Pha Pa Merit Making Ceremony for New Patio Roof Sun 1st March | Magha Puja | Dhammagiri Main Building Project in 2026

Dhammagiri
Jan 10
3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

Patio Roof Project Dhammagiri Concept Art

Concept Art for New Patio Roof Dhammagiri, Details TBC

For this year's Magha Puja on Sunday 1st March we will conduct a Pha Pa Merit Making Cermony (Pinkama). All financial donations of the day will be dedicated to the New Patio Roof Project.

(please note that our monthly One Day Retreat will be held on Sunday 15th March instead)

Magha Puja commemorates the occasion when 1,250 Arahant Disciples spontaneously, without any prior announcement, gathered around the Buddha in the Veḷuvana (Bamboo Grove Monastery) in Rājagaha. All of these 1,250 Arahants were ordained by the Buddha personally. The Buddha then recites the famous 'Ovāda-Pāṭimokkha', a summary of the teachings of all Buddhas.

Magha Puja is also known as Sangha Day.

It's an inspiring opportunity for generating good karma (puñña) by supporting the sangha with the four requisites of food, medicines, robes and monastic buildings.

Of all material donations, the Buddha taught that the building of a monastery for the sangha is generating the highest amount of good karma. To offer a monastic building to the sangha of the four quarters ('Vihāra-Dāna' / 'Ārāma Pūja') is of greater karmic fruit than even personally offering a meal to the bhikkhu-sangha headed by the Buddha himself.

"Yo ca buddhappamukhaṃ bhikkhusaṅghaṃ bhojeyya, yo ca cātuddisaṃ saṅghaṃ uddissa vihāraṃ kārāpeyya, idaṃ tato mahapphalataraṃ."

"Even more fruitful than providing a meal to the Bhikkhu-Sangha headed by the Buddha himself would it be to construct a monastic building dedicated to the Sangha of the four quarters"

(Anguttara Nikāya / Numerical Discourses, Book of Nines #20)

We now have an opportunity to generate such great good karma by contributing to a substantial expansion of the monastery's main building: we plan to construct a large patio roof to cover the complete area in front of our Dhamma Hall.

This permanent structure will replace the temporary marquees and vastly expand the covered space to approximately 288 m².

We will use the 'Fly-Over' roof style design, to maximise ventilation, and to allow plenty of natural light to reach under the roof. Our intention is to cover the complete area in front of the Dhamma Hall, so the patio roof will shelter a much larger space than the existing marquees. The new roof made of insolated panels will protect us from the Queensland sun and heat, provide shelter from rain, and create a comfortable, safe space for dhamma practice shielded from harsh environmental conditions, especially during major events.

Plan View New Patio Roof Structure Dhammagiri Dhamma Hall — Top View (Plan View) of large area of new patio roof. Details TBC.

From the quotes we've received so far, considering the large size of covered area, much bigger than typical domestic patios, we assess that the project can be financed completely with funds of $250,000.

Thanks to the generosity of our kind supporters, including overseas contributions in particular from Singapore and Malaysia, as of 12/01/2026, our donations have already pushed past the halfway mark totalling about $130,000 😊

Consequently, the project would require an additional $120,000 to fully cover costs.

This amount includes ground preparation and erection of the new structure with ca 288 m² insulated roof panels; gutters, downpipes and connection to existing rainwater tanks; electricity supply with light fittings; and expansion of existing concrete slab; using superior quality materials and finishes throughout.

If we delay the extension of existing concrete slab, which can only be done after the roof is in place anyhow, we would need less than $80,000 additional funds to at least complete the roof.

If you wish to contribute to this project, please click here and indicate 'Patio Cover' together with your donation. If you wish to get a receipt, please provide your name & email address.

Anumodanā for your kind generosity, it's remarkable how your selfless acts of dāna have already covered more than half our expected expenses in such a short time!

Idha modati pecca modati, katapuñño ubhayattha modati.

So modati so pamodati, disvā kamma-visuddhim-attano.

The ones who've done good deeds rejoice,

both now and in their next rebirth;

They're filled with boundless joy as they

experience their karmic purity themselves.

Dhammapada Verse #18