The Annual Robe Offering Ceremony 2022

Posted on September 30, 2022 by Udomson BK

The Annual Robe Offering Ceremony
The Biggest merit event of the year.

During the rain retreat this year, there are not enough monks at Wat Phra Dhammakaya Albury to obtain the Kathina Robe. However, we could still hold a robe offering ceremony.

Every year, this significant offering is eagerly anticipated by lay Buddhist. The Kathina Robe was traditionally offered alone on this day, but it is now well recognised as an annual fundraising event to support financial obligations or funding projects for the temples.

On Sunday 23rd October 2022, we are holding The Annual Robe Offering Ceremony here to contribute to the remaining repayments of this beautiful centre. The centre hosts year-round gatherings for both on-site and through Zoom to practice Dhamma. We began using Zoom during the pandemic and created various sessions to accommodate people from afar to access our service. Countless rounds of Sutta chanting and uncountable hours of meditation practice have been completed, all of which continue to provide daily support to numerous people around the world.

Wat Phra Dhammakaya Albury uses this beautiful natural setting to help people feel relax and get their mind on the right path. The Dhammakaya meditation method was revived in Thailand almost 100 years ago by the Great Master Phramongkolthepmuni, famously known as Luangpor Wat Paknam. It is one of the most popular meditation techniques practiced by Buddhists and non-Buddhists around the world. The method is simple, easy, and effective.

We are grateful to all of our supporters, past and present, who have helped the centre’s establishment and continue to serve the community. We hope that you will help us again this year in reducing this financial obligation during this period of rising interest rates. We are aware that we might not be able to reduce it to zero this year, but we hope we will succeed in doing so in a few years.

We also have good news: two additional monks from Thailand will be joining the Sangha here. Therefore, more days and hours of service as well as more variety of activities to accomplish various needs could be offered to the community.

Wat Phra Dhammakaya Albury will continue to bring happiness and wisdom to many people. People with brighter minds would make the world better place to live. We share the merits that we make here with you. May the merit you have accumulated bring you and your family a bright future, be well, happy, healthy, live a long life, and make good progress in your Dhamma practice.

Program on the Day

9.30 am Welcoming speech and greetings
9.45 am VDO presentation
10.00 am Paying homage to the Triple Gem
10.05 am Meditation session
10.30 am Dhamma Talk
10.40 am Requesting Five Precepts
10.50 am Robe Offering
11.00 am Receive blessings
11.10 am Alms Offering (Tak Bat) for 5 Monks
11.30 am Lunch

How about the dressing?
Coming to the temple, it is best to remind ourselves that we come to practice so dressing politely in white is suggested however for coming the first time we would not mind as we know you might not have time to prepare.

*Relevant reading that may help you to understand the Dhamma talks of the day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anathapindika

https://aristeinhk.blogspot.com/2015/10/ten-bases-of-meritorious-actions-ten.html

https://84000.org/tipitaka/dic/d_item.php?i=261

Posted in Local News | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Join with us for daily practice on Zoom

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Udomson BK

Many have found themselves interested in Buddhism and start to research the practice, listen to dharma talks, read Buddhist books and so on. Some start to have questions on how to take themselves on the path. They may have been told that the simple 3 fold path is Dana(Giving) Sila(Precepts) and Samadhi(Meditation). But they still don’t know how they can commence to walk the path. To join a Buddhist group and visit a temple is a simple step to commence on the journey with likeminded friends and Dhamma teachers to walk with you so you do not feel so alone.

The Dhammakaya Buddhist temple in Albury offers a zoom room for people to meet and practice together from their own homes. This service started due to the lockdown in the early stages of the COVID pandemic. And it has proven to be a pleasant visual experience to be with the teaching monks and friends daily or whenever they have free time for themselves.

Since Zoom is a bit like a closed group, new people can be reluctant to join. This article presents you with testimonials from people from all walks of life who regularly participate with us every day.

If you like to join us you would be most welcome, we are here every day on Zoom ID 92057107836 Passcode 072

Or link zoom072.com/ocn/5

7.30am -8.15am Morning Chanting + Parita Chanting

7.00pm-7.50pm Meditation (First 10 mins. is greeting time)

8.00pm-8.25pm Dhammachakkapawattana Sutta Chanting

Kanika

I’m a farmer in Northeast of Thailand, I own a substantial small piece of land. It is a source of food for our family and the excess is sold to gain some income. I am also involved in a village traditional handmade garment group. These things I do for my living and to help others. To fulfill my happiness in life, I have found that having good friends and guidance from Buddhist monks is a blessing. I have joined the group on zoom and practice chanting and meditation with them since the pandemic began. No matter where we are we can keep this connection to the practice alive. In return we are full of energy to make our days happy and fulfilled. Meditation has transformed me to live a happier life, it is a simple way to find happiness.

Graham…Cheshunt Vic, I followed Tibetan Buddhism for several years, but Covid, distance to Melbourne, and age made it difficult.I have now found Phra Satit at Wat Dharmakaya Albury. Both types of Buddhism teach the word of our Buddha, with minor differences. I am not a scholar so I just simply follow the five precepts and eight-fold noble path the best I can. You don’t need lots of books and theories to be a good person in your heart. Each night I go on zoom for meditation and chanting and spend some time talking to my dharma friends from around the world before our meditation session starts.

