Pha Pa Merit Making Ceremony for New Patio Roof Sun 1st March | Magha Puja | Dhammagiri Main Building Project in 2026
- Dhammagiri
- Jan 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 30
We have now signed a Contract with ALTEC for $195k
to Complete Patio Roof by End of June 2026.
Concrete Slab Extension, Buddha Statues etc will be done as Phase Two in 2027
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.
Please feel free to download this poster and share with friends 😊
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.
As generous donations from our kind donors have already reached $130k in January 2026, we have decided to go ahead with Phase One of the project - anumodanā to all generous donors, including overseas contributions from Singapore and Malaysia!
We signed a contract with ALTEC for $195k to construct the Patio Roof, with an expected timeline for completion of structure in June 2026.
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; and backets for 8 fans/lights; using superior quality materials and finishes throughout.
The extension of the concrete slab, Buddha statues in porticos with backgrounds, and other details will be done as Phase Two of the project in 2027.
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
Program for Magha Puja
Pha Pa Merit Making Ceremony 01/03
White Forest Cloth & Donor's Notification
will be available for free at the monastery
to offer at the ceremony
10.00 am
Arrival of Participants,
Preparing food for Almsoffering
10.30 am
Almsround & Shared Meal
11.45 am
Triple Refuge & 5 Precepts
Pha Pa Forest Cloth Offering Ceremony
Anumodanā & Blessing
Invitation to Teach Dhamma
Short Dhamma Reflection
Formal Request to Recite Paritta
Invitation to Devatā
Paritta Chanting by Sangha
01.00 pm
End of Pha Pa Event Program
However, you're welcome to stay on for our regular afternoon program if you wish 🧘♂️😊🧘♀️:
03.00 pm
Evening Chanting,
Guided / Silent Meditation
Short Walking Meditation Circumambulation
Dhamma Reflection
05.00 pm
End of Program
The Events will be livestreamed on our Youtube Channel
