News from Melbourne Buddhist Centre

Issue #4 Volume #2

July 2007

Welcome to this edition of our newsletter.

Mudita is designed to keep you in touch with Melbourne Buddhist Centre events and the activities of our Sangha.

What's On

July 29th, Dharma Day Festival, Brunswick.

Come along to our festival day and celebrate the Dharma

12.00pm Meditation (open to all)

1.00pm Lunch - bring a vegetarian plate to share

2.00pm Talk on the Dharma and readings

3.00pm Tea break

3.30pm Short Talks by Friends and Mitras

4.00pm Festive Puja with Mitra Ceremonies

August is a relatively quiet month at the Melbourne Buddhist Centre; several Order members are overseas. Siladasa and Sudaya are attending the International Order Convention in UK and Sanjiva is in New Zealand. Nevertheless regular classes and drop-in sessions continue as always. September will see the return of Devamitra for three months. He will be running many courses and seminars. Check the website for more information.

Poem

Ancient city of Nara,

Ancient images of Buddha,

Shrouded in the scent

Of Chrysanthemums.

Basho

From The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches

translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa (Penguin, 1966), p. 47.

Send any news items you have to news@melbournebuddhistcentre.org by September 18th for inclusion in the next newsletter.

Reports

A positive start to the week

Each Monday I rise before 6am, get dressed and make my way to the Melbourne Buddhist Centre. On the evening prior I often start to think, "Oh I have to be ready and out of the house early tomorrow morning, what a drag". But from the moment I wake on Monday mornings, I feel energised and happy. It seems that the discipline of getting up and going to the meditation session has a positive effect on my mental states. As soon as I arrive I feel pleased to be there and grateful of the opportunity to practise collectively. It is an engaged and peaceful way to start my week, marking a new week full of potential. I often notice the effects of the morning mediation throughout the day.

The Monday morning meditation sessions began about four months ago and so far there have been four or five participants each week. The meditation starts at 6.30am each Monday morning (except public holidays) and lasts for 45 minutes. We alternate between the Metta and Mindfulness meditation practices and I often start by giving a short reading relevant to the practice. Everyone who is familiar with these meditation practices is welcome to join us.

I hope to see you on a Monday soon!

Jodie Dempster

Men's Retreat

by Brian Lowry

The Men's Retreat held over the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June came as a shock for me initially. Other retreatants were indulging in endless conversation and, wait for it, drinking tea and eating biscuits! After previous longer silent retreats, a changing of gears was required. Silence has its place and the retreat theme was, after all, Spiritual Friendship. Verbal communication with one another was the way forward.

The morning started with a double sitting meditation followed by breakfast and discussion. Sanjiva introduced 'the duties and benefits of the six quarters of worship': the north, south, east, west, nadir and zenith representing friends and associates, teachers, parents, wife and children, servants and employees, and ascetics and Brahmans respectively. A traditional list of obligations and benefits from 'the noble disciple' to and from these other groups was outlined and made relevant for contemporary living. The idea of benefiting by being responsible for others in various ways was an aspect of a relationship not often considered.

The most challenging exercise of the retreat was the presentation of Life Stories. Every one took turns to talk and 'colour themselves in' for every one else and thus became known in a broader way. The salient points of a life in a condensed format really brings home the fact of conditions affecting actions, and the paths in life we travel accordingly, right down to being here on retreat. This had a powerful impact on my subsequent meditations. Aren't strangers friends you haven't yet met, with life stories you haven't yet heard? Part of friendship within a shared Spiritual ideal expands the focus on one life story to include all, the met and the unmet, and they all have a story, just like me.

Women's Retreat

by Sudaya

Seven of us spent ten days at Maldon recently on a retreat focussed on 'Awakening the Heart'. We were practising the Brahma Vihara meditations and using stories, mantra chanting and poetry to help us contact our wish for the well-being of all sentient life.

With six meditations per day and plenty of silence, we all experienced the benefits of intensive practice in a kind and supportive atmosphere.

Sangha Interview

In this newsletter we find out some more about Brian Lowry:

What are you passionate about?

It varies! At the moment I'm very keen on riding my bike. I'm fascinated by the simplicity of the bicycle, the most obvious and overlooked means of transport and recreation around. It also means that I can wear lycra!

What are you reading at the moment?

