Full moon Dharma talk, Pasadena (9/15)

Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara, Pasadena (Facebook); Bhante, Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly

• Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara, 920 N. Summit Ave., Pasadena, California 91103, (626) 797-6144

We must search within where liberation is.

COST: Free. Includes a vegetarian meal of delicate island cuisine and desserts. Why? The Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara (Monastery) or LABV follows the ancient Theravada Buddhist Sri Lankan tradition of Vas or the "Rains Retreat." This is when the historical Buddha enjoined monks and nuns, all of whom were wandering ascetics or shramanas to stay in one place and not travel for the rainy season. This was to preserve the life of small creatures that crawl and slither throughout South and Southeast Asia at this time. It was also a time to concentrate on meditation, self-discipline, and studying the Dharma. Sutras are examined and discussed, more often than not chanted, practice time is made available, and a wholesome atmosphere around the temple. This includes a weekly Dharma talk, often in English, sometimes just in the native language of Sri Lanka called Sinhalese. This week's visiting speaker is Ven. Kolita. He ordained as a child and was educated at Cal State University Northridge (CSUN). He is very knowledgeable and is the abbot of a temple in North Hollywood called the Sarathchandra Buddhist Vihara. Prior to that he was a resident monk in the Hollywood temple on Beechwood, which became the LABV.

RECAP
The American monk Ven. Sanathavihari, the U.S. student of Ven. Kolita, replaced his teacher and delivered a message to the youth on basic Buddhist principles.