Sponsorship of the first Tipitika chanting in Seven Hundred Years

The highlight of Foundation activities in 2006 was the sponsorship of the Tipitika chanting held in honor of the 2,550th Buddhajayanti celebration in Bodhgaya, India. Buddhist monks from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Cambodia participated in this historical gathering, where for the first time in at least 700 years the Tipitika (the collected teachings of the Buddha spoken in the Pali language), was chanted at the site of Buddha's enlightenment.

During each day of the ceremony, Bhikkus from Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh chanted the Sutta Pitaka (collection of Suttas); Bhikkhus from Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia chanted the Vinaya Pitaka (collection of monastic discipline); and Bhikkhus from Burma chanted the Abhidhamma Pitaka (collection of philosophical analysis). Every evening, Dharma talks in English were held under the Bodhi tree for the education of the Western Sangha. We are very grateful to the Maha Bodhi Society of India to have organised this event.

LBDFI was able to provide substantial financial and logistical support for this most auspicious event. We sponsored the travel expenses for monks from Bangladesh and India and provided food, accommodation, and offerings of gifts for the whole assembly. We were also able to contribute by offering the gift of food for 7,000 guests at the opening day of the 2,550th Buddhajayanti Celebration.

During the Tipitika chanting ceremony, LBDFI also provided flowers for the Mahabodhi Temple, new robes for the monks, and a copy of the Dhammapada in English for all participants.

Ceremony 2007: 2nd Annual Tipitika Chanting The second International Theravadin Chanting ceremony was held from February 12th-24th 2007 at the site of enlightenment in Bodhgaya, India. Over 300 Theravadin monks from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand were in attendance, and the assembly chanted the Digha Nikaya in Pali over the ten days of the ceremony. The sound of the entire assembly chanting in unison was a truly inspiring event. Alongside the chanting ceremony, evening dharma talks were held for the benefit of the assembly and lay followers. We were very blessed to hear three talks from Ajahn Tong, the revered meditation teacher from the north of Thailand, Ajahn Sujato from Australia and Venerable Dhammasami from the UK. These dharma talks are now an integral part of the assembly and offer participants an important opportunity to deepen their appreciation and understanding of the Dharma. The 2007 event was co-organized by the Mahabodhi Society and the Light of Buddhadharma Foundation. The Foundation also offered provided support for food and accommodation for all attendees, along with donations of robes, bowls and copies of the Digha Nikaya. The International Chanting council also agreed that ceremonies would be held on February 12th-23rd for all future years. For ten days, the bhikkhus followed a daily schedule which included: 6:00 - 6:45AM Breakfast 7:00 - 9:00 AM Chanting (continues throughout the day except for breaks) 9:00 - 9:15 AM Tea Break 11:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch 3:00 - 3:15 PM Tea Break 6:00 PM Chanting ends 7:00 - 8:00 PM Dharma Talk in English

Ceremony 2006: 1st Annual Tipitika Chanting The ceremony took place from February 13th-March 3rd, 2006. A number of dignitaries participated in the Tipitika Chanting on the first day. They included His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Chief Sanghanayaka of Sri Lanka; Venerable Dr. D. Rewatha Mahathera; Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modi; the Lord Abbot of the Wat Thai Temple, Bodhgaya; the Lord Abbot of the Burmese Vihar, Bodhgaya (President of the International Buddhist Council, Bodhgaya); Venerable Sanghanayaka Sasanajyoti S. Dharmapal Mahathera, Chief Patriarch of the Buddhists of Bangladesh; Venerable Satyapriya Mahathera, President and Supreme Sangha Council of Bangladesh; Venerable Gyanananda of Sri Lanka; and Lord Abbot Venerable Sadanand Mathera, All India Bhikkhu Sangha. The daily timetable for the participants was as follows: 6:00-6:45AM Breakfast 7:00-9:00 AM Chanting began 9:00-9:15 AM Tea Break 11:00-1:00 PM Lunch 3:00-3:15 PM Tea Break 6:00 PM Chanting ended 7:00-8:00 PM Dharma Talk in English for Western lay devotees

Pali Tipitaka Chanting International Council During the course of the ceremony, two meetings were held under the Bodhi Tree attended by representatives of all traditions. It was agreed to form a council to continue these prayer ceremonies annually, seek donors and patrons from other lands, and otherwise support and encourage the Pali Tipitika chanting. Those attending established the Pali Tipitika International Council to oversee future annual chanting ceremonies and agree on the texts to be chanted.

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