2023
Download the 2023 event calendar here.
Dhamma School End of Year Ceremony – December 16th, 2023
The Dhamma School End-Of-Year Certificate Ceremony for 2023 will take place on Saturday, December 16th at 3:00 PM at Edwards Church Hall in Framingham.
We will be celebrating the graduating class of 2023. Certificates, report cards, and gifts will be awarded to students. We will also have a special moment to felicitate Ms. Preeni Sandanayake who encouraged the continued efforts of the Dhamma School.
We wish to extend an invitation to all current students, their family members as well as any members of the community who wish to join in celebrating the students’ achievements and the successful completion of another Dhamma School year.
Katina Robe Offering Ceremony – September 30th, 2023
Dear Devotees, Well-Wishers, and Friends of the Temple,
You are cordially invited to the New England Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center’s 2023 Katina Robe Offering Ceremony to be held on Saturday, September 30, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, at Blackstone Valley Regional Technical High School, 65 Pleasant St., Upton, MA 01568.
To organize the midday meal and other refreshments for the devotees, it is essential for the organizing families to know how many attendees will be present at the event well in advance.
Your attention to this at your earliest convenience is greatly appreciated as this will enormously help with the planning of the meal preparation and distribution.
Tentative Program
10:00AM – Arrival of the Maha Sangha
10:30AM – Offering/chanting
11:30AM – Sanghika Dana/ Offering Lunch for monks
12:15AM – Devotees Partaking Lunch
01:00PM – Katina Procession
01:30PM – Offering Katina robe and Katinanisansa speech
02:15PM – Blessings to the Donor’s of the New Building Fund
02:30PM – Dedication of Merits and Sutra Chanting for blessing
03:30PM – Afternoon tea and clean
Sewing of the Katina Robe 2023
Dear Devotees, Well-Wishers, and Friends of the Temple,
In preparation for the Katina ceremony, the sewing of the Katina robe will take place on Saturday, September 23rd at the temple premises.
We would like to invite all devotees who would like to participate in this event to join us between 9.00 am to 1.00 pm.
If you have any questions, please contact the temple.
The Buddhist Journey – Multi-Faith Collaborative Evening – September 12th, 2023
Join Bhante Pannasiri from New England Buddhist Vihara, along with his colleague Jenn, who will describe the map they have created to convey the Buddhist journey toward enlightenment. “The Buddhist map serves as a visual representation of the inward journey in the practice of Buddhism. It guides practitioners to explore their inner selves and gain a deeper understanding of the true nature of existence. The teachings laid down by the Buddha provide a solid foundation for individuals to follow in order to alleviate suffering within themselves. By following this path, practitioners can cultivate wisdom, compassion, and inner peace, ultimately leading to liberation from the cycle of suffering.”
Come listen, learn, reflect and ask questions. No registration required.
This discussion will be held in Edwards Hall.
Summer clean-up – Shramadana at the temple August 27th, 2023
Dear Dhamma Friends,
You are cordially invited to participate in the Shramadana (Volunteer) on Sunday, August 27, starting at 8:00 A.M.
Adults Poson Sil Program – Saturday, August 12th, 2023 – In person & Zoom
ගැඹුරු ධර්මය සරලව සාකච්ඡා වන සදහම් කතිකාවත – පෝය දින වැඩසටහන
Dear Dhamma Friends:
You are cordially invited to the Poson Poya Day Program on Saturday, August 12th, 2023. The Program will be conducted in Sinhala.
Registration is required, for providing the lunch to the participants.
The Program of the day:
08:30AM – Sila Observance/Offerings
09:15AM – Meditation
10:15AM – Dhamma
11:15AM – Buddha pooja
11:35AM – Devotees partaking lunch
01:00PM – Dhamma/discussion
04:00PM – Buddha pooja
මෙම උතුම් ධර්ම පර්යේෂණය සදහා සම්බන්ධවන ලෙස ඔබ සියලු දෙනාට මෙත්සිතින් ආරාධනා කරමි.
Children’s Summer Camp – Saturday, August 5th, 2023
This year’s summer camp will be held on Saturday, August 5th.
Details of summer day camp:
Venue – NEBVMC, 162 Old Upton Rd, Grafton MA
Registration Status: Open
Registration is required. Deadline for registration 8/3/2023 5:00pm.
Please click here to Register
10AM-11AM Gentle Yoga led by Rev. Dr. Debbie Clark
11AM-1AM Lunch and Mindful Activities/Walk
All participants should bring their own water bottle and lunch.
If you have a yoga mat or a towel or something to sit on, please bring it with you.
