History of TBSN

Purpose
Theravada Buddha Sasana Nuggaha, Minnesota(TBSN/MN), a non profit organization, was established in St. Paul on May 2, 2004 (Buddha day) (Kason Full moon day of Burmese era in 1365) in order to full fill the crucial requirement for the Buddhists population from Burma, in mid west area of Minnesota. Even many Buddhists with different ethnic back ground from Burma migrated in Minnesota three decades ago there was no Theravada Buddhist monastery in Minnesota. Most of the Burmese Buddhists practice their belief at Lao, Cambodia, Vietnamese, and Chinese Buddhist temples in twin cities area those days.

Four years ago in 2004, Buddhists enthusiastic in Twin cities gathered at Lao Buddhist temple on Burmese New year day and discussed about future establishment of Theravada Buddha Sasana (Teaching of Buddha) association and monastery in MN.
On the full moon day of May 2, 2004, the first Buddhist non-profit organization was successfully formed and named Theravada Buddha Sasana Nuggaha (Supporting to prolong the uncontaminated Buddha Teaching


Meaning of TBSN
Theravada- Preserving the original Buddha’s teaching (canon) from elders Buddhist monk (sanga) until now, called Theravada Buddhism the form of Buddhism practiced in Sri lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, considered to be the original and orthodox form of Buddha Teaching. Preserving all Buddha’s teaching as it was in Buddha time, without adding, subtracting, modification on original canon. (Uncontaminated pure Teachings)
Buddha- the Founder of Buddhism, the Enlightened One;
Sasana- All Teaching of Buddha.
Nuggaha- Supporters, custodians, preservers of uncontaminated pure teaching of Buddha.
Fund raising
The newly formed TBSN/MN organize all ethnic groups of immigrants from Burma by contributing services relating to practicing Buddhism, preaching Buddha Dhamma, worshiping, performing good deeds (merits), Kusala (wholesomeness). TBSN/MN invited monks from all different monasteries in the United States, performing Dhamma talk and raising fund for own monastery. During the pre-take off period of TBSN all members of TBSN worked very hard to raise fund by implementation of many Dhamma talks from 2004 to 2006 plus and one singing concert joint with Dhamma talk in 2005. TBSN could save enough donation money for down payment to purchase a house for own gathering place. TBSN welcome various donors around the world as the organization rely on donations. Finally, after two year of hard work, TBSN could close a house at 1519 County Rode C E, Maple wood, MN 55109 on September 6, 2006. This residential house became Buddhist gathering place, TBSN main office, and house for permanent residence for Buddhist monk. Now the place is the center of Buddhists, people from Burma, education, culture and religious based for all in MN.
On October 1, 2006 all disciples donated the building to be used as a Buddhist Monastery to Abbot Sayadaw Ashin Mahosada Pandita who is residing and preaching Buddha Dhamma to all disciples in twin cities, MN. On that day the first Theravada Buddhist monastery emerged in twin cities, Minnesota.
TBSN is a supporting all activities relating to Buddhist ceremonies such as New Year, Buddha Day, Vass Warso, Thedingyut (Ahbbidhannar day), Kathina robe offering, and other Buddhist customs, social culture and welfare issues as a non-profit organization. TBSN is the Buddhism based organization providing social services like a Christian Social services, for all Buddhists and other ethnic groups from Burma.
Currently TBSN runs with seven board directing members including monks and laymen. They are Ashin Mahosada Pandita (Monk), Ashin Nayakarlankara (Current permanent residence Monk), Aung Than, Aung Koe (Oscar Aung Koe), Toe Lwin, Dr. Gary Eng, Zaw Win Maung.
The current officers are as following;
Chairman Aung Than 612-710-1008 (cell)
Vice Chairman Zaw Win Maung 612-789-2367 (cell)
Secretary Aung Koe (Oscar Aung Koe) 612-819-2626 (cell)
Joint secretary 1 Dr. Gary Eng
Joint secretary 2 Khum Myo Nge
Treasurer Toe Lwin
Audit 1 Khin Aung Aung Win
Audit 2 Win Sann
TBSN formed sub committees (teams) to focus on certain task of TBSN in order to accomplish assigned function including:
Monastery, cleaning team
Cooking team
Fund raising team
Kitchen service associate
Administration team
Joint Administration team
Construction team
Organization team
Buddha sutra reciting team
TBSN yearly events programs detail
Burmese New Year (April)
