This year we are going to have

THE KATHINA CELEBRATIONS

on 12 November 2023 at our Monastery.

There will be six Bhikkhus attending this ceremony.

VESAK CELEBRATION will be on 7 May 2023

The Year of The Rabbit.

Suor Sdey Chaul Chnam Thmey

(Happy Khmer New Year)

Chaul Chnam Thmey (Enter thE New Year)

Upcoming Event: MEAK BOCHEA on 5 FEBRUARY 2023

We are going to celebrate MEAK BOCHEA on 5 February 2023 at Wat Dhammayanaram from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

Meak Bochea Day is an important Cambodian festival observed on the full moon in the third month of the Khmer calendar. This means that the date depends on the lunar cycle but usually, it is observed in late February or early March.

History of Meak Bochea:

On this day, seven months after Buddha began his teachings, over a thousand monks gathered to hear Buddha preach. Buddha ordained these monks and spread the principles of Buddhism. This marked a key event in the development of the religion. 45 years later, on the same full moon in the third lunar month, Buddha again delivered his teachings shortly before his death. As mentioned, the third lunar month on which both events occurred is known as 'Meak'. 'Bochea'.

On Sunday 8 January we will come together to welcome the new year. It is a good start to formally welcome Venerable Kassapa and Venerable Sudassi back to the Temple.

What is Kathina ?

End of Rains retreat is traditionally a time of robe making, known as Kathina. A time that monks can choose to have a new robe, cut dyed and sown for the ceremony, the important part in our modern era is the celebration of the rains retreat 3 months meditation period. Lord Buddha wanted monks (Bhikkhus) to stay in one place for the 3 months “rains retreat” period each year, to deepen their samadhi-bhāvana practice (Meditation, Mindfulness & Contemplation; seeing into the Four Noble Truths) and put down all other duties. The “Kathina” really has its true importance of rejoicing in the time that has been spent developing Lord Buddhas Path to the Highest, and the monks treading/following the Teachings of his Ariya Sangha. Why is that, as Lord Buddha encouraged his disciples to realize the four paths and fruits of enlightenment (Sottapana Magga/Pala the first one); pointing us all, Ordained Sangha and the lay community, to strive to realize the end of suffering. So please come on this auspicious day to celebrate the end of the 2022 rains retreat at Wat Dhammayanaram. See you there.

We had a beautiful gathering to celebrate VESAK on 22 May 2022.

On Sunday 17 April 2022, some 40 people came to celebrate the Cambodian New Year at the Temple. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves. Fortunately, we had 3 monks to help celebrate this special occasion. Ajahn Appicchato and Venerable Nivato from Bodhinyana Monastery in Serpentine were able to join Venerable Sudassi, generating a lot of warmth and joyfulness on this special day. Thank you to the people who brought a lot of lunch Dana for the monks and to share with other people. Our thanks also go to the volunteers who helped to get the place ready and make it a success. Thank you all for your generous donations to support the Temple. May you have a great year with the blessings of good health, longevity, happiness and prosperity.

A small group of people turned up at the Temple on Thursday 14 April to celebrate the New Year quietly.

UPCOMING EVENT: We are going to celebrate MEAK BOCHEA on 13

February 2022 at Wat Dhammayanaram from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm

Meak Bochea Day is an important Cambodian festival observed on the full moon in the third month of the Khmer calendar. This means that the date depends on the lunar cycle but usually, it is observed in late February or early March.
History of Meak Bochea:

On this day, seven months after Buddha began his teachings, over a thousand monks gathered to hear Buddha preach. Buddha ordained these monks and spread the principles of Buddhism. This marked a key event in the development of the religion. 45 years later, on the same full moon in the third lunar month, Buddha again delivered his teachings shortly before his death. As mentioned, the third lunar month on which both events occurred is known as 'Meak'. 'Bochea'.

We are going to hold a ceremony to say Thank You to our Resident Monk, Venerable Sukhakamo, who has been serving at Wat Dhammayanaram for ten years.

You are cordially invited to join us at the most auspicious Event on the Buddhist Calendar.: VESAK

Mr. Thoeun Moung had served the Cambodian Buddhist community since his arrival in Perth, Western Australia.. He was President of the Cambodian Buddhist Society for many years. He was known for his kindness, right effort and patience. He has a strong commitment on the path of the Buddha- Dhamma.

We thank Mr. Thoeun Moung for his dedication in the creation of WAT DHAMMAYANARAM.

We wish him well on his next journey. May he have an excellent rebirth. May he continue to have an upright mind and be guided by the Dhamma towards the ultimate liberation from Samsara and gain Enlightenment.

ពិធីបុណ្យចូលព្រះវស្សា ពុទ្ធិក សមាគមខ្មែរប្រទទ្សអូស្រ្តា លីរដ្ខខាងលិច សូមគោរពអព្ជើាញ ឧបាសក ឧបាសិកាជាពុទ្ធបរិសទ័ ទាំងឡាយមកចូលរួមកុ្នង ពិធីបុណ្យចូលព្រះ វស្សានៅវត្រាតធម្មយានារាម តាមកម្មវិធី ខាងក្រោមនេះ ។

ថ្ងៃអាទិត្យទី ៥ ខែកក្កដា ២០២០ នៅវត្តធម្មយានារាម

ម៉ោង ១០ :៣០ ទៅដល់ ម៉ៅង ១២:៣០

 CEREMONY TO MARK ENTRY TO RAINS RETREAT 2020 ( VASSA)

• Sunday 5 July 2020 commencing 10.30am

• at Dhammayanaram Monastery, 56 Scott Rd, Kelmscott

• Please note: Entry to Rains Retreat proper falls on Monday July 6.
  Please observe social distancing while you are within monastery premises.

