Athula Dassana International Buddhist Temple is currently taking part in a Vassa (rainy season). The season lasts for three month, at the end of this season there is a kathina festival. The rainy season is a time of giving and for devotees to express gratitude to monks. The festival originated 2500 years ago, and is the largest alms giving ceremony for Buddhists.
Every Saturday during the rainy season, a special Dhamma Discussion and a Bodhi Pooja programme is held at the Athula Dassana International Buddhist temple. The temple held its “Sadaham Mandapaya” Dhamma discussion on the 18th of August 2012 in the temple.
The day was a great success. Devotees and other members of the community organised the event under the guidance of the head of the temple Ven. Wanduramba Kassapa Thero.
The main sponsor was Mr. Sumith Kuruppu. The discussion was based on the subject of “How to overcome stress in life.” The discussion was conducted by Ambagasduwe Gnanawimala Nayaka Thero, Dr. Priyantha Gamini Jayasinghe and Maduka Thakshala co-ordinated the questions. Mr. Shantha Dissanayaka (member of the society of Manosuwaya) helped organise the discussion.
Many people participated in the event and took part in the discussion. Everyone had a chance to present the special guests with their questions and any ideas related to the discussion. At the end of the discussion, there was a Bodhi Pooja which was conducted by Ven Wanduramba Kassapa Thero.
The event was very educational to those that came, not only for adults but especially for the children who attended, those children are able to gain a knowledge of how to overcome certain things in life, whilst keeping a Buddhist perspective in mind.
Each and everyone who attended the event were pleased with how the day went on. The head of the temple Ven. Wanduramba Kassapa Thero is extremely pleased with the crowd that came but also the day it-self.