October 7, 2018

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Kathina Festival at the Alabama Buddhist vihara                                                            2018

A Kathina Festival will be held at Alabama Buddhist Vihara, 18 November 2018. The Kathina is a tradition that has been followed for over 2500 years. It takes place during the month following the end of the Vas (the three months’ Rains Retreat). At the time of Kathina, lay followers make a special offering of the Kathina cloth, and in addition, other requisites to the Sangha.(monks)Kathina is a very happy, warm-hearted time for celebration. It is a time to come together, focusing on the single act of generosity of offering the cloth and other requisites.

November 17, at 06 pm 2018 Maha pirith chanting
Dear Devotees,
We would like to invite you to the 2018 Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony at the Alabama Buddhist Vihara on Sunday 18th November 2018.
As you know, Kathina is a tradition which has been followed since the time of the Buddha. Every year,
the Alabama Buddhist vihara the ceremony right after the Vassa period for devotees to have an opportunity to offer four requisites to the Sangha and accumulate merits for themselves. The merits of the four-requisite offered to the Sangha were mentioned by the Buddha in the Anapanasatti Sutta as follows:" O Bhikkhu!  The Sangha here is a pure assembly. It is worth for devotees to come a long way to pay respect and make a donation. For this assembly, a small donation will get a lot of merits and a large donation even gets more merits in return. The Sangha Assembly is indeed a field for all devotees to seed their good kamma and cultivate their merits."The Kathina ceremony program is as follows: on Saturday 17th & 18th November
on Saturday 17th November
05:30 p.M.:          Arrival of devotees
06:00 p.M.:          atavistic pooja
07:00 P.M.:           maha pirith chanting
08:30 P.M.:             Adjournment
on Sunday 18th November
06:am arriving to the temple with kathina robe
6.30 am offering buddha pooja
7:00 am dana to the maha sangha
10:30 am buddha pooja
11:00 dana for the maha sangha
12:00 luncheon
01:00 kathina offering
Coming to the Kathina Ceremony, devotees will have an opportunity to take five precepts, be blessed with chantings from the Sangha, listen to Dhamma talk, offer robes and other requisites to the Sangha and share merits to all beings.
We hope many of devotees will participate in the Kathina ceremony and look forward to welcoming you.  If you could not attend the ceremony but would like us to offer a robe to the Sangha and share merits to your beloved ones and all beings on your behalf. 
May you all be well, happy and peaceful!
In Metta,
the Alabama Buddhist vihara.



September 24, 2018

                                                       THE ALABAMA BUDDHIST VIHARA
Binara Poya program at the Alabama Buddhist vihara (September)
Sil Observance Day at the Alabama Buddhist Vihara is Sunday, the 30th of September 2018, to mark Binara Poya Full Moon day which falls on the 23rd of September.
Sil Program gives an opportunity to practice virtues and spend the day in physical and mental rest. Devotees will also listen and discuss Buddha's teachings throughout the day. Please make use of this opportunity to develop spirituality.
Commemorates The Buddha’s visit to heaven to preach to his mother and celestial multitude. Also the commencing of the Bhikkhuni (nun’s) Order. Pajapati Gotami approached The Buddha and implored him to establish the Bhikkhuni Order.
The Buddha consented to the establishment of Bhikkuni Order (Admission of Nuns to the Buddhist Order) on a Binara Poya Fullmoon Day on the initiative of the Maha PrajapatiGotami.

September 17, 2018

Take a few minutes for your SELF, and read this.





