International Buddhist Meditation Center (IBMC) - Center News

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IBMC ONCE AGAIN OPEN FOR IN PERSON SERVICES

3/22/2023

While IBMC has been softly open to the members and guests coming to the Sunday services and meditation sessions in person for quite a few months already, it seemed appropriate to make an official announcement here that people are once again allowed inside the zendo and highly encouraged to attend our Sunday services with us.

Zoom sessions will continue, as will our livestreaming of the Sunday service on YouTube, but we would love for people who are willing and able to attend physically to do so. The last few years have shown how important it is to not take community for granted. Let us enjoy each other's company and share in the dharma together. Stay after the Sunday service to enjoy tea, cookies, and wonderful conversation with our monks, dharma teachers, and congregation. See you soon!

7th Day Dana Ceremony Remembering Ven. Nepalaye Vineetha

2/20/2022

Our resident monk Ven. Nepalaye Vineetha passed away on 12th Feb 2022. Many monks, nuns and lay people attended the 7th day Dana ceremony remembering our beloved Ven. Vineetha and offered merits for him. The Dana was at Anaheim Sri Ratana International Buddhist Center on 20th February. 7th Day Dana is a traditional ceremony which include Dharma chantings, lunch for monks, nuns and lay people and offering merits to those passed away.

Ven. Nepalaye Vineetha was born in Nepal and traveled to Sri Lanka at the age of 13 to ordain as novice monk under the guidance of Ven. Havanpola Shanti. After finishing secondary and higher education from Vidyalankara Pirivena in Sri Lanka, he was eager to learn more about Buddhism and dedicated his life to help others.

In 2012, he traveled to USA to contribute his knowledge and provide support to his teacher Ven. Havanpola Shanti at the IBMC in Los Angeles. As expected he became the second hand of Ven. Shanti and also offered his unlimited service to temples in around USA and to monks, nuns and lay people. Many of his family relatives living in Nepal and Sri Lanka have also contributed to Buddhism as monks.

Ven. Vineetha passed away at the age of 38 in Los Angeles. He will be missed to many of us and to his family and friends in Nepal and Sri Lanka. He lived a simple but meaningful life dedicating his life to improve the Buddhism in and around the USA, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Ven. Nepalaye Vineetha
1982 - 2022
May He Attain The Supreme Bliss of Nibbana

IBMC Annual Ullambana Ceremony 2021

9/28/2021

A day of remembrance and merit transfer for those who passed away!

International Buddhist Meditation Center (IBMC) held the annual Ullambana ceremony on 29th August 2021 at the temple in Los Angeles.

The ceremony is a time to help those who have died and are still suffering. It is based on the Ullambana Sutra in Mahayana Buddhism, where the Buddha teaches his disciple Maudgalyāyana how to obtain liberation for his mother who was reborn into a lower realm of existence.

The ceremony ended with Dana for monks and lunch for lay people.

IBMC Vesak Celebration 2021

5/27/2021

International Buddhist Meditation Center (IBMC) celebrated the Vesak day 2021 on May 23rd at the temple in Los Angeles.

Vesak (Wesak) is the most important Buddhist festival Commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha. Every year, the day of full moon in the month of May known as the day of birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha is celebrated by the millions of Buddhists and non Buddhists around the world.

The full moon day is a public holiday in many southern Asian countries. The day is filled with many special services, deeds, almsgiving, gathering and ceremonies.

IBMC celebrated the Vesak on May 23rd this year at the temple (outside gathering due to Covid-19).

Remembering Founding Members and Past Leaders of the International Buddhist Meditation Center

3/8/2021

Every year IBMC holds a memorial service remembering the founding members and monks and nuns who are not with us today. Unfortunately in this year IBMC did not have the opportunity to hold a memorial service due to the ongoing global pandemic.

Ven. Dr. Thich Thien-An (1926 -1980) - Founder of the IBMC

Ven. Karuna Dharma (1940 -2014)

Ven. Dr. Havanpola Ratanasara (1920 - 2000)

Memorial Service for Ven. Thích Thiên-Ân, Ven. Havanpola Ratanasara and Ven. Karuna Dharma Feb 23, 2020

5/21/2020

IBMC held a annual memorial service remembering our beloved mentors Ven. Dr. Thich Thien-An, Ven. Dr. Havanpola Ratanasara and Ven. Dr. Karuna Dharma on Sunday February 23, 2020.

