Bodhinyanarama Buddhist Monastery | A Gallery from Here Now | RNZ National

From Voices 26 May 2014

It’s Veask at the Bodhinyanarama Buddhist Monastery in Stokes Valley, Wellington. This is the big one! It’s Buddha's birthday, Buddha's enlightenment and Buddha's final passing. A day to honour a great being and a day of celebrating his life and legacy. Precepts, rice pindapat (alms offerings), sharing of merit, sharing of marvellous meals, Dhamma talk, blessings ... and a visiting VIP Monk from the UK!

Surrounded by 51 hectares of beautiful bush, Lynda joins families and devotees for the celebration at the monastery to learn more.

A special day for families

Abbot Kusalo and four monks lead the prayers

Abbot Kusalo and Michael Nyein chat

Abbot Kusalo chats to devotees

Abbot Kusalo leads the five precepts with devotees

Community leaders address devotees

Cooking together, shared community meal

Families offer gifts of food to the abbot and four monks

Five monks lead the prayers

Images of Buddha at the monastery

Monks partake first in the shared community meal

Our guide Michael Nyein, Burmese Buddhist community leader

Placing joss sticks

Prayer flags at the monastery

Shared lunch

Surrounded by 51 hectares of beautiful bush

The meditation room at the B

Venerable Abbot Kusalo, Bodhinyanarama Buddhist Monastery

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.