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The Washington, DC area International Buddhist Committee is an interdenominational collection of local Buddhist organizations coming together to organize and promote events of interest to the entire Buddhist community.  Since 1986, IBC member temples have hosted a yearly International Vesak Festival celebrating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (passing beyond).

BUDDHIST VIHARA SOCIETY, INC.
5017-16TH ST NW WASHINGTON DC 20011
INTERNATIONAL VESAK CELEBRATION
Sunday May 13, 2012
(8am to 5pm)
DEAR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS,
On May 13th 2012 The Washington Buddhist Vihara will be celebrating VESAK, to commemorate the Birth, the Enlightenment and the Passing away of the Buddha. This is undoubtedly the most sacred day of the Buddhist calendar. The Washington Buddhist Vihara and the  IBC ( The International Buddhist Committee of Greater Washington Area) have put together a very stimulating program that would enrich the lives of all participants.
Please come and experience the spiritual bliss at the Vihara and pay your greatest homage to the Buddha. Obseving 8 precepts will start at 8 am. Friends, who like to participate in the International Vesak Celebration, please be at the Vihara by 9 am.
A colorful VESAK procession going around the block will start by 9 am. Please bringyour kids with bicycles or tricycles decorated with flowers and Buddhist flags and so on to participate in the procession.
  • 9:00 AM International Vesak opens with circumambulation (PERAHARA) and bathing the image of the newborn Bodhisattva
  • 9:30 AM Children's (From various Nations) flower offering
  • 9:45 AM Welcome speech
  • 11:00 AM Lunch for Bhikkhu Sangha followed by lunch for lay people
  • 12:30 PM Group Photo
  • 12:45 PM Meditation session
  • 1:15 PM Cultural Program / Religious Program Small Groups
  • 3:45 PM Closing Ceremony of the International VESAK.
Up to 3.45 PM The program will be conducted in English. 
* 4.00 PM Dhamma Desana in Sinhalese
* 4.45 PM Bodhi Pooja and Paritta Chanting
* 5.30 PM The End.
Please come to the temple to participate in this noble deed.
With Metta,
Bhante Dhammasiri                                                                                                     Susan Singh                                           
President                                                                                                                       Executive Secretary

THE 25TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL VESAK FESTIVAL 2011

Hosted by the Cambodian Buddhist Temple

Sponsored by the International Buddhist Committee

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Location:  Downstairs area of Temple

Schedule:

9:00 - 9:15             Welcome, introductions, chanting

9:15- 9:45              Making posters of verses from Dhammapada, Dalai Lama, and Thich Nhat Han

9:45-10:30             Jataka Story and Dharma Discussion    (Lisa Knight)

10:30-11:00            Meditation      (Insight Meditation Community of Washington)   

11:00-12:15            Lunch and hanging posters

12:15-12:45            The Eightfold Path demonstration (Souksomboun Sayasithsena)

12:45-1:15             Tibetan Story and Dharma Discussion

 

ALL ARE WELCOME!

The program is for young people ages 7 through 14

Children 5 or younger must be accompanied by parent or guardian

2010 Flyer:

International Buddhist Committee of Washington, D.C. 

Text Box:

The 24th Annual

International Vesak Celebration

Sunday, May 2, 2010

2554 B.E.

9:00 AM-3:30 PM

 

You are invited to join Buddhists from temples representing many different countries and traditions as we celebrate the Birth, Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha.

 

The 24th International Vesak Day’s activities include:

Offerings, circumambulations, prayers and homage to Lord Buddha,

Dharma teachings, meditation, cultural presentations and more. 

 

The event will be held at:

 

The Washington Buddhist Vihara

5016 16th Street NW, Washington DC

 

Free to the public- donations are welcome.

 

Directions to the Washington Buddhist Vihara:

  • From 495, take Georgia Avenue South, going past two intersections
  • Take slight right on 16th Street South, travel 4 miles
  • The Washington Buddhist Vihara will be on the left near the intersection of Gallatin Street and 16th Street. 
  • On Sundays parking is permitted along 16th Street

 

2009 Flyer:

International Buddhist Committee of Washington, D.C.  

