Program of activities Karuṇā Sevena
Buddhist holidays - Uposatha days
We cordially invite to ārāmā Karuṇā Sevena all true practitioners who are firmly grounded in Buddhist ethical principles, who realize the interdependence between the lay and monastic communities, and who have matured to understand the Buddhist path of cultivating the mind.
Program for 2024
Individual meditation seclusion
For those who are interested in individual practice and a retreat, we offer the possibility of self-guided sessions. Before being able to stay in the monastery, it is a requirement to complete the course for novices and newcomers. For more information about the accommodation and the running of the monastery, please contact > HERE
Meditation courses
Courses start at 7 p.m. that day and end at 12 a.m. on Sunday. Your arrival time is preferably between 5 and 5.30 pm at the latest. For more information about the daily schedule, accommodation, rules and overheads please see > HERE
January - March 2024
Venerable bhikkhunī Visuddhi is staying in Sri Lanka at this time.
April 2024
Weekly Protective Recitation (paritta)
Evening gathering together for recitations and blessings. Recitations are held every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Read more > HERE
12.04. - 1 4.04. Meditation course for beginners and newcomers
You are cordially invited to this course where you will learn step by step the meditation practice and Dhamma teaching under the guidance of Venerable bhikkhunī Visuddhi. Read more > HERE
26.04. - 28.04. Death Meditation - Meditation Course
This course is for anyone who is committed to a better understanding of death and dying. Read more > HERE
May 2024
Weekly Protective Recitation (paritta)
Evening gathering together for recitations and blessings. Recitations are held every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Read more >HERE
10.05. -12.05. Mettā - meditation weekend course
A meditation weekend spent in developing mettā - the meditation of loving-kndness led by Venerable bhikkhunī Visuddhi, where you will learn step-by-step the meditation practice and Dhamma teachings. Read more > HERE
25.05. Vesākhā - Buddhist holiday
Vesākhā is the most important Buddhist festival in the Theravāda tradition. It is held every year on the first full moon in the month of May. On this day we commemorate the Buddha's birthday, his enlightenment and his passing into parinibbāna. All are cordially invited. Read more > HERE
June 2024
Weekly Protective Recitation (paritta)
Evening gathering together for recitations and blessings. Recitations are held every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Read more >HERE
08.06. Mettā practice in the nature
A meditation day spent in developing mettā - the meditation of loving-kindness led by Venerable bhikkhunī Visuddhi, detailing step-by-step meditation practice and teaching the practice in daily life. Read more > HERE
Vassa 2024
Vassa - 20.07 - 17.10.2024
Venerable bhikkhunī Visuddhi is in meditation retreat. During this time she does not teach or give Dhamma talks. Read more > HERE
July - September 2024
Self-retreat Individual meditation practise
01.07 - 14.07. 01.08 - 31.08. 01. - 30.09.
For those who are interested in an individual practice and retreat, we offer the possibility of self-retreat on these summer dates. It is possible to come for a shorter or longer period, the maximum length is 14 days. You can find out the conditions of stay and the running of the monastery HERE
October 2024
Weekly Protective Recitation (paritta)
Evening gathering together for recitations and blessings. Recitations are held every Wednesday at 6 p.m. Read more >HERE
11.10. - 13.10. Meditation course for beginners and newcomers
You are cordially invited to this course, where you will learn in detail step by step meditation practice and Dhamma teaching under the guidance of Venerable bhikkhunī Visuddhi. For more information about the daily schedule, accommodation, rules and overheads, please see > HERE
November 2024
Weekly Protective Recitation (paritta)
Evening gathering together for recitations and blessings. Recitations are held every Wednesday at 6 p.m. Read more >HERE
03.11. Kaṭhina - Buddhist holiday
You are cordially invited to the annual celebration of Kaṭhina. Kaṭhina is the most important Buddhist festival in the Theravāda tradition after Vesākhā. Read more > HERE
Winter season 2024 - 2025
The Venerable bhikkhunī Visuddhi is in seclusion during this period, staying in Sri Lanka. She does not teach or give Dhamma talks during this time.
Feel free to send and e-mail to: karuna.sevena.en@gmail.com for more information.
January 25 2024
Duruthu (phussa) uposatha
>> The Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka - Duruthu uposatha is the first poya day of the year. It marks Gautama Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka in the ninth month after attaining Enlightenment. The Buddha first visited Mahiyanganaya in the Uva Province of Sri Lanka about 2,500 years ago. According to the ancient texts of Sri Lanka, the purpose of the Buddha’s visit was to bring an end to fighting between the two main tribes on the island. During his visit, the Buddha delivered sermons to the tribes. After listening to the sermons, the tribes gave up fighting with each other and started to respect each other.
February 24 2024
Navam (māgha) uposatha
>> This full moon has special significance for Buddhists in Sri Lanka as it marks two important events. The day of the ordination of ven. Sāriputta and ven. Mahā Moggalāna as the first two chief disciples of Gautama Buddha and the First Buddhist council after the Buddha’s death. Navam poya also commemorates the first-ever Buddhist Council, held three months after the death of the Buddha. It was here where the Vinaya (the code of fundamental ethics for Buddhist monks and nuns) was proclaimed based on the teachings that the Buddha had passed onto his disciples.
March 24 2024
Medin (phagguṇa) uposatha
>> The first Buddha’s visit to his kingdom Kapilavattu,
after reaching the enlightenment. Returning after many years, the Buddha was able to preach the Dhamma to his father, King Suddhodana, who listened to his sermons and attained sotāpanna a few days before he passed away. Mahāpajāpatī Gothamī, Siddhatta Gauthama’s mother’s younger sister and his foster mother too wished to join the order of the Saṅgha on hearing the teachings delivered by him and later on ordained as the first Bhikkhunī along with hundreds of other female devotees. Princess Yasodhara also became a follower of the Dhamma teachings on hearing his teachings.
April 23 2024
Bak (citta) uposatha
>> The second Buddha’s visit to Sri Lanka,
Sri Lankan New Year
May 23 2024
Vesak (vesākhā) uposatha
>> The celebration of Buddha’s birthday,
his enlightenment and entering the parinibbāna
June 21 2024
Poson (jeṭṭhā) uposatha
>> The beginning of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
July 20 2024
Esala (āsāḷhā) uposatha
>> Day of the Dhamma, the First Discourse of the Buddha, the arrival of the sacred toothrelic in Sri Lanka.Beginning of rain retreats
July 20 - October 17 2024
Vassa (vassāna)
>> Annual rain retreats. Seclusion of monks and nuns after the Buddha’s passing away, the time of fasting and seclusion for monastic communities
August 19 2024
Nikini (sāvana) uposatha
>> This poya marks the anniversary of the first Buddhist council (Saṅgayāna) held after the Supreme Buddha’s passing away. This key to the council’s success was the Treasurer of the Dhamma, venerable Ananda thera who became an arahant the night before the first Buddhist council. It was also on a Nikini Full that Venerable Rāhula, the son of the Buddha became an arahant.
September 17 2024
Bināra (poṭṭhapāda) uposatha
>> The day of the inauguration of the bhikkhunī Saṅgha
October 17 2024
Vap (assayuja) uposatha, - Pavāraṇā
>> The end of Vassa period, the day of the Abhidhamma - The Buddha was teaching the Abhidhamma to the gods
in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven
November 15 2024
Il (kattikā) uposatha
>> The day of passing away of venerable Sāriputta,
the Buddha ordained the first sixty disciples
December 14 2024
Unduvap (māgasira) uposatha
>> The day of Bodhi, bringing of the Bodhi tree
by Saṅghamittā therī to Srí Lanka