The Season for Observing the Annual Vassana (The Rains-Retreat) – 2023
On this occasion, a formal invitation to observe the rainy retreat “Vas Araadhana” will be extended to the venerable monks by the families of Samurdhi Wijesundera & Sajani Liyanage, Roshan Udalamatta & Sachintha Wijesinghe, Asanga Bandara & Pabodha Hettige, Hasitha Gamage & Harini Perera sponsoring this year’s event on the Full Moon Day, Saturday, July 1st, 2023 at 5.00 pm at the premises of the New England Buddhist Vihara Meditation Center. As part of the Rains-Retreat observances, there will be a Damma program for all lay devotees on every weekend from July, 8 to September 23, which will include homage to the Buddha, Buddha Vandana & chanting followed by a special Dhamma sermon.
Please make a strong determination (Adhitthana) to make this Rains-Retreat an opportunity to follow the footsteps of the Enlightened Beings and engage in highly meritorious activities such as learning and practicing Dhamma, developing insight meditation and so forth. Please make an effort to get your entire family to participate. May all these immensely meritorious activities performed in this Vassana-season lead you down the path to Enlightenment. With the blessings of the merits accrued, may you all be well, happy, peaceful and successful.
One Day Meditation Retreat – Saturday, July 1st, 2023
There will be one day meditation retreat on Saturday, July 1st, 2023 conducted by Bhante Jinananda. If you would like to participate in this program. Please note that only the attendees who are planning to participate in both morning and afternoon session (meaning, full day) are required to apply for registration. We have made this decision to give them priority within the limited number of positions available.
Teacher : Bhante Jinananda
Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm
Date : Saturday, July 1st
Registration Status: Closed
Medium: English
Registration: Required: Please contact the temple
Lunch will be provided by the temple
Bhante Jinananda, the chief incumbent of Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist vihara and the president of Buddhist Congress of Canada, teaches both Samatha (concentration) and Vipassana (insight) meditation to many individuals from different ages in regular meditation sessions and special retreats. He conducts meditation sessions and give lectures on Buddhist teaching to school and university students. Recently, he started traveling to many countries spreading the true words of the Buddha in the name of meditation. He also conducts online classes and Dhamma discussions to provide devotees an opportunity to explore the deep teaching of the Buddha on Sutta (discourses).
Bhante J became a novice monk when he was thirteen years old in 1993. After completing the monastic education, he received higher ordination at the age of 20 in 2000. He has obtained a bachelor’s degree on Education from the university of Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2006 and completed a postgraduate diploma on Buddhism at Kelaniya university in the following year. During his busy scheduled as a meditation master at the Ottawa temple, he was able to complete a master’s degree on Religion and culture at the Wilfrid Laurier university, Waterloo, Canada.
The main ambition of Bhante J is to dedicate his entire time for exploring peace and everlasting happiness through studying Buddhism and meditation theoretically and practically and share them with friends.
Adults Poson Sil Program – Saturday, June 10th 2023 (In person & Zoom)
ගැඹුරු ධර්මය සරලව සාකච්ඡා වන සදහම් කතිකාවත – පෝය දින වැඩසටහන
Dear Dhamma Friends:
You are cordially invited to the Poson Poya Day Program on Saturday, June 10th 2023. The Program will be conducted in Sinhala.
Registration is required, for providing the lunch to the participants.
The Program of the day:
08:30AM – Sila Observance/Offerings
09:15AM – Meditation
10:15AM – Dhamma
11:15AM – Buddha pooja
11:35AM – Devotees partaking lunch
01:00PM – Dhamma/discussion
04:00PM – Buddha pooja
04:30PM – End
මෙම උතුම් ධර්ම පර්යේෂණය සදහා සම්බන්ධවන ලෙස ඔබ සියලු දෙනාට මෙත්සිතින් ආරාධනා කරමි.
Annual Cricket Tournament – Saturday, June 3rd 2023
Our annual cricket tournament has been postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions. The new date for the tournament is Saturday, July 8th. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this date change. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to your participation on the rescheduled date.
We are planning our 15th Annual Cricket Tournament matches, Volleyball Tournament games, and a Kids Fair on June 3rd Saturday at Hopkinton State Park. We need cricket teams and volleyball teams.
The program is sponsored by: New England Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center.
Please keep this date free, and if you like to participate in the events by forming your own teams, please send an email.
Both men and women can take part in any event (teams).
There will be rice packets as well as other food items that will be sold at the event.
Please keep the date free and come early to the ground to enjoy the day.
Venue: Hopkinton State Park, MA
Time: 9 AM – 5 PM
Vesak Ceremony – Saturday, May 13th 2023
You are invited to a special Buddhist holiday. On Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 5:00PM onwards, we will be celebrating Vesak Day. Vesak Day is important to Buddhists because it marks the Birth, Enlightenment & Parnibbana of Buddha and celebrates his importance in the world.
