On 3 November 2024, Wat Phra Dhammakaya organized the almsgiving to over 1,000 monks at Dhammakaya Meditation Hall in the early morning, followed by the mass meditation, the sustenance offering to the Buddha and the food offering to the monastic community in the late morning.
The afternoon session was the 2024 Kathin ceremony. It started with Kathin robe procession, heading to the ceremony center. Then Luang Por Dhattajivo led lay people to meditate along the meditation guide of Luang Por Dhammajayo to purify their mind for the big merit and Kathin robe was offered to the monastic representative by Kathin ceremony host. Then Kathin robe receiver was selected by the monastic community with consensus agreement. Venerable Phramaha Veerawat Veerawattago (Scholar of Pali level 9) was Kathin robe receiver this year. After that, the host of Kathin ceremony offered flower tray and monks’ necessities to the monastic chairman and the monastic chairman read the speech of Luang Por Dhammajayo. Paying homage to the Triple Gem was the final activity of this ceremony.
It was called “Kathin robe” according to the Vinaya Pitaka of Theravada and allowed by the Buddha to be offered to the monks with the 3 month retreat period. Then Kathin robe offering is one of the monastic activities to be completed within the limited period (from the first day of waning moon on the 11th lunar month to the 15th day of waxing moon on the 12th lunar month) according to the tripitaka. The main purpose of this activity is to build unity within monastic communities. The Kathin robe offering has been carried out for the royal family and laypeople for a long time. This important tradition of Kathin robe offering is still proceeded annually by the royal family. It’s not only Kathin robe but also the monks’ necessities that will be offered to the monks in order to support Buddhism.
