News from Melbourne Buddhist Centre

Issue #5 Volume #2

September 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.

News

Brunswick Centre.

The centre held a great festival day in early July to celebrate Dharma Day. More recently we celebrated Padmasambhava Day. Padmasambhava was alive during the middle of the eighth century.  He was invited to Tibet, where local demons were said to be inhibiting the spread of the dharma.  The name Padmasambhava translates as 'Lotus Born' and in Tibet where he is highly revered they call him Guru Rimpoche ('Greatly Precious Guru').  

A great day was had by all who attended

Devamitra Returns

How lucky are we to have a second opportunity to do workshops, hear talks and have another experienced order member around. For those of you who haven't yet checked out what's on offer see the What's On column or talk to Devamitra.

End of year concert - see notice board for more details ...

New Mitras

Dharma Day saw three new Mitras for the centre. Brain Lowry, Linda Williams and Caitlin Scott became Mitras in a simple ceremony. All three have been coming to the centre for some time and it was wonderful to see them taking the next step on their continuing commitment to the FWBO and their Buddhist practice. Pictured here with Sudaya who performed the ceremony.

What's On

• Sep 15^th -16^th Order Retreat
• Sep 29^th Study Day on Sutta Nipata with Devamitra
• Sep 30^th Urban Day Retreat (day 1)
• Oct 2^nd Tuesday evening meditation course begins
• October 7^th Urban Day Retreat (day 2)
• Oct 13^th -14^th Intro to Buddhism and Meditation Weekend
• Oct 11^th -14^th Men's National Order Gathering
• Oct 15^th -19^th Evening meditation course Mondays 7.30pm
• October 20^th Study day on the Sutta Nipata with Devamitra
• Oct 21^st Day retreat for friends
• Oct.28^th Order/Mitra day
• Nov 1^st Intro to Buddhism course begins
• Nov 1^st Intro to Meditation course begins

Poem

Impermanence

To what shall

I liken the world?

Moonlight, reflected

in dewdrops,

shaken from a crane's bill.

by Dogen

Send any news items you have to news@melbournebuddhistcentre.org by November 10th for inclusion in the next newsletter.

Reports

Dalai Lama Visit

Ro Huston has been coming to the centre for twelve months now and recently went to see the Dalai Lama when he was here in Melbourne.

Mudita asked her what motivated her to see him and what she took away from the experience.

I wanted to see the Dalai Lama because my first introduction to Buddhism was reading books written by him such as 'The Art of Happiness' and because of what he represents both to Buddhists and Tibetans. Also because he’s just a good bloke and as he is getting old, I wanted to see him in case he doesn't come back. What really stood out for me was his acceptance of everyone, not just of Buddhists but of all religions. He spoke about the responsibility of individuals to try Buddhist practice and if doesn't work for them to try something else. In his general talk he spoke about 'dependant origination' and this linked up with what we are looking at in my study group. This reinforced my appreciation of both study group and the centre. It also resonated because it sat so well with where I am currently at.

A lot of his teachings also went over my head but not in a way that put me off, just enough to make me realize I have to do a lot more study and practice before I reach 'enlightenment.' We also did some chanting and a visualization which I hadn't done before and it was quite powerful considering how many people were in the room, perhaps because there were so many people in the room. There was such a good feeling amongst everyone. People were smiling, and there was an openness and generosity amongst the crowd. People chatted to strangers; the woman next to me suggested a book that she had read recently. It was very inspiring. I remember looking up at the Dalai Lama on the stage and I could see him as a little kid, it was almost as though he hadn't changed, he still retained that playfulness of a child. Also as if he doesn't take himself too seriously.

I left feeling really rejuvenated and re-inspired to continue my practice.

Order Convention July-Aug 2007

a report by Siladasa

I was fortunate to be able to co-ordinate long service leave with the International Chairmen's Meeting at the retreat centre in Norfolk, UK, Padmaloka and the Order Convention that followed it, in a nearby facility. In the week prior to these, I enjoyed catching up with friends including Miggy and family who some of you will know from their time in Emerald with the DRBC. I also met with Sangharakshita in Birmingham which was a delight. We spoke about many things including the MBC, the Order and literature and so on. He is in good form although his eyesight is not improving. I was to meet Bhante again at the Convention over lunch with other Australian and NZ Order Members, and two from South Africa as well. Bhante visited Melbourne for 5 weeks in 1995, and remains very interested in our progress.

