End of Rains Retreat, Robe Offering at IBC

(IBC, Oct. 18, 2008) Kathina is the Theravada traditional robe-offering ceremony. The word 'Kathina' is Pali in origin. It means a frame used in sewing robes those days in India. Kathina was set up by the Buddha for the benefits of Sangha. After three months rains retreat (from the day following the full moon of July until the full-moon day of October), bhikkhus can receive robes offered by lay people.

In Thailand, Vassa is a customary period in which a Thai becomes ordained and enters in to monkshood, coinciding with the tropical rainy season.

At International Buddhist College, all monk/nun students will get robe offering from lay supporters. For the past years, robes offered were mainly by Malaysian devotees. This year, many local devotees participated in Kathina.

During the ceremony, IBC office symbolically handled the relief funds donated by IBC students and staff to those damaged by the cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in Sichuan, China this year.