Text Box:

The 23rd Annual

International Vesak Celebration

Saturday, May 23, 2009/2553 B.E.

8:30 AM-4:00 PM 

You are invited to join Buddhists from temples representing many different countries and traditions as we celebrate the Birth, Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha. 

The 23rd International Vesak Day’s activities include:

Offerings and circumambulations, prayers and homages to Lord Buddha, Dharma teachings, cultural presentations and more. The event will be held at:

Wat Lao Buddhavong Buddhist Temple

3043 Catlett Road

Catlett, Virginia 20119

No charge- Free Parking – donations welcome.

Directions to Wat Lao Buddhavong:

  • Take Route 66 West
  • Take Exit 44 onto 234 South
  • Turn right onto Route 28 South
  • After about ten minutes, cross the county line for Prince William and Fauquier Counties, look to the left and see the temple roof of Wat Lao
  • Turn left into drive marked by a welcome to Wat Lao sign

More information about Wat Lao Buddhavong can be found at www.watlao.org 


PROGRAM OF EVENTS: 
 

9 AM- Arrival and circumambulation of the Wat Lao temple 

9:30 AM- Children’s flower offering to the Buddha 

9:45 AM- Introductions and homage to Lord Buddha in various languages  

10:15-Pali prayers  

      -Bestowal of five precepts by the Ven. Abbot Bounmy Kittithammavano  

    -Recitation of the Heart Sutra in English  

10:45 AM- Keynote address  

11 AM- Lunch for the monks and nuns followed by lunch for the laypeople 

    -after lunch, IBC members and laypeople will offer envelopes and flowers to the monks 

12:30 PM- pictures of ordained and lay community 

1 PM- Cultural performances in front of the temple 

3:45 PM- Closing prayers in the temple

2008 Flyer:

wheel

The 22nd Annual

International Vesak Day

May 24, 2008 (2552 B.E.), 9 AM-3 PM

 

Join Buddhists from temples of many cultures and traditions as we celebrate the Birth, Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha.

 

Keynote Address by the Venerable Lama Kalsang

 

The 22nd International Vesak Day’s activities also include:

Offerings and circumambulations,  prayers and homages to Buddha, guided meditations and talks given by Buddhist teachers from around the Washington, DC area, and food offerings by members of the participating communities.

 

Held at:

Sakya Phuntsok Ling

354 Prelude Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20901, (301) 592-9286

From the Beltway - Route 495: Take Exit 30, marked Colesville Road/Columbia Pike (Route 29 North). Drive 2 miles (about 5 minutes) and turn left on Prelude Drive. The Retreat Center is 2 and 1/2 blocks on the right.  Ample parking can be found on the first two blocks of Prelude Drive or by turning right onto Oak Leaf Drive (at the second intersection on Prelude Drive.)

All are welcome.  No charge – Free Parking – Donations gratefully accepted

 

2007 Flyer:

International Buddhist Committee of Washington, D.C. and AU Chaplain, Bhante Uparatana host:

 

wheel

 

The 21st Annual

International Vesak Day

May 19, 2007 (2551 B.E.), 9 AM-4 PM

 

Join Buddhists from temples representing over 10 different countries as we celebrate the Birth, Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha.

 

Keynote Address by the Venerable Bhante Punnaji Mahatera

 

The 21st International Vesak Day’s activities also include:

Offerings and circumambulations,  prayers and homages to Lord Buddha, guided meditations given by Buddhist teachers from around the Washington, DC area, and cultural offerings by members of the participating communities.

 

Held at:

 

American University’s Kay Spiritual Life Center

All are welcome.  No charge – Free Parking – Donations gratefully accepted

 

Commuter parking is available at a lot off Nebraska Avenue.  For directions see back and: http://www.american.edu/maps/campus.htm  and http://www.american.edu/maps 


 

DIRECTIONS

American University is located on Ward Circle, at the intersection of Massachusetts and Nebraska Avenues, NW, in Washington, DC.