The Chairmen's event was attended by about 30 men and women who chair centres, or livelihoods from all over the FWBO world, including Europe, Mexico, USA, South Africa, India and Australia. We heard presentations from a number of the attendees and memorable was the story and pictures of the new Johannesburg centre. What a courageous undertaking by Ratnajyoti and Vajradhara; making the FWBO available in one of the most violent cities in the world.

We discussed all sorts of subjects in relation to working together in centres, expanding and making more available Dharma resources. I was impressed with the amount of resource available on the web now. Chandradasa, a Scot living in New Hampshire, USA, has done a wonderful job with his 'freebuddhistaudio' site which now boasts all transcripts of Bhante's talks and seminars as well as many Dharma talks from him and members of the Order. (Please consider donating to support Chandradasa when you download next! See the link to this website on our website FWBO links page.)

There was also a workshop on a "virtual" Buddhist Centre for those who live remote from a centre and a series of stimulating discussion groups on various topics based on the chapters of Subhuti's book Sangharakshita: A New Voice in the Buddhist Tradition. Our days started with meditation and concluded with puja, each led by a different Order Member. Following 10 days there, I enjoyed a rich week meeting with many OMs from all over the world at the 2 yearly Order Convention, as there were 500 attending at any one time. We met in meditation, ritual and cultural workshops, had presentations on climate change, aspects of caring in the Order and Movement, and enjoyed the launch of Bhante's latest memoirs of his time in Kalimpong (titled Precious Teachers). I managed to read the book in quick time and was very impressed. It covers the time he met Mr Chen and the 6 principal Tibetan teachers who were so influential in his life at that time. Alongside are many strange and colourful characters who provide a good few laughs, too.

I flew home after the Combined Convention, inspired and refreshed and full of new ideas for the MBC! I look forward to sharing them soon.

Working the Dharma

by Wendy Meddings

This morning I was walking the dogs through the wild and windy spring day and I thought back to last night at the Buddhist centre.  Devamitra was enthusiastically talking about an urban retreat he was running over two consecutive weekends.

It sounded great.

The first Sunday would be to work on helping each person to plan a week of intensive practice in the midst of normal work and domestic commitments. The following weekend was to see how you went and then to take advantage of the momentum that has been built up and to continue to build on it.

Great I thought, this was exciting stuff, just what I felt I needed at the moment. A chance to work consistently and more deeply on meditation with a really experienced practitioner.

Then I remembered.

So much for practicing within a busy schedule. I already had a busy schedule that would stop me going to learn how to work within a busy schedule. The irony of it all! We had my step son coming to stay for the weekend and are away the following one to visit my father near Bendigo.So much for my practice. For a time I was annoyed. Why did life, or family commitments always seem to get in the way of my practice? It’s amazing what walking through the beauty of a spring morning can do to change ones perspective on this. I was thinking about what following the dharma really means to me. Yes I would like to do more retreats, more study, spend more time at the centre, but often the practicalities of life get in the way. Why do I feel it has to be one or the other? What actually does following the dharma really mean? I thought about the commitments I had on. My stepson is coming to us this weekend after a really difficult few weeks. His mum has been sick and hospitalized and he has been through the ringer emotionally. He needs the love and support of his dad, his sister and myself to help feel normal again in a sometimes frighteningly out of control world. And my father?

Mad as a cut snake the old fellow, but I love him to bits. He lives as a full time carer for his partner, who is bedridden with MS, and his great love is his block of land that he has nearby. Here he grows hundreds of fruit trees which he waters by hand and it is here that he still hopes to build what would be the first ever home of his own. I have not visited Wally or seen his block of land for a long time, and this is a man with a heart condition who is getting older. Surely the dharma is more than words on a page?

It is how we live our lives from moment to moment. How we apply our practice. How each morning when we wake and head out the door to greet friends, family, difficult people at work, we have to work the dharma. We work the dharma by apply the teachings we have studied. I have to remember continually to put it into practice. Like when putting in time with my family, or that difficult work colleague who complains endlessly to me. When it starts to drive me mad and I just want to tell her to back off, I have to take a deep breath and apply my kshanti practice. I take a deep breath and remind myself she lives alone and has no one to go home to offload to. I therefore need to listen to her with compassion and patience, even though I may not be feeling it. I have to remind myself that sometimes I have to put my own desires second to others. That doesn’t mean not taking care of myself, that too is important.

