Newsletter

December 2022

www.nebvmc.org

NEW ENGLAND BUDDHIST VIHARA & MEDITATION CENTER

[BOSTON BUDDHIST VIHARA]

This newsletter marks the end of our 2022 year together. Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, our community has shown remarkable resilience. We have conducted regular events remotely and in-person according to best practices. Additionally, we have continued to hold evening mediations on Wednesdays, the Dhamma School bimonthly, the Vesak Ceremony, the Katina Robe Offering Ceremony, a large scale community movie night, guest lecturers, and other events. Furthermore, several NEBV Dhamma articles have chronicled our year of community together. We intend them to be a support to the spiritual goals of our members. As always, we thank you heartily for your continued support and presence in our wholesome community!

As the year closes and the next arises, we wish our readership health, happiness, and wisdom that leads to Nibanna in the years that lie ahead.

Sharing Loving-Friendliness

This is what should be done

By one who is skilled in goodness,

And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,

Straightforward and gentle in speech,

Humble and not conceited,

Contented and easily satisfied,

Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.

Peaceful and calm and wise and skillful,

Not proud or demanding.

Let them not do the slightest thing

That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in safety,

May all beings be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be;

Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,

The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,

The seen and the unseen,

Those living near and far away,

Those born and yet to-be-born —

May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,

Or despise any being in any state.

Let none through anger or ill-will

Wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life Her child, her only child,

So, with a boundless heart

Should one cherish all living beings;

Radiating kindness over the entire world:

Spreading upwards to the skies,

And downwards to the depths;

Outwards and unbounded,

Freed from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing or walking,

seated or lying down

With alertness,

One should sustain this recollection.

This is said to be the sublime abiding.

Karaniya metta sutta

New Year Blessings to Welcome 2023

We are planning to hold the Atavisi Buddha Puja Ceremony to invoke blessings on the community for the New Year 2023. The ceremony will be held at Edwards church at 39 Edwards St, Framingham, MA 01701 on January 1st, 2023 at 3:30 pm.

May you celebrate the gifts of health and well-being in the New Year and beyond

World Vesak Day Celebration - 2022

Vesak Day is an officially recognized United Nations (UN) holiday that

celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Gautama the Buddha.

The Buddha’s teachings focused on compassion, peace and goodwill with the possibility to awakening wisdom within every human being. His teachings have become a beacon of light pervading the far corners of earth today guiding millions through the darkness of human suffering. We invite you to light a candle to show your gratitude to the Buddha,

Vass Aradana - Invitation to Vass 2022

In this occasion, a formal invitation to observe the rainy retreat "Vas Araadhana" will be extended to the venerable monks by the families of Ashan & Judy Abeysekara, Damith Uduwarage, Shavik & Thimalee Gunarathne, sponsoring this year's event on the Esala Full Moon Day, Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 5.00 pm at the premises of the New England Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center.

The Dhammapada

The Dhammapada is a collection of 423 verses. These verses contain the Buddha’s essential teachings delivered on over 305 occasions for the benefit of a wide range of human beings. This collection is also called the “Treasury of the Truth”.

These sayings are very beautiful and valuable to people all over the globe who wish to develop their spiritual knowledge, and to bring happiness and peace.

The stanzas are arranged according to different subjects and divided into 26 chapters.

Abhivādanasīlissa – niccaṁ vaddhāpacāyino

Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti – āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṁ balaṁ

If a person is in the habit of constantly honoring and respecting those who are developed and mature, their lives improve in four ways. Their life span soon increases. Their complexion becomes clearer. Their good health and comfort will improve. Their vigor and stamina too will increase

Uṭṭhānavato satīmato, sucikammassa nisammakārino

Saññatassa ca dhammajīvino, appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati

If a person is persevering, attention focused within, if his physical and spiritual actions are unblemished, if he is restrained and if he is living in accordance with the Teaching and is sane, his glory will grow.

Katina Robe Offering Ceremony 2022

The Katina ceremony was successfully held on October 15th at the Blackston Regional Vocational Technical High School, and was attended by Monks from New York, New Jersey, Staten Island and Long Island Buddhist Temples. The ceremony was held with the participation of community members.

Annual Cricket Tournament was held at the Hopkinton State Park on Saturday, June 4th 2022

Dhamma School

The 2022 Boston Buddhist Vihara Dhamma School year came to a close on Dec17th with a certification ceremony held at the Hopkinton Public Library. Students were awarded certificates, report cards, and gifts at the ceremony. The year of learning was reflected in speeches given by students and staff. It was wonderful to gather as a community in person!

Special recognition was given to our most recent program graduates, Lehan and Methru. It was most excellent to see these two taking their next steps towards a promising young adulthood. They go with a strong foundation of the Dhamma, which is an invaluable support to living life well.

We would also like to convey our deep appreciation to the volunteer staff of the school. They have put in countless hours to prepare and conduct classes, contribute to special events at the temple and committed themselves to the service of the Dhamma School. The dedication of these individuals has enabled the school to be successful where students from near and far are able to learn the teachings of the Buddha.

Meditate with Bhante Pannasiri on every Wednesday

In these sessions, we will try to improve our mindfulness or mental awareness (sati) through meditation. The meditation session will be guided and will last for about one hour. Afterward, there will be some time for answering questions and/or discussing Dhamma.

Past Reflection

Tonight's meditation session was led by Bhante. Bhante discussed the need for us to constantly scan our thoughts and to reflect on the thoughts that we maintain during the day. Our happiness is dependent on how we deal with our thoughts, and releasing negative thoughts as soon as they arise helps us maintain a fulfilling life, and equanimity.

By Joyce Schauer