Yesterday was the first day of the 2-day ceremony to celebrate and dedicate the new pagoda (chedi in Thai) at Buddhist Temple of America. The pagoda houses at least 108 different holy relics of the Buddha and other Awakened Ones. I am sharing some pictures here. Brief descriptions of the images available on Flickr.
Today, Sunday, May 29, 2011, a formal ceremony will be performed to place the holy relics of the Buddha in the center of the pagoda. I am really looking forward to this event!
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa.
Above is a picture of the holy relics of the Buddha. A small portion of it was installed in a large Buddha image in the sala last night. I think this is the first time that I post any image of Buddhist relics on this blog. I hesitate to write about their mystery and wonders. Maybe it’s because of my extreme introverted personality that cause me not wanting to catch attention. Maybe because of the risk of possibly causing disbelief in those who had not experienced these holy relics. One thing is sure, I have very high respect for them and do not want to make any mistake. Since I still feel reluctant to elaborate on them in this blog, I’ll just give you a couple of links. This one is a very short explanation, but from a tradition that’s close to mine. Here’s one that’s quite famous actually, from a different tradition’s understanding. Just to give you some ideas. You’ll have to research if you want to know more.
Visakha Pjua (Buddha Day), a full-moon day, is a day that commemorates three key events in the Buddha’s life: his birth, Awakening, and final Unbinding (parinibbana). We started with the main ceremony of special chants, Dhamma talk, and followed by everyone walking around the main shrine room three times, holding flowers, candle and incense. Some of us even saw a shooting star (including me 
).
After the main event we gathered at the sala for the installation of the holy relics in the head of the large Buddha image.
After the installation, some of us gathered at the site of the future Holy Pagoda for silent meditation. Sorry, no pictures. We only had the moon and the stars for light source. Not good for picture taking. Also, I just wanted to meditate without interruptions. 
It is our plan to build a Thai style Pagoda in the next few months. It will eventually house 108 different relics of various Awakened Ones, so that people can visit and pay respect, and feel inspired to look at one’s self and to purify one’s mind.
Yes, I’ve been gone for, what, more than a month. Yikes! Preparation has started for the venture in China. Departure date has moved up to the beginning of July. My wicked sister would like to see me there on the 1st of the month. Good luck to that!
CB and I decided that it would be best for him to stay in the States so that we won’t get caught in a difficult situation together if there ever will be one in the future. Not saying that there will be of course. Just don’t want to repeat the same mistake that we made with the last company (which is still struggling.) He is staying in Beverly Hills, and I can come home once in a while.
Did you heard about the new restrictions on getting the Chinese visa? Only in effect during the Olympics. Harder to get and allows less time in China. I am actually going to play this to my advantage. hehehe Am going to set it up so that I will be home every three months or so. That would be FANTASTIC!
Anyway. I have not been crafty for a while. Went to the spinning guild meeting. (Photos coming soon.) But not much else. Yes, Ted, I am still here, and will be picking up the needles for some earnest knitting this month. 
Here are some photos that I took for Songkran, Thai New Year celebration at the temple. We held the event one week earlier so that not all temples had activities on the same day.
Last Sunday was a great day at the temple. We celebrated our teacher’s birthday and his receiving of a new title in Thailand. I had no idea that it would turn out to be quite a large gathering. Even Ven. Ajaan Geoff came down early from Metta Forest Monastery to attend the celebrations. Later in the afternoon more monks from Metta Forest Monastery arrived to perform an ordination ceremony. It was truly an eventful and auspicious day.
The alms-round. It was raining in the morning so everyone crowded in the covered area to offer rice to the monks.
After the alms-round everyone gathered inside the sala to make more offerings.
After the meal we gathered in the ubosoth for the ceremonies. First the announcement of the Abbot’s new title. Followed by blessings chanted by the assembly of monks.
The Abbot presented holy relics to the monks to celebrate the auspicious events.
The younger monk is a new Abbot at a new temple located in Columbus, Ohio. Our teacher presented him with a statue of Luangpu Mun that was offered by a layperson. The younger monk is an old friend. We met when I was a monk at the temple.
This was the beginning of the ordination. The soon-to-be ordained together with the lay community walked around the ubosoth three times.
The soon-to-be ordained threw coins to the crowd signifying the letting go of possessions, leaving the householder’s life. These coins are considered lucky and not to be spent. I got some in my bag from a previous ordination.
The soon-to-be ordained entered the ordination hall where an assembly of monks awaited to begin the ceremony. First he had to go through the novice ordination. Followed by the ordination of monkhood.
Newly ordained novice waited to be questioned. He would be asked questions to determine if he was qualified to be ordained. The whole ceremony was done in Pali.
The novice was questioned twice. First away from the assembly of monks. A second time among the assembly of monks.
People offering gifts to the new monk.
Truly an auspicious day. You can see more photos here.
But it might turn into another favorite knitting technique.
What a weekend. We had more people at the Kathina celebration at the temple this year. I had to wear an uniform. Guess they didn’t want me disappearing into the crowd hiding? Sorry. No pictures. I didn’t even take my camera. Hopefully someone will send me some later.
Now back to the torture. I am talking about two-color Double Knitting. I wanted a more relaxed knitting project to do at the same time as the Spider Queen. Exchequered featured on Knitty.com seemed to be a good choice. It will also be a holiday gift to CB.
I decided to learn how to carry both yarn with my left hand doing continental for speed. Let me tell you, it really felt like a torture at first. A great way to practice purling continental style, I thought. But using the middle finger to carry yarn instead of holding the needle made all the hand movements so very awkward! Plus, once in a while I had to purl with the yarn carried on the middle finger. THAT was very difficult. Luckily it was just a rough start. Double Knitting and I are slowly becoming good friends. My hands are beginning to find comfortable ways to work the needles and yarn. I think I may even be loving Double Knitting!
I joined a Double Knitting group on Ravelry. Wow! It opened my eyes to more DK possibilities! I will post a few links on my Tricks&Treats page soon to show you some amazing Double Knitting pieces that I found online.
Don’t worry. I am not going to ignore Spider Queen.