BY CAR

From northeast of Washington (New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore), follow Interstate 95 south to Interstate 495 west toward Silver Spring. See from Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway).

From south or west of Washington (Norfolk, Richmond, Charlottsville) follow interstate 95 north or Interstate 66 east to Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway. Follow Interstate 495 north. See from Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway).

From northwest of Washington (western Pennsylvania, western Maryland), follow Interstate 270 south. Where Interstate 270 divides, follow the right-hand branch toward norther Virginia (not towards Washington). Merge with Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, and soon afterwards take exit 39, River Road. See from Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway).

From Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway), take exit 39 and carefully follow the signs for River Road (Maryland Route 190) east toward Washington. Continue east on River Road to the fifth traffic light. Turn right onto Goldsboro Road (Maryland Route 614). At the first traffic light, turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue (Maryland Route 396). Continue on Massachusetts Avenue for about two miles, through the first traffic circle (Westmoreland Circle). About on mile further on, enter a second traffic circle (Ward Circle). Take the first right turn out of the circle, onto Nebraska Avenue. The campus is on your right.

 

From Nebraska Avenue, you may enter the university's visitor parking lot by turning left at the first traffic light onto New Mexico Avenue and then left into the parking lot adjacent to the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church. Or you may drive directly onto the campus by driving past the first traffic light on Nebraska Avenue and turning right at the first gate. Very shortly, you will see a campus map on the right. It will direct you to the The Admissions Welcome Center, located in Centennial Hall.

 

BY METRO BUS OR RAIL

From Union Station, National Airport or downtown Washington: Washington's Metrorail opens 5:30 a.m. weekdays and 8:00 a.m. weekends. It closes at midnight Sunday to Thursday. On Friday and Saturday nights, it stays open until 2:00 a.m.The closest Metro stop to American University is Tenleytown/AU (also called Tenley Circle) on the Red Line. Metro buses run regularly from Tenley Circle to American's campus, less than a mile away. Metro can give you information on specific route and timetables for buses and trains. Call its information service at (202) 637-7000, or you can contact the Admissions Office for a free AU shuttle pass and schedule information for AU's campus shuttle.

 

2006 Flyer:

International Buddhist Committee of Washington, D.C.  

The 20th Annual

International Vesak Day

May 7, 2006/2550 

Join Buddhists from temples representing over 10 different countries as we celebrate the Birth, Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha. 

The 20th International Vesak Day’s activities include:

Offerings and circumambulations,  prayers and homages to Lord Buddha, workshops, Dharma lectures and guided meditations given by Buddhist teachers from around the Washington, DC area, and cultural offerings by members of the participating communities. 

Held at: 

Washington D.C. Buddhist Vihara,

5017 16 th Street, NW   D.C.  

All are welcome.  No charge – Free Parking – Donations gratefully accepted 

Schedule 

  9:00 am  Religious ceremony and teachings

  9:30 am  Entering the temple and children’s flower offering to the Buddha

  9:45 am  Introductions and homages to Lord Buddha:

10:00 am  Bestowing of 5 precepts and the 8 precepts

11:15 am Recitation of Heart Sutra

                Silent Meditation

                Keynote speech

                Closing prayers in Pali and English

11:20 am  Lunch

  1:00 pm  Afternoon program

  4:45 pm  Concluding ceremony 

Directions to Washington D.C. Buddhist Vihara

5017 16 th Street, NW   D.C.

(202) 723-0773 

*From the CAPITAL BELTWAY/495,

Take the MD-97 S / GEORGIA AVE exit- EXIT 31B- toward SILVER SPRING.

Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto MD-97 / GEORGIA AVE (0.3 miles).

Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto 16TH ST / MD-390 S, and follow 16TH ST NW (4.0 miles).

End at 5017 16th St Nw , Washington , DC 20011-3841

The Washington D.C. Buddhist Vihara will be on the left.  

More information about Washington D.C. Buddhist Vihara can be found at http://www.buddhistvihara.com/

 

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