If the bird of Buddhism is made up of the two wings of compassion and wisdom and the body of conditionality then I need to fly more often.

I need to remember what Sudaya said to me once when I complained about how hard it was to practice with the demands of family, work, life etc.. She said that in Eastern countries often Buddhism is practised, as in studying and being a more active member of an order, as a younger person. Then it takes a back step for a while as people have kids and family commitments and then in later years people go back to more intense practice and study.

For those of us with family or commitments this is a comforting thought. That in later years there will be more time to intensify our practice But for now I will remember this morning and my idea of working the dharma. I will try hard to make my practice a living, breathing thing, a bird than can take flight at any time, into the clear beauty of the blue sky.

Sangha Interview

In this newsletter In this newsletter we meet the redoubtable Jeff Wilson:

What are you passionate about?

Playing music. I play violin and flute and co-ordinate a large music program through work. This involves 100 children learning music and playing in the Napier St Orchestra.

What are you reading at the moment?

'The Heart' by Vessantra, The Art of Bowing Practice. Reading without Nonsense by Professor Frank Smith, Sangharakshita – a New Voice in the Buddhist Tradition by Subhuti, among other things.

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

First I would have Buddha to liven up the conversation, then Sangharakshita because I'd like to hear the questions he'd ask Buddha. Franz Lizst because he had a very strong spiritual bent towards his music. William Blake, who had a deep mystical and spiritual belief and I'd also like to see what Sangharakshita asked him. And Itzack Perlman cause he was a wonderful violinist and a very kind man. He could also whiz up a couple of tunes in the middle of a meal. Ananda would be the uninvited guest because that's the agreement he had with the Buddha.

What school of Buddhism most influences you and why?

The Western Buddhist Order because that is where my grounding in Buddhism is..

What interests do you have outside the centre?

Music obviously, meditation, listening to music. I also love film, browsing in bookshops cycling, cooking and of course, eating.

And another thing ...

The Craft of Happiness.
When it comes to the pursuit of happiness the Dalai Lama approached the subject from the perspective of it being an Art. He wrote a very illuminating book called The Art of Happiness.  I only have a 350 word limit however, so I will talk about the Craft of Happiness. Craft is much easier to learn than an Art (if an Art can be learned). It only involves a few simple rules and and bit of practice to become an expert. So to become a Happiness Craftsman read on...

There are a few basic rules...

1)There are semi trailer loads of inconsequential opportunities for happiness out there in Samsara.  Notice them and make use of them. A brief list of examples are:

• a. Leaves rustling in the breeze.
• b. A small white cloud surrounded by a blue sky.
• c. Coffee with a friend (cake optional).
• d. A whole hour with nothing to do.

I am sure you get the idea. The list is endless. Feel free to add to it. Enjoy these inconsequential opportunities when they present themselves. Most of them are free and easily to hand.

2) Turn the Cravings dial down a few notches. The less you crave, the less you are made unhappy by the things you do not have (a Ferrari, Elle McPherson, World Heavy Weight boxing title) and the more you can find pleasure and contentment in the inconsequential opportunities that present themselves. (see the list above).

3) When you see an inconsequential opportunity for happiness drawing to a close i.e. the coffee cup emptying or the cloud fading away, do not fret. Remember they are only inconsequential, another will be along before you know it.

So there you have it. Practicing the Craft of Happiness leads to expertise. Whenever you think of something to add to the list please feel free to tell your fellow craftsmen so they can add it to their list.

I have just thought of another one. The smell of lavender in my front garden. Add that to the list.

Jivita

Don't Forget our Bookshop!

The Brunswick bookshop has a newly expanded stocklist. All stock from the City Centre is now integrated and on display. Whenever the Centre is open, leisurely browsing is welcomed and encouraged.

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

Dharma Quote of the month

Enlightening beings are like lotus flowers,
With roots of kindness, stems of peace,
Petals of wisdom,
Fragrance of conduct.

Enlightening beings turn the wheel of teaching
Just like what the buddhas turn;
Conduct is its hub, concentration the spokes;
Knowledge is their adornment, wisdom is their sword.

The Flower Ornament Scripture, trans. by Thomas Cleary From Everyday Mind

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

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