Buddha Quotes to Promote Personal Growth

Gautama Buddha, or simply Buddha, was a man of wisdom that lived somewhere between the 6th and the 4th century B.C. Buddhism is based on his teachings, but you don’t have to be a Buddhist to gather inspiration and help from them. He sought to find out what makes a life wholesome and fulfilling and his quotes may help you understand the broad lines of his philosophy.
I’m not an expert on Buddha. I just gathered his most beautiful quotes and present them to you, along with some of my thoughts. These quotes have helped me in different situations. I use them as tools to make my life more happiness oriented. I truly hope that they will be equally or more useful for you and will help you keep your faith in life and humanity. If you like this post, share it! it really help us a lot 🙂
Short Buddha Quotes
There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.
Doubt everything. Find your own light.
Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.
Rule your mind or it will rule you.
Attachment leads to suffering.
be greatly aware of the present.
Awake. Be the witness of your thoughts. You are what observes, not what you observe. Buddha.
Awake. Be the witness of your thoughts. You are what observes, not what you observe.
If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.
You only lose what you cling to.
Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
Three things can not hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.
Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. Buddha.
Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
Buddha Wisdom Quotes
A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.
Nothing is forever except change.
If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?
Even as a solid rock is unshaken by the wind, so are the wise unshaken by praise or blame.
If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.
‎Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn perfect patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion.
Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.
Do not give your attention to what others do or fail to do; give it to what you do or fail to do.
Your actions are your only belongings.
Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Buddha.
Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Buddha Quotes about Peace and Anger
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
Conquer the angry one by not getting angry; conquer the wicked by goodness; conquer the stingy by generosity, and the liar by speaking the truth.
It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
Friendship is the only cure for hatred, the only guarantee of peace.
There are no chains like hate…dwelling on your brother’s faults multiplies your own. You are far from the end of your journey.
Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.
How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go? Buddha.
How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?
Buddha Life Quotes
The less you have, the less you have to worry about.
You must make the effort yourself. The Masters only point the way.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, suffering follows him as the wheel follows the hoof of the beast that draws the wagon…. If a man speaks or acts with a good thought, happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him.
Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.
An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.
Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.
Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.
Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us? Buddha.
If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?
Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.
The greatest prayer is patience.
In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.
Most problems, if you give them enough time and space, will eventually wear themselves out
Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.
To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise, we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another. Buddha
If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.
Buddha Quotes about the mind
More than those who hate you, more than all your enemies, an undisciplined mind does greater harm.
Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind.
When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.
If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete. Buddha.
If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.
Buddha Quotes about Kindness
As rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, do not burden your heart with judgments but rain your kindness equally on all.
A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.
Kindness should become the natural way of life, not the exception.
Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth.
If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.
Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded. Buddha
Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded
Poetic Buddha Quotes
With our thoughts, we make the world.
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.
Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.
Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.
It is like a lighted torch whose flame can be distributed to ever so many other torches which people may bring along; and therewith they will cook food and dispel darkness, while the original torch itself remains burning ever the same. It is even so with the bliss of the Way.
The darkest night is ignorance.
The greatest prayer is patience. Buddha.
The greatest prayer is patience.
Buddha Quotes about Happiness
Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to others.
Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a giant tree in the midst of them all.
A man asked Gautama Buddha, “I want happiness.”
Buddha said, “First remove “I,” that’s Ego, then remove “want,” that’s Desire.
See now you are left with only “Happiness.
Joy comes not through possession or ownership but through a wise and loving heart.
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly. Buddha.
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.
Original Photo by Antonio Ron
Buddha Quotes about Love
When you like a flower, you just pluck it. But when you love a flower, you water it daily.
Ambition is like love, impatient with both delays and rivals
True love is born from understanding.
The moment you see how important it is to love yourself, you will stop making others suffer.
True love is born from understanding. Buddha
True love is born from und
Buddha Quotes about Healing
Do not look for a sanctuary in anyone except your self.
Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.
In separateness lies the world’s greatest misery; in compassion lies the world’s true strength.
Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.
Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others. Buddha.
Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.
Buddha Quotes about Change
In life we cannot avoid change, we cannot avoid loss. Freedom and happiness are found in the flexibility and ease with which we move through change
The universe itself is change and life itself is but what you deem it.
Buddha said, “Forgive? But I am not the same man to whom you did it. The Ganges goes on flowing, it is never the same Ganges again. Every man is a river. The man you spit upon is no longer here. I look just like him, but I am not the same, much has happened in these twenty-four hours! The river has flowed so much. So I cannot forgive you because I have no grudge against you. And you also are new. I can see you are not the same man who came yesterday because that man was angry and he spits, whereas you are bowing at my feet, touching my feet. How can you be the same man? You are not the same man, so let us forget about it. Those two people, the man who spit and the man on whom he spits, both are no more. Come closer. Let us talk of something else.
You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger. Buddha.
You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.
Long Inspirational Buddha Quotes
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
Words do not express thoughts very well; everything immediately becomes a little different, a little distorted, a little foolish. And yet it also pleases me and seems right that what is of value and wisdom of one man seems nonsense to another.
We live in illusion and the appearance of things. There is a reality. We are that reality. When you understand this, you see that you are nothing, and being nothing, you are everything. That is all.
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. Buddha.
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draw it.
Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.
What is evil? Killing is evil, lying is evil, slandering is evil, abuse is evil, gossip is evil, envy is evil, hatred is evil, to cling to false doctrine is evil; all these things are evil. And what is the root of evil? Desire is the root of evil, the illusion is the root of evil.
Buddha was asked: What have you gained from meditation? He replied: Nothing. However, I have lost anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, fear of old age and death.
Buddha was asked: What have you gained from meditation? He replied: Nothing. However, I have lost anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, fear of old age and death.

