Sangha News from Melbourne Buddhist Centre

Issue #1 Volume #1 July 2006

Welcome to the first addition of our Sangha Newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep the Sangha in touch with Melbourne Buddhist Centre events and the activities of the Sangha.

Announcements!

What's On

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday 25th July Meditation Course (4 Week) commences at the City Centre
• Thursday 27th July Meditation Course (6 Week) commences at the Brunswick Centre
• Friday 28th to Sunday 30th July Meditation Retreat, open to all, led by Sudaya and Arunamalin
• Sunday 13th August Combined Order Day

  Regular Programme

• Wednesday 26th July 7.30pm Drop in Meditation. Practice: Metta. Talk on Puja by Saddhavijaya – the Heart Sutra
• Saturday 29th July Drop in Meditation. Practice: Metta.
• Wednesday 2nd August 7.30pm Drop in Meditation. Practice: Mindfulness. Talk on Puja by Arunamalin – Rejoicing in Merit
• Saturday 5th Drop in Meditation. Practice: Mindfulness.
• Wednesday 9th August 7.30pm Drop in Meditation. Practice: Metta. Full Moon Puja
• Saturday 12th August Drop in Meditation. Practice: Metta.

For this issue we talk with Sudaya, an Order Member working at the MBC.

What are you passionate about?

1. Meditation, or rather the value of meditation. I can't claim to always be passionate about doing it, but I never doubt it's value and place in my life.

2. Trees - watching them, helping them to grow. They teach us so much about strength, flexibility and patience.

What are you reading at the moment?

1. H.E. Bates short stories - he's so English and old fashioned, a great story-teller.

2. Sangharakshita's The Bodhisattva Ideal - so much inspiration about how to live the spiritual life.

3. Music and Society from Antiquity to the Middle Ages - learning more about the development of music.

If you could have five beings at dinner party (dead, alive or conceptual) who or what would they be?

1. Shakyamuni Buddha, of course! People became enlightened by just being in his presence...

2. Green Tara, my yidam. I visualise her but have never visualised having dinner with her.

3.and 4. My mum and dad. They died 29 and 28 years ago. I'd love to tell them how happy I am about the great start in life they gave me.

5. My dear friend and Kalyana Mitra Vidyamala. I haven't seen her for a while. I think I might be a bit overwhelmed at this dinner party and she would know how to make everyone feel at ease and she also wouldn't be afraid to ask some pointed questions to stimulate discussion.

What school of Buddhism most influences you and why?

I enjoy a mandala of influences; from the simple formality of Zen to the creative freedom of the Vajrayana; from the calm restraint of the Theravada to the sublime magic of the Mahayana. We are so lucky in the FWBO to have access to the entire breadth of schools of Buddhism. At the moment I am more immersed in the Mahayana than anything else, particularly the Bodhisattva Ideal. I am inspired by altruistic activity.

What hobbies do you have outside the centre?

Are hobbies what one does in one's spare time? I'm not sure what 'spare' time is and whether I have any. To relax, I listen to early music, I write (email) to my friends, I walk in the wildest woods I can find. Having time alone is very important to me. I enjoy taking photographs and sharing them with friends.

Editorial

Here is an excerpt from that talk:

Many teachers have spoken of the leisure and endowment that we have in life which can be turned to the Higher life, the spiritual life. Yet so much of what is around us in our secular world is clamouring for attention, enticing us through the promise of sensual pleasure, acquisition fame and so on; all the elements of the affluent world fanning the worldly winds ("the so-called affluenza epidemic"). Given these and our habitual tendencies to repeat our life patterns and behaviours, no wonder it is sometimes difficult to realize the precious opportunity of the Dharma. And how we forget the unpredictable and impermanent nature of life! With so much to occupy ourselves in this country and culture it is easy to become complacent about the Dharma. Something we can 'do' next week or next month or when we retire. However we know that attitude is not sustainable. Life will turn its tricks and suddenly we are out of time or opportunity to make the most of the Dharma.

Dharma Quote of the month