18th February 2003
 Ven. Piyananda Here and on the Road

In February Ven. Piyananda joined with Ven. Madawala Seelawimala and Ven. Pannila Ananda on a trip to Thailand and Laos. They attended a conference at Wat Suthat, participated in funeral services for the former abbot of Wat Thai Los Angeles on 18 th of Feb, at Wat Pho, and went on a pilgrimage to Laos. The Sangharaja of Laos had personally invited them to visit Laos.

In May Ven. Piyananda joined a Buddhist group including two nuns from Hsi-Lai Temple at a prayer breakfast with Governor Davis in Sacramento. Among other topics, Ven. Piyananda had personal discussions with Governor Davis about Buddhists in California.

Partially in response to meetings of religious groups with government officials on the problem of racial profiling in law enforcement, Sheriff Baca of LA County appointed Ven. Piyananda as a Chaplain for the County Sheriffs Department .

Ven. Piyananda has been granted an honorary Ph.D. from Ruhunu University in Sri Lanka. He hasn't been able to go over there yet to receive it officially as he has been too busy here.

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13th April 2003
 Celebrations

The beginning of calendar year 2003 was marked with an Ata Visi Buddha Pooja to bless all beings with peace and prosperity. The Pooja was held at the Vihara premises with the participation of over 200 devotees.

The religious service to celebrate the Sri Lankan New Year was organized by Ven.Wathogala Saransiri, Ven.Walpola Mahinda, and Ven.Bambarawane Kalyanawansa. This was attended by a large gathering of over 100 members. The most significant event was the worshiping of parents by their children and the anointing of oil. It was held on April 13.

This past May there were countless Vesak celebrations around the Southland. The Buddhist Sangha Council of Southern California held a great interdenominational event in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom of UCLA. There were religious ceremonies and speeches by a number of dignitaries, including our own Ven. Piyananda, Japanese Pure Land Buddhist Rev. T. Unno, and Superior Court Judge Nho Trong Nguyen.

Our own Dharma Vijaya Vesak celebration was held on May 17-18, with the participation of 20 monks and 400-500 people in attendance. Pirit chanting on Saturday was held in a beautiful mandapa constructed by Ven. Rahula. Sunday school children performed bhakthi geetha. A special dana was organized by Ven. Rahula to share merit with departed parents.

Poson Full Moon Day, June 18, marked the end of term celebration for our Sunday School children. Over 50 children aged 5-18 took 8 Precepts on this Children’s Day Celebration. Ven. Piyananda conducted the ceremony and led the students in meditation. The students received certificates and gifts in recognition of the efforts they have put into learning about Buddhism. Thanks go to Ven. Mahinda and Ven. Kalyanawansa for organizing this successful event.

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28th June 2003
 The Dharma Vijaya group of temples

The “Cincinnati Buddhist Vihara” is moving into a new, permanent location, thanks to a generous donation by Shantini Vijaya. This is the 25th Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara in the U.S., and it is under abbot Ven. Koppakande Sumanajothi, who was at Dharma Vijaya for a number of years. The new address is 1831 Miles Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231. Phone 513-825-4961.

On June 15 our newest Southern California temple, “Sambuddhaloka Vihara”, opened in Moreno Valley. Dignitaries in attendance included Ven. Piyananda, Ven. Pannila Ananda, and Hon. Mr. Pradeep Gunawardene, Consulate General of Sri Lanka in L.A. The abbot of the new temple is our own Ven. Wathogala Saranasiri, who trained for several years at Dharma Vijaya. For those wishing to visit the new temple, it’s at 23916 Hemlock Avenue, Moreno Valley, CA 92557. The phone number is 909-486-6644.

Just recently, on June 28, the “Indiana Buddhist Vihara” opened, with Ven. Piyananda presiding over the ceremonies. The new temple is at 5712 Webster St. Fort Wayne, Indiana 46807. Tel: 260-744-1151.

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23rd April 2003
 Other happenings at Dharma Vijaya

On 23rd of April Dharma Vijaya hosted a Buddhist and Catholic dialog.

Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara received a number of distinguished visitors over the past few months, including H.E. Mr. Subasinghe, Sri Lankan ambassador to the U.S.

Hon. P. Dayaratne, Sri Lankan Minister of Health, Nutrition, and Welfare.

Former Minister of Transportation and current MP Hon. Mr. A.H.M. Fowzie;

Former Deputy Minister and current MP Hon. Mr. Chamal Rajapaksa.

and Former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain, world record holder, and superstar cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, and world record holder and superstar cricketer Chaminda Vass visited us in July.

Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara has started a campaign to collect funds to rebuild houses for those displace by floods in Sri Lanka. Already dozens of donations have been received in response to the terrible flooding, which caused over 400 deaths, displaced over 30,000, and destroyed countless homes and schools. Ven. Walpola Mahinda and Ven. Bambarawane Kalyanawansa are in charge of collecting funds. Please see them if you would like to help.

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02nd February 2006
 Miscellaneous

Dr. Khin Swe Win, a Burmese physician, was ordained as a Samaneri by Ven. Piyananda last year. We are happy to say that she has received higher ordination in Sri Lanka this year, and is now known as Gunasari Bhikkhuni.

Dharma Vijaya has ordained around a dozen Bodhicaris over the past ten years. As Buddhist ministers, many of them are involved in teaching activities and in performing religious ceremonies.

In fact, if anyone is interested in a Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Wedding Ceremony, our Vihara can provide information.

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