Wesak (Visakha Puja) Celebration &
Novice Ordination Ceremony – Sunday, May 15

Sunday May 15 is this year’s full moon of the month of Visakha (known as Wesak Day or Visakha Puja) when it is traditional to celebrate that Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing. This year we will do this by holding a novice ordination (samanera pabbajja) for two of our postulants: Anagarika Barnes and Anagarika Lasse.

The day will begin with an alms round at 10:45 a.m. here at the monastery and the usual meal offerings at 11, in which all are welcome to take part. At 1 p.m.* the ordination will take place on the Sima Hill. Everyone is welcome to witness this auspicious event, as Barnes and Lasse formally request the Going Forth from the “home life” into “homelessness”, and don the ochre robes of the samana (renunciant) in the ancient, traditional way.

A Dhamma Talk will also be offered as part of the ceremony, in honor of the occasion as well as to observe Wesak Day.

* Please note that because of the ordination ceremony there will be no Sunday Meditation Workshop on this day.