When: May 13th, 2023
Time: From 05:00PM onwards
Location: 162 Old Upton Rd, Grafton MA 01519
- Mal perahara/Procession
- Making symbolic offerings to the Triple Gem (Buddha Pooja)
- Blessings
- Messages
- Devotional songs sung by children and adults of the community
- Lighting of Vesak decorations
- Silent Auction
- Dansala/Dinner
- End of Celebration and clean up
2023 Children & Youth Vesak Sil Retreat
When: Saturday, May 13th
Time: From 2:15PM to 4:30PM
Medium: English
Registration Status: Closed
Registration: Required, Please respond by Friday 12th, 11:59PM
Vesak Observances – May 6th and 13th, 2023
Vesak is the most sacred day on the Buddhist calendar and typically we spend the day to reflect upon the sublime teachings of The Buddha and also to memorialize and celebrate The Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and entering into Parinbbana. We are cordially invited to Vesak-2023 observance [full day retreat] on Saturday, May 6th, at NEBVMC. The program will be stating from 7:00am to 5:00pm. Prior registration is important to us for providing lunch to the participants.
Registration link
Registration Status: Closed
The Program of the Day:
07:00AM – Kiripidu Pooja/Offerings
08:30AM – Sila Observance
09:15AM – Meditation
10:15AM – Dhamma
11:15AM – Buddha pooja
11:35AM – Devotees partaking lunch
01:00PM – Dhamma/discussion
02:30PM – Dhamma/discussion
04:00PM – Buddha pooja
04:30PM – Dhammachakka sutta chanting
05:00PM – End
Medium: Sinhala
May all immensely meritorious deeds performed in the Vesak season lead you down the path to Enlightenment. With the blessings of the merits accrued, may you all be well, happy, peaceful and successful. Please keep in mind that The Buddha emphasized the only way to pay homage to him is by diligently learning and practicing his teachings
Vesak Day Celebration and Children Sila Observance – May 13th, 2023
Spring Cleanup – Sharamadana at temple – April 22-23 and 29-30
Dear Dhamma friends,
With the arrival of spring, we are seeking assistance from volunteers to spruce up the temple and its surroundings. Please select the day and time you wish to drop by and participate. You can choose multiple days if you are able to do so. April 22, 23, & 29,30
Please click the link below:
https://forms.gle/eVYFW3zCADyE7SsT7
We will be cleaning up, mulching and planting flowers./ Vesak decoration
Please bring gardening tools and/or gardening gloves if you have them.
We will need: 1) Plants (annuals/perennials)
2) Garden soil and fertilizer
3) Landscape fabric
If you are unable to participate, but want to donate plants, please bring them to the temple at your convenience and volunteers will plant them for you. Mulch will be provided by the temple.For more information on any of the above please contact the temple.
Sri Lankan New Year Celebration – April 15th, 2023
Greetings Dhamma Friends,
It is with great pleasure, Boston Buddhist Vihara and Meditation center invite you to join in celebrating the upcoming Sri Lankan New Year on Saturday, April 15th, from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm at Nara Park’s Picnic Pavilion at 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton, MA 01720.
Celebrations will commence with religious observances, and we will then proceed with cultural customs such as “Kiri Ithiraveema” (boiling milk), “Hisa thel gema” (anointing oil), “Avurudu kreeda” (New Year games), and a potluck feast of traditional New Year food for everyone to share.
We warmly welcome all who wish to partake in the celebration.
If you plan on bringing a dish to share, please do not hesitate to add your contribution to the Potluck food list. Any quantity is appreciated and our event organizers will happily assist with heating and serving. If you have any questions, please connect with the temple.
Poya Day Program – Saturday, April 1st, 2023
“ගැඹුරු ධර්මය සරලව සාකච්ඡා වන සදහම් කතිකාවත පෝය දින වැඩසටහන”
The program of the day is as follows:
Medium: Sinhala
8:30 am – 09:00 am: Buddha puja/observance Eight Precepts
9:00 am – 11:15 am: Meditation
11:30 am – 01:00 pm: Buddha puja/Dāna
1:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Discussion
3:30 pm – 4.00 pm: Buddha Vandana/Sil pavaranaya
New Year Blessings to Welcome 2023
Dear Devotees, Well-Wishers and Friends of the Temple,
We are planning to hold the Atavisi Buddha Puja Ceremony to invoke blessings on the community for the New Year 2023. The ceremony will be held at Edwards church at 39 Edwards St, Framingham, MA 01701 on January 1st, 2023 at 3:30 pm.
This is a better venue for us as any unexpected snowy or icy condition could make accessibility to our temple premises and parking areas extremely difficult. Although health guidelines for the prevention of Covid-19 have been relaxed lately, you may choose to wear a mask during the gathering as an additional precaution to protect yourself and others.