Kathina Toward the Dhamma: Following the Noble Ones

Foreword

The period in which the kathina can be spread is within one month after the end of the rains retreat, from the first day of the waning moon of the eleventh lunar month to the full moon of the twelfth lunar month. In fact, this one month in which the kathina can be spread is the last month of the season. Normally, the monastic discipline allows this month to be used as the time for seeking and making robes, which can be counted as part of preparing oneself to set out wandering for most of the remaining year. It thus equips the army of the Dhamma, whose duty is to spread the Buddha’s teaching and carry it forward.

Most importantly, kathina merit is the great merit of the year because it is kāladāna, timely giving: giving that can be done only at its proper time, limited to once a year. The benefit of timely giving is that one will not be disappointed. Among the Buddha’s disciples, the one who made timely gifts to the highest degree was Venerable Añña Koṇḍañña, and so he was in the first group to hear the Buddha’s teaching and the first person to attain awakening in the dispensation. This is the fruit of timely giving.

The Dhammasomthob team
4 November 2023