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On the New Year day - January 1st 2001 - Offerings to Buddha and chanting of protections were held
Friday Meditation group's past dhamma discussions
can be viewed (click dhamm discussions)
Current Discussion topic Mindfulness - Establishment of fourfold mindfulness
Vihara Dhamma School conducts Dhamma classes in English and in Vietnameses
Sessions in English Medium:
Day: 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month
Time: 3pm - 4: 30 pm
Sessions in Vietnamese:
Dhamma classes in Vietnamese for children and young adults are held at the vihara
Day: 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month
Time: 3pm - 4: 30 pm
All children and young adults are welcome. Call 713-944-1334 for
further information
Monks in the vihara are available to guide and give Dhamma talks to beginners as well as to those who are experienced. Organizations and groups are welcome to invite monks for Dhamma talks.
Ancient buddhist texts containing buddha's teachings were written in Pali and Samskrit languages. Theravada tradition maintained the texts in Pali. Sometimes due to usage of words the translations in English do not convey the real meaning. Therfore, some knowledge of Pali can be helpful to people learning Buddha's teachings. For the benefit of people interested in Buddha's teachings, Houston Buddhist Vihara conducts Pali language classes.
Pali language classes are held at the vihara every 1st and 3rd Saturday, in each month.
Time: 1pm - 3pm
All are welcome. Call 713-944-1334 for further information
Images : Shrine Room and Meditation
Hall
Educational building
Abhidhamma contains an in-depth
analysis of the mind, mental factors and nibbana. The analysis is
done to overcome the barriers posed by conventional language. According
to the Buddhist texts initially these profound teachings are delivered
to the gods (or devas) and later great disciples of the Buddha learnt and
taught to their disciples etc. When we consider the Tripitaka or
'the three collections' of Buddhist Texts, Abhidhamma is one of the groups
(i.e. the three are: Sutta, Abhidhamma and Vinaya)
By learning Abhidhamma a person
can gain a better understanding of the Buddha's teachings in the other
texts as well. Also this will be helpful in analysis of day to day
situations as well.
At the Houston Buddhist Vihara Abhidhamma classes are conducted by a Buddhist lay scholar: Dr. Charles Tennekoon.
Samma
Sambodhi
Samma Sambodhi is the wisdom attained by the Samma Sambuddhas. This
is a realization of the Four Noble Truths as well as the wisdom to understand
the nature of the beings, nature of the wider universe as well as the understanding
of the universe with relative to the three temporal dimensions (present,
future and past). Buddha addressing his first disciples stated "I
never claimed attainment of Samma Sambodhi before, now after following
the middle path and having fully realized the wisdom I declare the realization
of the Samma Sambodhi.
Parinirvana
This is called
Parinirvana because the Buddha completed the attainment of Nirvana at this
occasion through ending his bodily suffering as well. After attaining
the Samma Sambodhi Buddha lived with his biological body, which had to
undergo biological changes as decay and disease. Through Parinirvana
the Buddha ended these physical sufferings as well.
Chanting
Several monks
chant selected Buddhist sutras to invoke blessings and protection.
In this case the chanting is done overnight.
Eight
Precepts
Usually, buddhist
lay followers observe five precepts (undertaken by themselves - abstaining
from killing living beings, abstaining from taking others belongings,
abstaining from sexual misconduct, abstaining from intoxicating drinks
and drugs causing heedlessness). Eight precepts are observed by buddhist
lay followers to further refine their conduct and to help development of
the mind.