Anna: I’m a nanny, before the pandemic I was depressed after finding a cancer and having to have treatment. I have realised the uncertainty of life and I have felt fear, Since I already practiced Buddhism, I tried to do more to make myself feel more at ease. I went to the temple in Sydney more regularly. But since the pandemic I could not go to the temple. I wanted to be with a group to keep the daily practice. I found joining zoom had really helped me to keep myself happier every day. Once I found the daily practice it has helped me to get back to the stillness of the mind more easily when I have a chance to get back for the meditation weekend retreat. Additionally, I feel thankful for the friendship of this zoom room that helps me to feel I’m not alone. I also feel confident that whenever I need some advice, I can ask the monk. He always gives me a direct solution to get myself back on track.

Posted in Local News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Australian Observance of the United Nations Day of Vesak this year took on a new appearance.

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Udomson BK

After the Australian Observance of the United Nations Day of Vesak commencing in 2007 at the Sydney Town Hall it then moved to different places each year being held at the Great Hall of Parliament House Canberra in 2010,  Belmore Park Sydney 2019 being the last time it was conducted as a public event. The organising committee decided in 2020 to conduct the event live on Facebook and Youtube during the lock-down, and just cancel the event in 2021 due to the uncertainty of the Covid 19 situation. Even though the situation this year had improved with no more restrictions, the general feeling was it was still not quite safe to hold the celebration in person. The organising committee decided to organise UNVESAK 2022 via Zoom with hope that people would then feel more likely to engage than a normal Facebook live.

Saturday 14th May at 7.00pm was chosen as the best option being before the actual full moon day on Sunday when many temples would have their own VESAK celebrations. The aim was to manage all the planned activities and still condense them into one hour whilst retaining all the significant components of the UNVESAK. Despite not having been attempted before the hope was to entertain and engage the live audience.

Without the need of travelling to the venue the event was enjoyed by almost 200 participants nationally and internationally. The celebration began with the background of The Australian Observance of the United Nations Day of Vesak. The greeting from the MC to participants received a great response via zoom chat messages which verified the hoped for engagement from the audience. This was followed with three Vesak Messages from United Nations Secretary-General,The Prime Minister of Australia and the Leader of the Opposition.

The only music performance was a song most relevant for the current world situation, “You and I are One” by Mr Howard McCarry the audience could sing and wave along with the singer as if they were present in the concert hall.

The Most Ven. Sudhammo.

After the music performance the event changed tone to be Buddhist Ceremony, beginning with a message from the Buddhist Federation of Australia President, the Most Ven. Sudhammo. This was followed with Buddhist Chanting from the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions which was designed to be part of the Buddhist Practice that the participants could chant along with the Buddhist monks.

Meditation along with VESAK candle lighting was conducted to pay homage to the Buddha and with the aim to achieve World Peace was the highlight at the end of the night. The program was run from the Dhammakaya temple in Berrilee, however participants from home were also able to light candles and meditate together. This created the atmosphere all participants felt they were together located in the one place.

Well known international guest  Ven. Dr. Pornchai Palawadhammo President of World Alliance of Buddhists (WAB) who at the conclusion of events reflected that it was good way via zoom that we could all celebrate the Buddhas Day.

Another comment came from Senior Venerable Phuoc Tan Thich, Abbot of Quang Minh Temple in Melbourne who mentioned that the message from the event was very clear and that we could refresh our self to the Buddhas message that would be of benefit to all sentient beings. Even though the event ran for only one hour but not a minute was wasted.

Posted in National Buddhist News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meditation for Peace on Earth Day 22 April 2022 @10.00pm Sydney Time

Posted on March 26, 2022 by Udomson BK

We know there are conflicts happening around the world. Force will not truly create peace as we have learnt from our long history on earth. Unless we can remove hatred from peoples minds and replace it with love and kindness, conflicts will always continue, the tool to make this possible is meditation. If this can occur on a large enough scale it will finally bring peace to the world. Would you like to participate in this activity?


Dhammakaya Foundation has as its slogan “World Peace though Inner Peace” and has worked towards this mission for more than 52 years. They have on many occasions achieved a large group meditation, in Thailand and the Philippines people meditated together and participated in lighting of candles for Peace.


This Earth Day on Friday 22nd April 2022 they aim for another special event and have invited more than a million people around the world to meditate and light a candle via Zoom. Many hundreds of thousands of candles will be lit at the Dhammakaya Temple located in Thailand. Millions of people will participate via the Zoom room that they register with.


Dhammakaya Meditation Centre, Albury will be one of the regional centres that you can participate with. Venerable Satit our resident monk will be the co-ordinator for Alburys Zoom event. He can be contacted by Whats App +61411453946 or a simple SMS. The Zoom room for the day of the Meeting will be ID 92057107836 Pass code 072


The event will start from 10.00pm (Sydney Time)

Candles Lit to Mark Earth Day 22 April 2021


When candles are lit around the globe simultaneously in support of Earth Day, it will demonstrate that‘PEACE’ does exist. The impact of this event will showcase to the world that peace can occur as they witness thousands of people coming together in the spirit of PEACE. The real power of peace is created from each individual who creates peace in their own minds and shares this with others around them. We cannot do this alone, but when we come together collectively as millions of human beings, we can make it happen. Please tell your friends and loved ones to join this great world event.

