Vesaka at Aranya Bodhi Hermitage Join in Vesaka (Wesak/Vaishaka) Week Bhikkhuni Camp May 27-31 - Here and from Afar scroll down to see how you can participate -- Warm Vesaka Season greetings, dear friends of our Bhikkhuni Sangha, With balmy spring sunshine and blossoms abounding in the fresh ocean breezes at our hermitage, 'Tis the Season of Vesaka, where Buddhists around the world gather to celebrate the birth of the Awakened One, the Buddha, each according to the beauty and traditions of their culture. Theravada Buddhists also celebrate the Mahabodhi--the Great Awakening of the Buddha, and his passing into Final Nibbana all on one day -- the Day of Vesaka.  Vesaka Three Great Deeds painting | courtesy Georgia Buddhist Vihara Here at our Aranya Bodhi Awakening Forest Hermitage, we too plan to celebrate Vesak in accordance with the beauty of human hearts meditating in the forest and the culture and traditions of our Sangha to gather together in peaceful harmony. As Aranya Bodhi is a simple forest hermitage and our Sangha is especially one of bhikkhunis -- -- we are offering a Vesaka Week Bhikkhuni Camp May 27-31. Our Bhikkhuni Sangha will be gathering from as far east as North Carolina and as far south as the Mohave Desert, together with our hermitage and San Francisco Aloka Vihara bhikkhunis, samaneris, women aspiring to monastic life, and those who would like to join us in supporting and being a part of this special Vesaka Season gathering.
Below are listed 10 traditional ways of celebrating Vesaka along with what you can do to join in our Aranya Bhikkhunis' Vesaka this year:
(1 & 2) People often join in spring cleaning and beautifying the space of their Buddhist temples, monasteries, hermitages and Dhamma Centers before Vesaka.
(3) People often come to their Buddhist temple, monastery, hermitage or Dhamma Center to offer a special meal and all their Dhamma friends for the Sangha for Vesaka. ~>>
(4) People often offer needed requisites and supplies to their Buddhist temple, monastery, hermitage or Dhamma Center in support of the monastic community and aspirants for Vesaka.
(5) People often share in offering transportation to monastics and friends to gather together for celebrating Vesaka.
(6, 7-10) People often undertake or reaffirming the refuges and precepts, listen to the Dhamma, and join in sharing blessings.
Let us know if you would like to participate in 1, 2 or all 10! :-) Important Note: If you have never been to our hermitage before, and would like to join us, either come together with someone who has been here before, or be sure email awakeningforest@gmail.com before you come to get directions and the gate code in order to enter. Let us know if you need a shuttle up. Email is checked once per day, so be sure to email early to leave yourself enough time to get a reply. We are out of wireless range in a big forest and will not be online all the time during the camp! Welcome to share around this email with Dhamma friends & family. Email awakeningforest@gmail.com early before the Vesaka Week Bhikkhuni Camp begins with any questions. Metta from all your friends & the women's monastic community at Aranya Bodhi Hermitage -- Sri Lankan Vesaka flags welcoming all to the Awakening Forest ~ Happy Vesaka ~ "Beautiful in the beginning, beautiful in the middle, beautiful in the end" |
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