastic community. The process of receiving a Kathina robe differs from accepting standard offerings made by laypeople. While monks usually receive offerings through both body and speech, they accept a Kathina robe with their minds, not verbally.
When all necessary conditions are met, the monks convene within the Sima boundary. They appoint two representatives to announce to the assembly that the Kathina robe has been offered and will be presented to a specific bhikkhu. If the other monks consent, they remain silent. This process is repeated three times before the robe is ultimately given to the receiving bhikkhu.
Upon announcing the robe’s recipient, they can only accept one of the three robe components: the outer, upper, or inner robe, but not all three. The receiving bhikkhu must relinquish their old robe and don the new one. The other monks present to express their joy and approval. As soon as the words of approval are spoken, all monks who participated in Vassa together receive the five Kathina blessings. This is distinct from other meritorious acts, as usually only the doer of a good deed reaps the benefits. However, during the Kathina robe offering ceremony, both the robe recipient and all participating monks receive blessings of long life, beauty, happiness, strength, and wisdom. These blessings support the bhikkhu’s smooth progression in their studies, observances, and travels.
The Kathina robe offering ceremony at the Sakyamuni Meditation Center is an incredibly joyful event. Often, an individual or group sponsor organizes and hosts the ceremony, providing robes and other necessary requisites for the monks before offering them to the monastic community. On this day, laypeople display their respect by carrying all the offerings in a procession that circles the stupa three times. The vibrant and jubilant atmosphere embodies the dedicated hearts of Buddhist followers.
