Tuesday 6 August 2013

19-20 Oct.: 宁心寺 卡提那庆典 Ulu Tiram Kathina 2013



宁心寺       卡提那庆典

Santi Monastery        Kathina Ceremony

( 20 -10 -2013)




  • 地点Venue : 宁心寺,Santi Monastery Ulu Tiram, Johor,Malaysia
  • 日期Date: 19-20/10/2013 ( 星期六Saturday, 4pm 至to 星期日Sunday, 5pm)
  • 交通费Transport Fee: S$25.00
  • 集合地点 Pickup point: 
    Paya Lebar MRT 3:30pm 
    Kranji MRT 4:00pm 
  • 截止日期 Closing date: 16/10/2013 
  • 询问处 Equerries : Sis Kendy : 9750 3408
    (请在晚上 7 点半 至 10 点半 之间致电/
    Please call within 7:30pm – 10:30pm)



Click here to apply:  网上报名 Online application


Significance of KATHINA [ Click here for more details  ]


卡提那庆典


庆祝卡提那节是南传佛教的一个重要节日。这个庆典通常是在比丘 (出家人) 毎年结夏安居後的阳历十月或十一月里举行。


其典故始于佛陀时代 :
在佛陀早期弘法时侯,出家人是不需结夏安居的。后来由于接到投诉,特别是农夫的不满,说许多出家人在雨季里还在田间行走而把农作物都给踏坏了之后,佛陀才禁止僧众在雨季期间四处云遊,而必须定居一处,致力于修行。这样的规定就称为 “结夏安居”。
一般上,比丘必须经过三个月安居修行,直到结夏安居如法结束后,再召集至少五位比丘才可以进行卡帝那庆典。由此可见,结夏安居与卡帝那庆典有著密切与重大的关系。
如其他戒律仪一样,佛陀制定比丘必须守结夏安居之戒律,原因及好処如下:
1. 修行上有成就
2. 有价值及树立好榜样
3. 僧信 ‘善互动’ 而共同福慧双修


在僧团里,由古至今,包括了佛陀两大弟子舍利佛尊者及目犍连尊者,皆严守完成三个月安居之戒规。
虽然如此,如果遇上以下情况,比丘们是允许更换住处:
1. 地方上过予喧闹或发生骚乱
2. 缺乏食物
3. 发生天灾如洪水及地震等


因而影响到安居修行,比丘们更换住处是不算触犯戒规的。
在三个月安居期间,众多比丘皆把握机会,集聚一処,共住共处,并通过共修的因缘,放下一切,致力于修行,增进彼此的道业。不论是佛陀时代或是现今,这都是有目共睹的事实。


虽然在安居期间比丘不能随意外出,不过慈悲的佛陀允许如遇著父母亲有急事,或探访老师及朋友,或信众有邀请说法授供等事宜之情况下,比丘可依法请假外出,以七日为期限。此种方法称为 “七日法” 或 “受日法” 。


凡是能在一固定住处或道埸完成三个月安居之比丘或僧众,都有资格被选为领受卡帝那衣的受惠者。除非是特别情况以外,如有比丘错过首个结夏安居期,他是被允许守第二个结夏安居期的,不过却没有资格领受卡帝那衣。领受卡帝那衣者是在至少有五位比丘组成的僧团,在戒塔 (Sima) 内进行一问一答式僧伽会议后决议。这是给予最致力于修行的比丘之一项常殊胜的鼓励与奖赏。


在家居士只能每年一次在卡提那节时供养卡提那衣给僧团。卡提那之缘起,有著这么一个故事 :


一时,佛陀在舍卫城。当时有三十位巴嗒瓦吉族比丘,在三个月结夏安居结束后欲往拜见佛陀。可是当时豪雨仍盛,地面积水。当他们抵达后,这些比丘穿著的袈裟不但湿透,而且都破烂了。佛陀知道後,便允许比丘们在圆满结夏安居後,受用卡帝那衣。

在一般普通的布施或善行,只有施者单方面可获得功德。不过,供养卡提那衣却不同,它的功德是双方皆能获得 ; 不论是做布施的在家居士或是受用卡提那衣的僧团。由于其功德非凡,所以比丘甚至天神也允许参与供养卡提那衣。不过唯一条件是供养卡提那衣之比丘不够自己成为卡提那衣之受用人。在一些佛教国家,年青人常被鼓励在结夏安居期间出家为沙弥。由此可见,结夏安居与卡提那之功德,是多么殊胜!