Every year in the second week of April, people from Burma celebrate New Years Day, by drenching water on each other wishing to cool them down and cleaning them before moving forward to the coming New Year (April is the extremely humid in Burma). TBSN sponsors arrangement to celebrate New Year the same as in Burma but we mostly celebrate in June or July according to Minnesota weather favorability. TBSN rents a park to celebrate New Year with various food, dancing, music, singing songs and other amusements to entertain the visitors while drenching water on each other during the event. TBSN collects money from all supporters and members for this event and all contributes their volunteer service to make this event happen.
Buddha Day(May)
It is the significant day for all Buddhists around the world. Buddha Day falls on the first week of May mostly. On that day Prince Siddhartha Gotama (the Buddha to be) was born in the district of Nepal, northern part of India in BCE May 623 on Full moon day. He entered the Buddha hood (Bodhi) in Full moon day of BCE 588. (Bodhi is meant an ideal state of intellectual and ethical perfection.) His wisdom eyes were opened and became enlightened.) Buddha passed away at the age of 80 in Sala Glove near Kusinara of Malla State, in what is now Uttar Pradesh in India in the full moon day of BCE 543. These occurrences were on the same day and month in His life time.
All enthusiastic Buddhists around the world celebrate on that Kasson full moon day as Buddha day. They go to the Pagoda, temple, monasteries, and perform various Kusala
(Good deed, merit) such as donating, keeping 5 to 8 precepts, listening Dhamma talks from Monks, giving food to poor, etc. On that day, all Buddhist and TBSN members gathering at monastery listing Dhamma talk, keeping precepts, giving food donating money to monks and monastery with pure voluntarily volition. TBSN board members sponsor and arrange for that activity each year sending invitation, advertising in local news paper (Asian American Press), collecting donation money from visitors, and so on. It is mostly an all day events.
Warso(Vissa)(July)
Each year Buddhist monks enter their 3-months lent (from July to September) called “Warso” (Vissa) it means monks have to stay at a meditation retreat during these months without traveling anywhere. Devotees offer robe to monks before they enter Warso in July. TBSN celebrates Warso by offering robe to the monk in July at the monastery this Warso robe offering celebration is sponsored and hosted by TBSN.
Thedinkyut (Lightening festival) also known as Abhidhamma Day(October)
Abhidhamma is a philosophical exposition of the Dhamma, higher doctrine, Buddhist philosophy, metaphysics, systematic analyses of the main points of the Buddha's teachings; name of the Third Pitaka (basket) of the Buddhist Doctrine, dealing with the true and ultimate nature of things. Buddha preached the Abhidhamma to His late mother who became extraterrestrial being at Tusita, celestial abode 7 days after she gave his birth.
Buddha’s omnipresent descended from Tusita celestial on the full moon day of Thedinkyut; fall on the middle of October. Buddhists around the world welcome back Buddha and honor his highest level of knowledge by lighting around their houses and doing merits in Pagoda, Temples and monasteries. TBSN sponsors Abhidhamma Day by giving Dhamma talks to disciples, reciting Dhamma Pathana (cause and effect of nature) at monastery.
Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony(November)
Kathina means the ceremony of robes- offering, following the end of the Warso (Vassa).
This is a significant day for the Buddhists. It is mostly fall on November according to Burmese calendar. On that only day, Buddhist waving the robe on the hand made waving machine within 24 hours and offer the robe within the same day to at least five monks with other donation such as money, umbrella, pair of slippers, bowl, medicine and others to the monks. TBSN celebrates Kathina robe offering ceremony using readymade robe and invited another monks from other States in order to have at least 5 monks. Sponsored and invited by TBSN members. The expenditure of this ceremony, like air fair for the monks, robe, food and a single or collective Padesabin (decorated stand with money and other stuffs on it) coming from members of TBSN and other donors. This ceremony also based on the collective donations and volunteers services.
Burmese Food Fair (Fund raising event)
This is the TBSN fund raising event started in September, 2007 last year in twin cities. We are planning to carry out the same fund raising events at least 3 occasions year round.