Arizona International Buddhist Meditation Center

Prior Events

2008 Vesak (Buddha's Birthday) Full Moon Day Program - Saturday, May 24, 2008

We celebrated Vesak full moon day program on Saturday, May 24, 2008, from 8:30 am to Evening. Over one hundred guests attended. A Dana offering was made to the monks and those who observe eight precepts.

New Year Day of Sri Lanka - Saturday, 12th of April, 2008

Rev. Subhuti Shibuya - February 12, 2008 through March 20, 2008

We are most pleased to announce that Rev. Subhuti Shibuya will be in residence at AIBMC for five weeks beginning February 12, 2008. Seldom will you have an opportunity to meet with someone who has such great insight into Meditation practice. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. You are invited to call AIBMC to schedule a personal discussion and meditation session with Rev. Shibuya. AS A REMINDER - DURING THIS TIME BHANTE ANANDA WILL BE MAKING A LONG OVERDUE VISIT TO GANGARAMAYA TEMPLE IN SRI LANKA.

As you will remember from his first visit, Rev. Subhuti Shibuya is a Japanese monk whose teaching is by example and discussion. Subhuti was born in Tokyo of a wealthy family but chose to study with a Zen master and after many years became Abbot of a Japanese Buddhist monastery. After a visit to a Los Angeles Temple in the late 80's he decided to stay in the United States and teach. Rev. Subhuti Shibuya's insight and experience can be of tremendous value to our Meditation practice. Please come join us.

Venerable Dhammaratana - January 27,2008 (Sunday)

Venerable Dhammaratana is a resident monk from the Las Vegas Buddhist Temple. He will join us to lead the activities. The following is the program:

12:30 – 3:30PM. - Children's Program
3:30 PM- 4:30 p.m. - Special Dhamma Desana (KAVI BANA)
4:30 - 5:00 p.m. - Buddha Puja & Blessing
5:00 p.m. – Refreshment
Please Bring Children at 12:15 for Children Program.

2008 New Year Day Buddha Pooja - January 1, 2008

As the 2008 New Year is approaching us, we are going to have a Buddha Pooja ceremony on the New Years Day in our center. This is to invoke the Blessings of the Triple Gem to all of us and children, our community, friends and well wishers.

Ceremony will be from 5.00 PM to 7.00 PM on January 1st, 2008.

Buddha Pooja will include offering of Gilanpasa also.

Please come and participate in this event and be Blessed for the New Year. You are encouraged to bring Pooja items such as flowers etc.

Bhante Seelawimala Nov 17-18, 2007

Venerable Madawala Seelawimala Mahathera (Bhante Seelawimala), received his higher ordination at age twenty in 1968. He received his bachelor’s degree in Buddhist Philosophy 1971 from University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya. In 1974 he received his Masters Degree at the same university. By the invitation of late Reverend Tsuji, the Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of America, the largest Buddhist organization in America, Bhante came to the United States to teach Theravada Buddhism at the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) in Berkeley, California in 1976. Since then Bhante has been teaching at IBS and the Graduate Theological Union affiliated with the University of California Berkeley.

With his master, Venerable Dickwela Piyananda, he helped establish the Toronto Buddhist Vihara in Canada in 1982. He was also instrumental in managing that Temple for the first five years of its operation. Subsequently he established the Buddhist Vihara in British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He assisted in establishing the Buddhist Vihara in San Jose, California. In 1996 he established the ABS Temple at Sacramento. Currently he is assisting Buddhist groups in Arizona and Edmonton, Canada towards setting up centers. Bhante travels widely throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia to give lectures, Dhamma talks, and retreats.

Open House - October 13th, 2007

We plan to have an open house on October 13, 2007 to visit our newly acquired property and to commence our first children's program.

We acquired the property in late August and have become gradually established since then. Many friends and devotees have helped in many ways during the past month to help with our primary needs and get settled in. We take this opportunity to thank all of them for their generous and kind support. We have already conducted two successful sessions of meditation with participation of significant number of new comers and existing members. In addition, there were continuous offerings of Dana to Maha Sangha, visits by both Sri Lankan and American communities, and several religious ceremonies. We would greatly appreciate your support and participation to continue these activities.

Two well known monks from Los Angeles, Venerable Piyananda, (Chief High of Dhammavijaya Buddhist Vihara,Los Angeles) and from New York, Venerable Kondanna, will join us to start Children's Program, followed by offering of Dana to Maha Sangha and a religious ceremony to wish Well, Peace and Happiness to all the communities. You are kindly invited to attend this event.

Rev. Subhuti Shibuya - October 7, 2007

Rev. Subhuti Shibuya will visit us for Meditation and teaching. Rev. Subhuti Shibuya is a Japanese monk whose teaching is by example and discussion. Subhuti was born in Tokyo of a wealthy family but chose to study with a Zen master and after many years became Abbot of a Japanese Buddhist monastery. After a visit to a Los Angeles Temple in the late 80's he decided to stay in the United States and teach. Rev. Subhuti Shibuya's insight and experience can be of tremendous value to our Meditation practice. Please come join us.