Kathina
 

Observance of the Rains Retreat (Vassana), also known as the Buddhist Lent, by the (Buddhist Monks), brings the opportunity for the celebration of Kathina Robe Festival, which usually falls in the month of October or November annually. It is yet another classic tradition dating back to the time of the Gotama Buddha who had an illustrious Ministry lasting forty five years; the longest in any religious history. During the early years of the Buddha’s dispensation, there was no observation of the Rains Retreat, as the occasion did not arise at first. It was only later that a public complaint arose to the effect that only the Buddhist monks still travel during the raining season, trampling everything underfoot. So, there was a hue and cry, especially from the farmers, who blamed the Buddhist monks for destroying their crops; saying that even certain birds know when to stop travelling about and stay in one place, during the raining period.


One hearing this and after due consideration, the Buddha laid the Vinaya displinary rule, which require all Bhikkus to observe the Rains Retreat. As with all Vinaya rules promulgated by Him it must have the following advantages:-
1. Benefit of practice,
2. Valuable and exemplary, and,
3. Mutual benefit to all concerned
Following closely and keeping with this new rule, the Bhikkus began observing the Rains Retreat, staying in one place of abode, in unbroken continuity for three months. Observing of this Buddhist tradition had been upheld unbreached by the lineage of the Noble ones and even the two chief Disciples, the Venerable Sariputta and the Venerable Moggallana until today and still so, by Bhikkus the world over.
Exceptions to this Vinaya rule are, the Bhikkus can move to another place of abode when there is:-
a. Rioting/ violent disturbance,
b. Scarcity of food, and,
c. Natural disaster/ calamity
Threatening the sanctity and the conducive Rains retreat practice. In such a circumstance, the migrating Bhikkus suffer no offence which would otherwise be normally imposed.
Most of the Bhikkus use this period of solitude to hone their spiritual advancement and seize the golden opportunity to obtain the highest fruits they are capable of, as did their Sanghahood forebears in days of yore. Even now, numerous Bhikkhus strive on with diligence, in accordance with the advice of the Buddha, brushing aside their difficulties and personal problems (such as a grave illness),bent only to pursue their spiritual striving to conquer the tenacious, ignoble and heretical tendencies, just to gain insight. This is what really happens to the Bhikkhu’s daily life during the Rains Retreat, in letter and in spirit!


However, amidst the struggle for spiritual excellence, the Compassionate and Omniscient Buddha also gave His exuberant love and care to shower upon His diligent Bhikkhus. So, they are allowed to visit their parents, teachers, and friends and to preach and teach the Dhamma, and also to perform other religious duties; but must return to their abode within one week.
To be eligible to receive the Kathina Robe, a Bhikku must observe a full stipulated Rains covering the three months, in unbroken continuity and stayed in the same monastery or abode. If several Bhikkhus observe the Rains Retreat in the same place, then the eligibility is decided in the Sima Shrine Hall, in the presence of at least five monks.


A Bhikku failing to observe the first full Rains Retreat, can observe the second Rains Retreat under certain circumstances only; but he is not entitled to receive the Kathina Robe for that year. Therefore the Kathina Robe is indeed a unique award to a diligent Bhikkhu, after careful and deliberate scrutiny before a selective panel of senior Bhikkhus, convened for the purpose in the Sima Shrine hall, during the Kathina Robe Festival.


The Kathina Robe presentation which can only be offered only once a year in each monastery, really became an annual practice when the Buddha saw the thirty Bhikkhus of the royal Bhaddavaggi clan who came to visit and pay homage to Him, just after their Rains Retreat. With their robes well-worn and tattered, they were a sorry sight ! The Buddha showered His Compassion on them and promulgated the offering of Kathina Robe to the Bhikkhus observing the Rains Retreat at each monastery henceforth.


Another reason why the Kathina Robe is precious and rare, is because it benefits both parties, when the offering is performed, principally the donor(s) and his supporters on the one side and the recipient Bhikkhu on the other. Other offerings and wholesome actions, when performed are merely one-sided affairs, that is the merits are accruable to the donor(s) only ! It is also invaluable in that, even monks themselves, as well as celestial beings can be Kathina donors ! However they must not be the Kathina recipients receiving the Kathina Robe offered by themselves ! So beneficial is the Kathina offering which is the culmination of the Rains Retreat observance by the striving Bhikkhus. Sometimes, in Buddhist countrie, young people are encouraged to become monks during this auspicious period. Having said so much, still the benefits and value of the Kathina cannot be adequately measured !


So, with the many advantages and benefits enumerated above, may the sponsors of union Kathina 2012 and others yet to come, enjoy all the benefits and bathe in its resplendent glory, spiritual prosperity and ultimate blissful happiness Now and Forever!

 

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