Chùa Bửu Môn - Buu Mon Buddhist Association

The Abbot, Most Venerable Viet, and resident monk, Bhante Kassapa Bhikkhu, were pleased with this year’s successful Kathina Robe Ceremony.  This year’s ceremony had a first, the attendance on the altar of Buu Mon Buddhist Temple’s second Samanera, Sucara.

Sucara, formerly known as Matthew Rhone, has been living at Buu Mon Buddhist Temple since February 2008. In September 2008, Sucara elected to become a Theravada Buddhist monk.  He left his employment and started his basic training to take his Samanera Ordination in Houston, Texas at Phap Luan Temple on November 1^st, 2009.  Sucara will continue to reside at Buu Mon Buddhist Temple and continue his studies preparing for his Bhikkhu (high) Ordination.

Our Kathina Robe Ceremony was honored this year with the attendance of several monks from temples in the Houston area as well as one monk from Florida.  We were pleased that the most senior monk of the Vietnamese Theravada Sangha, Most Venerable Ho Giac, was able to join us for our celebration.  Buu Mon Buddhist Temple was represented by Most Venerable Viet, Bhante Kassapa Bhikkhu and Sucara joined by Su Tri Quang who has been visiting Phap Luan Temple in Houston.  We were happy that Venerable Tri Tinh, Abbot of Phat Phap Temple in Saint Petersbburg, Florida, another member of our sangha, also elected to join us for our Kathina Robe Celebration.  Other Theravada monks, friends of our temple, in attendance were; Venerable Tawee , Venerable Sundarapanyo, Venerable Kittiputta, Venerable Jittachayo, Bhante Siri Seevalee, Bhante Basnagoda Rahula , Bhante Ellakkala Anuruddha.

This year’s Kathina Robe Ceremony was attended by congregational members and visitors from the Southeast Texas area as well as Houston, Texas.  We were pleased to see several first time visitors at the temple and a larger than expected turnout of non-Asian.

The ceremony started with Sangha Dana for the monks in attendance.  Then the monks entered the Buddha Hall in procession and Kathina ceremony was conducted.

The Kathina Robe Ceremony goes back some 2600 years, one of the original ceremonies put into place by the Buddha.  Kathina is a special celebration, a ceremony that traditionally marks the end of the three month rainy season which the monks and nuns have spent in a monastery.  In contemporary time it is the expression of the congregation’s appreciation of the contribution the monks have made to the Buddhist community and recognition of the passing of another year of monastic service by a monk or a nun.  The Kathina Robe ceremony is the presentation of traditional Kathina cloth by the Buddhist followers to a member of the Sangha.  The congregation in procession, Buddhist as well as non-Buddhist, circled the interior of the temple three times then two members leading the congregational parade presented the Kathina robe to Bhante Kassapa Bhikkhu who accepted the Kathina cloth on behalf of the venerable monks of Buu Mon Buddhist Temple.  Bhante Kassapa’s Kathina speech may be read on his web site at www.kassapa.org.

As part of the Kathina Robe offering the monks chanted, Most Venerable Ho Giac and Bhante Rahula gave dhamma talks.  Upon completion of the offering of robes Most Venerable Viet address the audience thanking them for their attendance and informing them of future plans of the temple and the Vietnamese Theravada sangha, especially the establishment of the Lien Hoa Temple in Houston and his candidacy as abbot of the new temple.

At the end of the ceremony all those in attendance were invited to eat a Vietnamese vegetarian meal prepared by volunteers, members of Buu Mon Buddhist Temple Kitchen Team.   The monks and staff of Buu Mon Buddhist Temples sincerely thank the Kitchen Team for another job well done.  The team has consistently cooked quality meals for the temples major celebrations throughout the year’s.  Without their willingness to volunteer and give of their time to cook, the temple would not be able to offer a generous meal to its visitors.  Again thank you Buu Mon Buddhist Temple Kitchen Team.  The monks give thanks to all the volunteers who helped Buu Mon Buddhist Temple have another successful Kathina Robe Ceremony.

May all beings take refuge in the Triple Gem: the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha.

Buu Mon Buddhist Temple in Port Arthur, Texas is pleased to announce the temple’s gardens, as well as, its upcoming 11^th Annual Lotus and Bamboo Festival is highlighted in the May issue of “Southern Living” magazine. The article, entitled “Southern Tranquility”, was written by Jennifer McKenzie Frazier, travel editor for the magazine and the photography was created by Cary Jobe, staff photographer for the magazine. The article was a year in the making but well worth the wait. The “Southern Living” May issue is currently in bookstores and on newsstands throughout the country.

You can view the article in PDF form by clicking here. (Requires Adobe Reader to View, to Download this, Click Here)

For additional information please contact:

Danny Dubuisson
Community Relations
Buu Mon Buddhist
2701 Procter St.
Port Arthur, TX 77640
Office:   409-982-9199
Mobile:  409-960-8370