Point 6
Being the Leader of Kathina Robe Offering
Being the Leader of Kathina Robe Offering
“Luang Por, I have been thinking about it for a few years; I want to offer a Kathina robe once in my life. I will be 80 years old this year, and I probably will not have another chance. Please let me be the leader of the Kathina robe offering.”
Luang Por replied, "Please go ahead. I'm very happy that you will be the leader of Kathina robe offering."
One morning during the month of November 1987 while Luang Por Dhammajayo was having breakfast, Khun Yai humbly approached Luang Por with her hands in prayer gesture:
“I have been thinking about it for a few years; I want to offer a Kathina robe once in my life. I will be 80 years old this year, I probably will not have another chance. Please let me be the leader of Kathina robe offering.”
Luang Por replied, “Please go ahead. I’m very happy that you will be the leader of Kathina robe offering.”
Khun Yai was overjoyed to hear Luang Por’s answer. But after a few days, Khun Yai went to tell Luang Por that she no longer wanted to lead the Kathina robe offering. When Luang Por asked for the reason, she said, “It’s against the rules; since I live at the temple, it’s better to let someone else do it.” (Previously, leaders of Kathina robe offering had strictly been congregants who came to the temple on gathering days.) However, Luang Por replied, “You are the founder of Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Everyone will be proud to have you as the leader, so, please, be the leader of the Kathina robe offering.” Khun Yai then said “Sadhu.”
With this reassurance, Khun Yai proceeded to invite many people to join her in making the donation for the Kathina robe offering. She asked a temple staff member to drive her to various provinces to visit her disciples to tell them about the news. She would invite everyone she met to make this special merit with her. Making merit with Khun Yai was tremendously fruitful as Khun Yai had attained countless refined, transcendental Dhammakaya bodies; therefore, making merit with her is like making merit with countless Dhammakayas.
The following year, on November 6, 1988, Khun Yai’s wish was fulfilled. She was the leader of the Kathina robe offering ceremony. There were number of devotees attending the event, and everyone was filled with joy.