"Seeking solace and serenity through Dhamma"
(photos: go2lanka.com)
Ven Sumana conducting a sermon
By Lasantha Bogoda
“Dan-Salas” go hand in hand along with Wesak and Poson “thoranas”, in Sri Lanka. Though we have had no full-blown thoranas here in LA, Dan-salas are gradually becoming regular, amongst the expatriates Lankans.
A Dansala in Los Angeles may not have the same appeal and the momentum as in Sri Lanka, where the weary and the hungry sightseers are cajoled and lured by the Dansala organizers almost by force. Yet the spirit of giving with loving kindness was evident at the little Poson Dansala conducted in the late evening of Saturday the 21st by a group of long time residents in the Gardena and Torrance area, at the annual Poson Pinkama of The Sri Rathana International Meditation Center in Los Angeles.
The Poson religious ceremonies of the temple were held solemnly and graciously in its own stride at the Rathana meditation center under the direction and guidance of its chief monk Ven Bogolle Sumana. The Atavisi Budhdha pooja was conducted by Ven Alakolamada Gunarathana, where upon a timely sermon was delivered by Ven Makola Mangala on the cycle of Samsara; aspect of being born repeatedly over and over again.
The “Rathana” temple is situated in a busy surrounding of a largely Hispanic community just besides a crowded free way. Yet it was a pleasing sight for the Sri Lankan Buddhists to witness, the creation of the Lankan festival as it happens in their motherland. The serenity of the environment was adequately created by traditional temple decorations such as large and small Buddhist flags, colorful paper lanterns and other materials, bulk of which may have been brought from Sri Lanka.
"Carrying on the Lankan tradition"
There were young and old devotees, some listening very intently and others not so; some making the occasion a social gathering while other young ones inquiring curiously on certain aspects of Sinhala Buddhist culture from the elders. While one wanted to know why a full moon day is declared a holiday in Sri Lanka, another was inquiring why water was poured from a jar to a bowl at the reciting of Pali stanzas by the monks.
The organizers had taken pains to put up a temporary structure at the temple to accommodate the gathering. The devotees were seen thanking the organizers of the Dan-sala profusely for their exercise of Dana pinkama.
It was a memorable day of Poson celebration at the Rathana temple, which also had its first Dansala, thanks to its effective organizers.
( go2lanka.com)
