Luang Por Norm & Ajahn Tikkhayano visit to Ti-Ratana Penchala on 3-4 Sept 2012.

VISITING MONKS STAYING AT TI-RATANA PENCHALA COMMUNITY CENTRE FROM DATE 3 Sept 2012, Monday

There will be 4 Thai Forest Monks from Thailand, Luang Por Norm, Ajahn Sumake, Ajahn Anusawat accompanied by Ajahn Tikkhayano from Dhammapitti, Ipoh to visit Ti-Ratana Penchala from 3-4Sept.

We are pleased to announce on the 3 SEPT Dhamma Talk in Mandarin will held at 8pm, Shrine Hall.
On 4 Sept a Pindacara & Dana will be held 8am, all are welcome to take this opportunity to practice Dana Sila Bhavana

Luang Por Norm --------------- 31 vassas

Acharn Sumake ---------------- 19 vassas

Acharn Tikkhayano ----------- 19 vassas

Acharn Anusawat

PROGRAM FOR DATE 3 SEPT		TIME
DHAMMA TALK IN MANDARIN. TITLE OF TALK: WHERE IS HELL AND WHERE IS HEAVEN?	Ti-Ratana Penchala Shrine Hall	8.00pm

PROGRAM FOR DATE 4 SEPT		TIME
PINDACARA	From Jalan Penchala head towards PJ, Old Town jln othman, Jalan Pasar and back to Jalan Penchala	8.00am
DANA	Ti-Ratana Penchala	9.30am
PANA	Ti-Ratana Penchala	4.00pm

PANA 4pm on 3 Sept

Serving tea, coffee, honey, fruit juices (fresh or packet fruit juices without pulp, fruit juices, tomato juice is allowed), dark chocolate (without milk/fruits/nuts), sorbet with no residue of pulps or particles, sunflower seeds, soft cheese (cheese stick, cheddar, Danish Camembert, brie ) and seaweed.

When offering fresh fruit juice it is important that it is well strained so that no pulp or fruit particles remain, for the fruit itself counts as food and so cannot be consumed in the afternoon. Some places in Thailand will strain the juice in a cloth filter seven times to make sure, but the main point is that the filter is fine enough.

"Juice drinks include the freshly squeezed juice of sugar cane, lotus root, all fruits except grain, all leaves except cooked vegetables, and all flowers except the [bassia latifolia] (Mahaavagga.VI.35.6). According to the Commentary, the juice must be strained, and may be warmed by sunlight but not heated over a fire."(BMC p.339)

Some communities will not accept fruit juice made from 'large fruits':

"In discussing the Great Standards, the Commentary says that grain is a "great fruit," and thus the juice of any one of nine large fruits — palmyra fruit, coconut, jack fruit, breadfruit, bottle gourd, white gourd, musk melon, water melon, and squash — would fall under the same class as the juice of grain... From this judgment, many Communities [in Thailand] infer that the juice of any large fruit, such as pineapple or grapefruit, would also be classed as a non-staple food [and therefore could not be consumed in the afternoon.]" (BMC p.339)

PINDACARA and DANA on 4 Sept

Remarks – To offer Vegetarian Food

The Pindacara will start from the centre towards Jalan Othman ( Old Town wet market) towards the Refer to the map where the Pindacara will be.

Route: 

a) From the centre towards Jalan Othman
b)At the Jalan Othman intersection turn left to Jalan Pasar 1/21(where Public Bank is)
c) Walk along  Jalan Pasar 1/21 and turn left towards 1/19.
d) Walk back towards Jalan Pasar 1/21 and turn left at Jalan Dispensary 2/38 until junction of the main road of Jalan Penchala.
e) Turn left to walk back to centre.

For those who are unable to join the Pindacara can join us at the centre  for the commencement of the Dana.

Note: Devotees can still offer food as long the Dana is not over.

According to Thai forest tradition, lay people do not touch the food once it is offered. The monks will help them selves to the food offered. (Once the food is touched, it has to be re-offered)

In order to benefit the most from alms giving, the donor should be joyful before, during and after the offering.

Always give alms of your own free will. It's not important how much you offer, it's your intentions that matter.

Only offer what you're able to give and feel comfortable with.

Monks go on alms round bare feet. Upon their return, Monks allow MALE devotees to wash their feet. This is for the purpose of practice on humility, service, reverence, overcoming aversion and ego.

When one performs s wholesome deeds with a wholesome happy mind, one reaps great benefits.

When one performs such wholesome deeds with a wholesome happy mind, one reaps great benefits.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS- Practice your Mindfulness

The Monks observe a total of 227 rules. It is therefore of paramount importance that we as, the Lay Devotees, ensure that we conduct ourselves properly so that the Monks do not breach any rules. Here we wish highlight the few rules which we as Lay Devotees can take note and be mindful of: -

Respectful Dress Code -no exposed shoulders and legs       

For male devotees:
Long pants and shirt or T-shirt with shoulders covered.

For female devotees: 
Long pants or long skirt and shirt or T-shirt with shoulders covered.

NO shorts, NO tank tops. NO transparent shirt/T-shirt.

Handling of Money

The Monks cannot handle money. If you wish to make any donation, please follow this procedure for your kind offering:

1)    Fill up the donation slip and place the money into the donation box.

Proximity with Female devotees

The Monks cannot be in any physical contact with Female devotees. In this respect, if any Female devotees wish to make any offering, the Monks will place a cloth in front of him to receive the offering. Please place your offering, be it the donation slip or a plate of food or a cup of drink on the napkin. If the Monk has no napkin with him, he may use a piece of tissue or any material he deem suitable at that time to receive your offering.

NOTES

-All devotees are advised to use the right passage after you enter the main gate to go to the kitchen if you bring food for Dana and if they are in packets, you may use the food container available at the centre. Food in container can be serve on the table lay out for food offerings. Kindly ensure the food have a serving spoon to enable the monks to pick up the food.
- The left passage is STRICTLY for (monks) only.
- Use the right passage side door if you need to go to the Gents or Ladies.
- Use the front glass door to enter the Shrine Hall
- Bring along extra containers or tiffin, we are most happy to share blessed food after the   Dana.

- Washing area is provided at the back of the centre (wet kitchen), kindly wash your own or cutleries, utensils, food containers after meal and place them in basket provided. It is meritorious to give your service/help in such a place so offer to help wipe the utensils, wash and clean up. We have limited washing basin, your kind patience is highly appreciated.

MERITS MAKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS
Description	Number for volunteers	Time	Volunteers name
MALES HELPERS FOR GO PINDACARA /TO HELP MONKS TO CLEAN THEIR FEET/TO WASH MONK’S ALMSBOWL	3	7.30am
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SORT OUT FOOD STUFF AFTER PINDACARA	3	8am
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH WASHING FOOD CONTAINERS/PLATES/CUTLERIES	4	10am
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH FOOD	2	9am
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WASH THE KITCHEN & FOOD SERVING AREA	2	9am
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SETTING UP OF CHAIRS/TABLES/CUTLERIES	4	9am
VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SET UP MONKS SEATING AREA	2	8am
PHOTOGRAPHER	1	8am
VIDEOGRAPHER	1	8am
TRANSPORT TO PICK /DRIVE THE MONKS AROUND	Nil	NI

Sadhu sadhu sadhu