September 10, 2018

                                  The Alabama Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center

                                                is organizing an Atavisi Pooja (offering to the Buddhas)

                                                                              and Blessing ceremony. 

The event will commence at 5.00 pm on September 17th, 2018.
All are kindly invited. You may reserve one of twenty-eight Buddha Pooja through a donation. Also, if you wish, you can bring food items to share with your friends.
the previous countless buddhas were born, attained enlightenment, after practicing for countless eons the ten perfections of
Dana (generosity)
Sila (virtue)
Nekhamma (renunciation)
Prangna (wisdom)
Viriya (effort)
Kshanthi (tolerance)
Satya (truthfulness)
Adittana (determination)
Metta (compassion)
Upekka (Imperturbability)
Out of these countless number of buddhas, there had been 28 buddhas – Ata Visi Budhuvaru.



August 16, 2018

Nikini Poya Program


Nikini Poya Program will be observed on Saturday, August 25th, 2018 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Alabama Buddhist Vihara. We invite you all to join the program.






Morning Program

7:30


8:30

a.m.

Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana

8:30


8:45

a.m.

Tea & coffee break

8:45


10:00

a.m.

Vipassana Meditation 

10:00

 –

11:00

a.m.

Sathipattana Meditation  

11:00

 –

11:15

a.m.

Buddha Pooja (Must start @ 11.00)

11:30


12:00

 nn

Dana offering to the Bhanthe and those who observe eight precepts 

12:00


1:00

p.m.

Luncheon

Afternoon Program

1:00


2:30

p.m.

Sutra Discussion

2:30


2:45

p.m.

Tea & coffee break

2.45


5:00

p.m.

Dhamma talk 



5:30

p.m.

Termination of the Sil and Gilanpasa Puja



Attainment of Arahatship by the Buddha’s chief attendant, Ananda Maha Thera, commencement of the first Dhamma Sangayana, convocation to settle the Buddhist canon and “Pasu Vas” or the commencement of the “Vas” period by those who had not started the period of sojourn on the Esala full moon day are some of them. For Sri Lankans, this day is furthermore significant because of the world famous Kandy Esala Perahera which normally ends on this day.


May you be well and happy!

with Metta

Bhante Dhammaloka. 

Theruvan Saranay!!!



July 29, 2018

Vas Aradhana


July 12, 2018

Esala Poya and Vas Ārādhanā


Esala Poya Program will be observed on Sunday, July 29th, 2018 from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Alabama Buddhist Vihara. We invite you all to join the program.






Morning Program

7:30


8:30

a.m.

Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana

8:30


8:45

a.m.

Tea & coffee break

8:45


10:00

a.m.

Vipassana Meditation 

10:00

 –

11:00

a.m.

Sathipattana Meditation  

11:00

 –

11:15

a.m.

Buddha Pooja (Must start @ 11.00)

11:30


12:00

 nn

Dana offering to the Bhanthe and those who observe eight precepts 

12:00


1:00

p.m.

Luncheon

Afternoon Program

1:00


2:30

p.m.

Sutra Discussion

2:30


2:45

p.m.

Tea & coffee break

2.45


5:00

p.m.

Dhamma talk 



5:30

p.m.

Termination of the Sil and Gilanpasa Puja



Vas Aradhana at 5:30 p.m.

Vas Season (Rains Retreat) was started during the time of the Buddha, the Awakened One. Full ordained monastics all over the world continue, up till the present time to observe this Rains Retreat or Monsoon Season Retreat for three months – from the full moon day in July to the Katina Ceremony. During this time, they dedicate their time to spiritual activities such as practicing meditation and studying Dhamma thoroughly. This gives an opportunity for Buddhist community to take care of the monastics by offering them food, drinks, medicine, etc. and also to participate in spiritual activities more often.


Thank You

May you be well and happy!

with Metta

Bhante Dhammaloka. 

Theruvan Saranay!!!