A Visit to the Temple on Saturday

Bodhi Tree (Ficus religiosa), Buddhist Flag, and Shrines

Saturday morning, after I had my cup of tea and replied to blog comments, etc., I put away the washed dishes from last night and cleaned the inside of the microwave.

Then, I did some paperwork and wrote out checks for two bills - gas and utilities.  My natural gas bill, was $19.07 (billed monthly).  I used 12 therms of the baseline allowance of 14 therms; anything above baseline is billed at a higher rate, which is why my winter gas bills are so much more!  My utilities bill, which includes electricity, water, sewage, and solid waste collection and is billed every two months, was $257.88.  I stayed well under my Tier 1 (lowest rate) allocation for electricity (allowed 1,000 kWh; used 289 kWh) and used 14 HCF (hundred cubic feet) of the 16 HCF of water I am allowed at Tier 1 rates.  The electricity portion of my bill was $59.25; the water portion was $90.16; sewer charges (based on water use in winter) amounted to $36.83 and solid waste collection charges came to $71.64 (a flat rate based on type of residence, not how much trash was produced/collected).

After that, I drove to the post office to mail the two bills.  On the way back, I stopped at the library to borrow more magazines.  I borrowed a few Better Homes and Gardens and Good Housekeeping magazines.  After I came home, I ate a salad (lettuce, cucumber, carrots, and grapes) for brunch.

Later in the early evening, after a cup of tea and an egg salad sandwich, I went to the nearby grocery store to buy some treats to take to the Temple.  I also bought 3 dozen roses.  Then, I came home, took a quick shower, changed into a white skirt and blouse, and went to the Temple.

The monks at the Temple are observing what is known as their "rainy season retreat".  The tradition originated in India when some people found fault with the Buddhist monks for going out and about, begging for alms, etc., during the rainy season there, because, at a time when roads were not paved, it was common to encounter worms and insects on the muddy roads and hard to avoid stepping on them, even accidentally.  Since Buddhism is a religion that advocates not causing any harm to other living beings, the people complained that the monks were not living up to that principle.  Therefore, the Buddha decreed that, thereafter, the monks would spend the rainy season in retreat at their temples and not go out and about as usual (there are some exceptions to this general rule), and the people supporting the temple would bring alms to the temple.

Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition, all over the world, observe this rainy season retreat during the months of July, August, and September, ending their retreat in mid to late October, as that is the rainy season in India.  This period also corresponds to rainy seasons in Sri Lanka, as well as many other southeastern Asian countries.  The problem starts when one moves to a place like southern California, when this period corresponds to our dry season and our rainy season is actually in winter!  My daughter questioned this, when she was still a child, and was not very happy with the answer the monks provided, which was that, this is the time that the rainy season retreat has been traditionally observed and they are not willing to change it.  She has a very logical mind and thinks the rainy season retreat should be observed during the rainy season of the country in which the monks are currently residing!  Or, they should at least call it a different name!  Which makes a lot of sense, of course. 

Be that as it may, the retreat is still being called a rainy season retreat!  And every Saturday during this period of retreat, they are holding special blessing ceremonies or "ata visi Buddha puja" at the Temple, when the twenty eight known Buddhas, each of whom obtained Enlightenment under a  Bodhi tree, are honored.  Offerings of light (in the form of candles), flowers, and beverages are made to the Buddhas and the Bodhi tree is "bathed" with vessels of water, while blessings are chanted:

Individual Shrines with Offerings

Afterwards, the participants moved into the sermon hall to hear a sermon by a visiting monk from Singapore:

In the Sermon Hall

Traditionally, people sit on the floor or on mats or carpets, as a sign of respect to the monks who are seated on higher chairs.  These days, there are cushioned seats with back supports for more comfortable seating. 

There were at least 50 participants at today's ceremony.  A vegetarian dinner of rice and curries was provided for all by those who sponsored today's event.  Since the other families co-sponsoring the event had taken charge of the dinner, itself, the monks told me to bring whatever I wished to contribute, so I took mini chocolate chip muffins and chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

Afterwards, I came home and spoke with friend R, who had called.  We are planning to get together, tomorrow for a visit.

Today's joyful activities were the visit to the library and attending the special ceremony at the Temple.

Today, I am grateful for:

- The post office being open on a Saturday

- Libraries

- Being able to participate in a blessing ceremony at the Temple
- Being able to pay my bills
- Video chatting with my daughter

Saturday's To Do List:

- Paperwork/bill paying - DONE

- Post Office - DONE

- Library - DONE

- Clean the microwave - DONE

- Do some tidying - STARTED

- Buy flowers/desserts - DONE

- Go to the Temple - DONE

Sunday's To Do List:
- Get together with friend R
- Do more tidying

How was your Saturday?  What are your plans for Sunday?