Kathina , this Buddhist festival which comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat for Theravada Buddhists is a time of giving. Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples or monastries, especially new robes for monks. Once in 2009, when the Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS) in Taiping held a Kathina, I found myself and Mr. How making a trip to the 10.75 acres piece of undulating, hilly land in the jungle. It may be a spiritual trip to many but mine was rather a fun trip. Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary was said to be founded in 2000 by Ven. Aggacitta to train monks. To me, it looked more like a holiday resort than a Buddhist sanctuary and Mr. How commented that it was prettier than Taiping's very own hill resort, Bukit Larut. There was no big Buddha statues around or smoky burning joss sticks and the buildings which looked like chalets in a holiday resort nestled in such fine greenery that you'd miss the durian trees that were planted there. That day, during the Kathina, many people from Taiping, Penang and elsewhere were there. Food was aplenty and it was like having a big buffet party in the jungle!
Could you spot any monks?
Could you spot any monks?
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