Kathina Ceremony 2014 –Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara

The annual Kathina Ceremony of Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara was held at Partick Burgh Halls on 18th of October from 11.00am to 3.00pm. It was very successful and well attended.

The ceremony started with a beautiful parade with monks and devotees carrying the Kathina Robe for offering. The children dressed in the traditional Buddhist children's outfit ( Lamasari) was a reminder of the Sri Lankan Kathina Ceremony back home for the Sri Lankan devotees who attended from many parts of the UK.

Dr W.Kassapa Thero(OBE) chaired the ceremony which was attended by monks from Birmingham Maha Vihara, Leicester Vihara and Letchworh Vihara. Bhante Rewatha Thero, the head monk of Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara and the chief monk of Great Britain with his Dhamma brother Venerable Palitha Thero paid their respects to the late Most Venerable Bellana Nanawimala Maha Nayaka Thero , their teacher, by offering flowers to a specially erected shrine.

This was a great opportunity for new local Buddhists and members of the

Mindfulness Meditation group to experience a traditional Buddhist ceremony. They were very fortunate to get blessings from the 8 monks who attended for the 12^th Kathina Ceremony of Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara.

Dr Kenneth Hutton of the University of Glasgow gave a speech on Mindfulness in traditional Buddhism for the devotees and friends of the Vihara who attended the ceremony.

Dr Alistair Wilson, Stephanie Wilson and members of COPE mental health charity attended the ceremony along with the mindfulness group of theScottish Centre for Mindfulness which was founded by Bhante Rewatha Thero.

Every one was very grateful to the devotees of the Vihara for their generosity in organising this great annual event.