Ven. Dr. Ratanasara was a prominent Theravada monk and the teacher of Ven. Shanti and Ven. Veneetha. Ven. Thích Thiên-Ân is the founder of IBMC. Ven. Dr. Karuna became the Abbess of IBMC when Ven. Thien-An died in 1980. In November 2012, Ven. Karuna retired after 32 years as Abbess and Ven. Hsanti became the new abbot of IBMC on Nov. 11, 2012. After the retirement Ven. Dr. Karuna moved to Northern California to live close to family and friends. She passed away On February 22, 2014. She was 74.

Memorial Service for Ven. Thích Thiên-Ân, Ven. Havanpola Ratanasara and Ven. Karuna Dharma

3/18/2019

IBMC held a annual memorial service remembering our beloved mentors Ven. Dr. Thich Thien-An, Ven. Dr. Havanpola Ratanasara and Ven. Dr. Karuna Dharma on Sunday March 10, 2019.

Ven. Dr. Ratanasara was a prominent Theravada monk and the teacher of Ven. Shanti and Ven. Veneetha. Ven. Thích Thiên-Ân is the founder of IBMC. Ven. Dr. Karuna became the Abbess of IBMC when Ven. Thien-An died in 1980. In November 2012, Ven. Karuna retired after 32 years as Abbess and Ven. Hsanti became the new abbot of IBMC on Nov. 11, 2012 . He was given the certificate of authority at the going away party for Ven. Dr. Karuna Dharma. After the retirement Ven. Dr. Karuna moved to Northern California to live close to family and friends. She passed away On February 22, 2014. She was 74.

IBMC Holds Its Annual Ullambana Ceremony September 09, 2018

9/10/2018

IBMC held its annual Ullambana ceremony this year on Sunday, September 9, 2018. The ceremony is a time to help those who have died and are still suffering. It is based on the Ullambana Sutra in Mahayana Buddhism, where the Buddha teaches his disciple Maudgalyāyana how to obtain liberation for his mother who was reborn into a lower realm of existence.

Five and Eight Precepts Ordination Ceremony – June 24, 2018

6/25/2018

IBMC held a five and eight precepts ordination ceremony on June 24, 2018. Steven Anthony Martin Nunez (religious name: Subodha) was given the three refuges and eight precepts. Russell Charles Leong (Jagat) and Adrian Mathew Gross (Sugat) were given the three refuges and five precepts.

Taking Refuge confirms that one wants to become a Buddhist, and one accepts the Buddha as the enlightened teacher, the Dharma as the guide to the spiritual path and the Sangha (Buddhist community of monks, nuns, and novices) as the supporting spiritual community. Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are also known as the Triple Gems.

Three Refuges

I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the Dhamma
I take refuge in the Sangha

Buddhists live by the Five Moral Precepts. These are the most basic code of ethics undertaken by upāsaka and upāsikā (male/ female lapeople).

The five precepts
I undertake to observe the rule:

to abstain from taking life
to abstain from taking what is not given
to abstain from sexual misconduct
to abstain from false speech
to abstain from intoxicants

The eight precepts are an enhanced version of the Five Precepts. Eight precepts are consisting of five precepts with three additional precepts.

Memorial Service for Ven. Karuna Dharma, Ven. Thích Thiên-Ân and Ven. Havanpola Ratanasara - March 04, 2018

5/12/2018

IBMC held a four-year anniversary memorial service for Ven. Karuna Dharma on March 04, 2018. The ceremony remembered the life of Ven. Karuna Dharma, the former Abbess of IBMC and a prominent American Buddhist nun, who passed away four years ago.

The service also honored the lives of Ven. Thích Thiên-Ân, the founder of IBMC, and Ven. Havanpola Ratanasara, a prominent Theravada monk and the teacher of Ven. Shanti and Ven. Veneetha.