Dear Tina

Congratulations  on the  success of the E Vesak. You did very well. You came across as a very confident and joyful person with great enthusiasm about the Buddha’s teaching. 

I watched the whole thing and really enjoyed it. Well done. And Thanks to all who put the program together. The Buddha’s story was well represented by a diverse group of people.

It was good to see the FABC and all the State Buddhist Councils come together to work on such an important event like Vesak.

I hope it is the beginning of a new level of communication in the spirit of cooperation among all Buddhists in Australia through their leaders who represent their interests.  Tholla Chan

Please go to this website for E Vesak on Sunday 10 May 2020. It is a series of ceremonies celebrating Vesak offered by different Buddhist community groups in Australia, the State Buddhist Councils and FABC (Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils)

https://au.gofundme.com/f/coming-together-for-the-buddhas-birthday

Vesak is one of the most important Buddhist festivals. It is also known as Wesak or Buddha Day. It is a celebration of Buddha's birthday and, for some Buddhists, marks his enlightenment (when he discovered life's meaning). It is also a time to reflect on his teachings and what it means to be Buddhist.

Wednesday 6th of May

Vesak Day / Buddha's Birthday in 2020 is on the Thursday, 7th of May (5/07/2020). Vesak Day / Buddha's Birthday is on the 128th day of 2020. There are 238 days left in the year.

You may want to watch some videos on Vesak celebration via the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vesak+at+dhammaloka

When is Khmer New Year?

Khmer New Year, also known as Cambodian New Year is usually a three-day public holiday in Cambodia. In Khmer, it is called 'Chaul Chnam Thmey', which means 'enter the new year'.

It is based on the traditional solar new year, that was observed in parts of India and Asia. It falls on either April 13th or April 14th.

The Khmer new year is marked by the sun entering the sign of Aries the Ram. This particular event was traditionally closely related to the Vernal Equinox. In ancient times, the dates of the sun entering Aries and the Vernal Equinox would have been even closer, but they have shifted due to an effect called procession, where the Earth wobbles on its axis over a 25,000 year period.

In Cambodia, it marks the end of the harvest before the beginning of the rainy season.

How is Khmer New Year Celebrated?

Like most New Year holidays, Khmer New Year is full of tradition and rituals. The three days of celebration each have their own name and associated traditions:

First Day - Maha Songkran

The first day of the Khmer New Year is called 'Maha Songkran'. Similar to the Tamil tradition, it is believed that this was the day of creation. In Khmer tradition, the world was created by God's angels and to welcome the angels, people will clean their houses and illuminate them with candles. Families will place an idol of Buddha on an altar.

Second Day - Vanabot

Also known as Virak Wanabat, the second day of Khmer New Year is a time to think of the less fortunate. People offer charity by helping the poor, servants and homeless. Families may go to monasteries to pay respect to their ancestors, and it also a time for family members to exchange gifts.

Third Day - Leang Saka

On the third day of New Year celebrations, Buddhists wash and clean statues of Lord Buddha with scented water. This cleansing is done to ensure that Cambodia will receive all the water it needs in the coming year. Another tradition is that children wash and bathe their parents and grandparents in return for blessing and good advice for the future.

NOTE : There will be dancing and drumming the way we always do during the Procession around the Vihara. Everybody is welcome to join in to celebrate the occasion together, showing support of the monks who have been staying at the monastery during the Vassa. We look forward to seeing you all there. Thank You. The Committee of the CBSWA Inc.

Kathina at Wat Dhammayanaram

Sunday 10th November

10:20    Take the 3 refuges & 5 precepts

10:25     Monks blessing chant

10:30     Meditation & Talk

11:00     Rice alms round

12:30     Kathina Procession

1: 00      Robe Offering

All are welcome,  see you there!

PCHUM BEN - is coming up on 29 September 2019.

Significance of the Occasion

Once a year Cambodian Buddhists make offerings of food and other requisites to the monks in memory of their loved ones who passed away. It is believed that their generosity can generate a lot of merits to their ancestors who might have been suffering in other lower realms of existence. The blessings from the offerings to the monks will help relieve their pain and grief and might help them to be released from those unfortunate circumstances.

Most Cambodians who practise Buddhism treat this special day as a very important occasion for themselves, their families and community.

Program

1. Ceremony starts : 10:30 am.

2. Monks Chanting Blessings:

3. Dhamma talks in English and Khmer

4. Monks go on alms round

5. Shared lunch : 11: 45 am.

We are going to have a ceremony at the monastery to mark the beginning of the Rains Retreat on 14 July 2019.

The ceremony will start at 10:30 am with chanting of devotion and Blessings, offering Dana to the monks and finish at 12:30 pm.

There will be three monks staying at Wat Dhammayanaram during the Vassa.

During the Rains Retreat, the monks will concentrate on their meditation practice and learning .They reduce their normal daily duties in order to have more time for meditation.

They do need support from he lay community for dana and other requisites.