20/11/2025
Multi-Traditional Kathina at Penang's Pu Xian Vihara
The Buddhist Channel, 28 October 2025
Penang, Malaysia -- In a vibrant display of Buddhist unity, Penang's Pu Xian Vihara led a groundbreaking Kathina ceremony on Sunday (26 October) that beautifully wove together the three major Buddhist traditions: Chinese Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana.
This unique event offered devotees a rare opportunity to witness monks and nuns from diverse schools gathering in shared practice for this important annual observance.
The ceremony immersed attendees in a rich spiritual tapestry, featuring chanting in Chinese, Thai, and Tibetan styles. This harmonious blend created an atmosphere both unique and uncommon for the Vihara.
A significant effort was made by the organizers to source the correct robes for offering to monastics from all traditions, a task that required extra dedication as the temple's Kathina celebrations have traditionally involved monks from the Thai Theravada school.
According to Bro. Tan Kooi Beng, Secretary of Pu Xian Vihara, the committee was determined to make this year's event truly special. “At our Pu Xian Vihara Kathina this year, we have monks from different traditions. There are Thai and Myanmar Theravada monks, European Tibetan monks, and local and Chinese Mahayana monks. They will sit together to receive the robe," he said.
Bro. Kooi Beng also emphasized a core focus on inclusivity. "Our method is, whoever comes for Kathina — whether a person donates money or not — we give them a robe to offer. This is unique from other Kathina protocols. In other places, you must pay to offer a robe. We give everyone a chance to make offerings, regardless of whether the person is rich or poor."
This emphasis on inclusivity aligns perfectly with Pu Xian Vihara's annual objective to deliver a "Dharma for the millions" programme.
"The aim is not so much to raise money to support Dharma work or the monastic Sangha, but to allow people from all walks of life to participate and partake in the merits of generosity, in the spirit of dana," explained Bro. Kooi Beng.
He further elaborated on their community-centric approach: "We invite the elderly from poor families, handicapped individuals, and orphanages to come. We give them vegetarian food to eat and a robe to offer. This gives them a way to perform a good deed."
He added, "We also provide free joss sticks and free candles to everyone who comes to the temple to pray."
Though a small Buddhist centre, Pu Xian Vihara's open-hearted and all-inclusive approach is making the Dharma accessible to a growing number of people.
By blending free community participation with rituals from the major Buddhist schools, the Vihara allows devotees to appreciate the beauty of the Buddha's teachings in all their varied spectrums.
The pioneering multi traditional Kathina programme initiated by Pu Xian Vihara is a model that deserves to be emulated elsewhere.
多元传统的结夏安居布萨节于槟城普贤精舍举行
—— 佛教频道，2025年10月28日
马来西亚槟城——在一场展现佛教团结的盛大活动中，槟城普贤精舍于星期日（10月26日）举办了一场具有开创意义的结夏安居布萨节（卡提那法会），巧妙地融合了三大佛教传统：汉传大乘、上座部（南传）以及金刚乘（藏传）佛教。
这场独特的活动为信众提供了一个难得的机会，见证来自不同宗派的僧侣与尼众齐聚一堂，共同参与这一年度的重要佛教仪式。
整个法会让与会者沉浸在深厚的灵性氛围之中，诵经声交织着中文、泰语与藏语的音韵，形成了一幅多元而和谐的心灵画卷，为精舍营造出一种既独特又少见的庄严气息。
主办方为此次活动付出了大量心力，特别是在为来自各个传统的僧众准备合适的僧衣方面。这项任务极具挑战性，因为普贤精舍过去的结夏安居布萨节（卡提那法会）主要是由泰国上座部僧团参与的。
普贤精舍秘书陈贵明居士表示，委员会下定决心要让今年的活动别具意义。他说：“今年在普贤精舍的卡提那法会中，我们邀请了来自不同传承的僧侣——包括泰国和缅甸的上座部僧人、欧洲的藏传僧人，以及本地与汉传僧人。他们将一同接受袈裟供养。”
陈居士还特别强调了活动的包容精神：“我们的做法是——凡是来参加卡提那的人，不论是否捐款，我们都会给予他们一件袈裟供养的机会。这与其他地方的做法不同。在其他寺院，供袈裟通常需要付费。而我们希望让每个人都有机会布施，不论贫富。”
这种包容性的理念，正好契合普贤精舍每年“法传千万家”弘法计划的宗旨。
陈居士解释道：“我们的目标并不在于为僧团或弘法工作筹款，而是希望让社会各阶层的人都能参与布施，在布施（檀那，dāna）的精神中共同积聚福德。”
他进一步阐述了普贤精舍以社区为中心的做法：“我们邀请来自贫困家庭的长者、残障人士以及孤儿院的孩子们前来。我们为他们准备素食供餐，并给予他们袈裟供养的机会，让他们也能行善积德。”
他补充说：“我们还为前来祈愿的民众免费提供香与蜡烛。”
尽管普贤精舍只是一个规模不大的佛教中心，但其宽广包容的精神与开放的做法，使越来越多的人能够接触并领会佛法的真义。
通过结合自由参与的社区活动与来自三大佛教传统的仪式形式，普贤精舍让信众有机会欣赏佛陀教法在不同传承中的独特光彩与共同精神。
由普贤精舍首创的多元传统卡提那法会，堪称一项值得其他佛教道场借鉴与推广的典范。