Full Tilt by Dervla Murphy. This is a story about an Irish girl who cycled from Dublin to Delhi alone in 1963. It's a diary of her journey over 8 months or so, full of insightful observations about the people she meets and the places she's travelling through. It's very inspiring, and she has a sharp eye that contrasts western and local traditions and customs.

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

I don't do dinner parties! I would, however, like to meet: Martin Flanagan (a writer for The Age) for a morning coffee; Stephen Batchelor (Buddhist writer) for lunch (vegetarian, of course); Manfred, a fictitious hang glider flying black wallaby for an early afternoon stroll in the park; Moses (the old chiseller) for coffee and rock cake, and Matthew Flinders (early Australian surveyor/explorer) for dinner at a French restaurant. I couldn't possibly have them all at dinner, Manfred's table manners are appalling.

What school of Buddhism most influences you and why?

I easily get lost in the wonderful histories and stories of other traditions, so I try to take what's on offer and let it permeate the contemporary school  of Brianism. I occasionally wonder about what the future of Western / Australian Buddhism may develop into. I can't help but think that this engagement will need to be tied to this land, this place, and ultimately Aboriginal culture, for an authentic local form. But this is many generations away.

What interests do you have outside the centre?

Did I mention that I like riding bikes?

And another thing ...

My Plea ...
I sometimes think (as I wait for the morning train to drag me to work) that some existential practical joke is being played on me. The Cosmic Jester snapped his fingers and here I am; thrust into existence like a lamington into a stormy sea, like a bad actor, pushed into the spotlight and told to perform. I do not have the necessary tools for survival amid the colossal inconvenience of Existence; I'm not very bright and am as soft as expensive toilet paper.
So ...  as I wait for the train, with my collar turned up against the winter wind, I feel aggrieved that Existence is not paying attention to me and pandering to my every whim. It has been forty-two years now and I still feel disappointed and let down when Existence does not sort things out a bit more to my taste. (I told you I wasn't very bright). When I look around at other people I get annoyed at how self-important and selfish they are and I feel like grabbing them by the shoulders and shaking them as I yell out "why should the universe care about an insignificant piece of belly button fluff like you?" But I don't, there's probably a law against it; assault possibly.
After much thought I came to realise that I was very, very different from everyone else. I am not self-important - I really am important. I am extraordinarily interesting (ask anyone), I contribute a great deal to the universe with my poetry. I am not selfish - there are things I need and I'm having them, plain and simple. So that is why I am in a continual state of perplexed frustration that Existence does not pay a little more attention to me and my needs.
So here is my plea to the rest of you out there in Existence. For some unknown reason (perhaps we will never know) Existence is being a bit lax in looking after me, so could the rest of you please put a little more effort into making sure I always get what I want when I want it. I'll be in touch...
Much appreciated,
Jivita

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The newsletter team is still looking for someone to assist with producing Mudita every other month. Tasks and talents required include being keen, attending bi-monthly editorial meetings, meeting fuzzy deadlines and eating pizza. The time commitment is two hours per month or so. Mudita provides an important link to our 'regulars' and the wider Sangha who may not be able to attend the Centre regularly due to personal or family circumstances. If you would like to lend a hand, send an email to: Newsletter help

Don't Forget our Bookshop!

Just arrived in the bookshop is a fine selection of new books. These range from new titles from the Dalai Lama - Transforming the Mind and Stages of Meditation - through to modern poetry. In Arguments for Stillness by Erik Campbell explores the still centre which is the source of all poetry. The Three Bowl Cookbook : secrets of enlightened cooking from a Zen Kitchen, Sitting with Koans, and Peacocks in the Poison Grove offer scope for varied interests.
Of particular note is Buddhism: tools for living your life by Vajragupta. The personal stories, exercises, reflections and questions in this book help transform Buddhist practice into a tangible part of life.
There are many other new titles - please do come in and browse at your leisure.

The Japanese have elevated the use of incense to a poetic and cultural dimension without equivalent in the world. We are expanding our range of both temple and meditation incense. Available soon will be Mountain of Serenity, Emperor's Choice, Kyoto Cherry Blossom and other delightful frangrances.

If you would like to order any Buddhist book or resource you can not see on the shelf, just let us know.

Copyright Melbourne Buddhist Centre, 1 Pitt St, Brunswick, VIC 3056. July 2007

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