Posted in Local News | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A morning escape on Sunday

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Udomson BK

Seeking a recreation activity in Albury for Sunday morning?

Here may be the place you might interested.

 This place has amazing uninterrupted mountain views one of the best views in Albury.

Good time to feel relax with Buddhist Chanting, Meditation then having lunch with good friends and a Buddhist Monk.

Thai menu and fresh coffee will be served for lunch. Enjoy you Dhamma conversation which you hardly find elsewhere.

If you like to join us this Sunday, please click going on this Facebook event so we can prepare the place to accommodate you.

https://www.facebook.com/MeditationAlbury

https://fb.me/e/6wkpNyVFc

9.30am Greeting time

10.00am  Buddhist Chanting

10.20am Guided Meditation

10.50am  Dhamma Conversation

11.00 am  Lunch

This event supported by The Good Friends Albury Inc.

Now is Spring but we still need to wait till we able to get back to running the Sunday service again.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

We now offer Sunday services in two ways in person and online (Zoom)

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Udomson BK

Our regular Sunday service start at 10.00am. Feel free to come around 9.30 am so you have time to greeting to friends before the ceremony start.

Also the online service on Zoom will open 9.30am for greeting as well

Zoom072.com/ocn/5

Wat Phra Dhammakaya Albury

Meeting ID 92057107836

Passcode 072

10.00 Dhammachakkappawattana Sutta Chanting

10.20 Guided Meditation

10.50 Dhamma Talks or Dhamma Conversation

11.10 Requesting Five Presepts

11.15 Food Offering

11.30 Lunch

For further info. contact us on Dhammakaya Meditation Centre, Albury | Facebook

or whatapp +61411453946

What to bring?

For regular comers would normally bring some food to offer to the Buddhist Monks and share for lunch.

How about the dressing?

Coming to the temple, it is best to remind ourselves that we come to practice so dressing politely in white is suggested however for coming the first time we would not mind as we know you might not have time to prepare.

It you unable to come in person but like to make donation

Donation

If you like to make offering please transfer you donation to
The Good Friends Albury Inc.
BSB 082406 Acc 713485490

This fund will then turn to be food for monks and maintenance cost on your behalf.

Posted in Local News | Leave a comment

Buddhist Services Online #Stayhome

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Udomson BK

The health and wellbeing of the community is our top priority. In order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 we decided to turn our regular Sunday service to be online services on facebook live so everyone can join it from home.

https://www.facebook.com/MeditationAlbury

Let click like and follow our Facebook page

DhammakayaAlbury_page

Sunday service start 10.00 am

10.00am Dhammachak Chanting
10.18am Meditation
10.55am Blessing in Pali

Chanting_Home

People can join the service from home on their smartphone, ipad, computer or smart TV

Additional to the Sunday service we also have 30mins chanting in the evening at 8.00pm everyday seven days a week.

Evening Chanting 8.00pm

The Chanting in the evening we have 2 Sutta , We try to keep it simple and use these two meaningful Sutta to help purify our mind before meditation.

  1. Rattana Sutta
  2. Dhammachakkappavattana Sutta

Download the chanting paper (Pali English) here https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsUIrtF3p_jph-8uz3hCPZE3nDCWIQ?e=mNbro9

Rattana_Sutta

The live on https://www.facebook.com/MeditationAlbury will start around 7.50pm to wait for everyone to get ready and chanting start 8.00pm till around 8.30pm the live will be ended and you could take time after this to do your own meditation.

Donation

If you like to make offering please transfer you donation to
The Good Friends Albury Inc.
BSB 082406 Acc 713485490

This fund will then turn to be food for monks and maintenance cost on your behalf.

Posted in Local News, National Buddhist News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2019 AUSTRALIAN OBSERVANCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS DAY OF VESAK

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Udomson BK

via 2019 AUSTRALIAN OBSERVANCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS DAY OF VESAK

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

UN Vesak Celebration 2018

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Udomson BK

Buddha n relic

The 2018 Australian Observance of the United Nations Day of Vesak, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing away of The Lord Buddha was held at Paul Keating Park in Bankstown, New South Wales on Saturday May 5, and was well attended by hundreds of enthusiastic and happy Buddhists and Non-Buddhists from around Sydney, and from around Australia.

DSC01908

 

The formal proceedings of this most auspicious event began at 10am with a warm welcome from the MC’s and traditional Buddhist chanting in the Pali, Vietnamese, Tibetan and English languages, by representatives from the monastic communities of the three major Buddhist traditions of Theravada (School of the Elders), Mahayana (Great Vehicle) and Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle).

procession

 

Prior to the chanting, Most Venerable Suddhamo, the president of the Buddhist Federation of Australia, gave a brief and insightful explanation on the significance and purpose of the chanting.

viet chant

The chanting was followed by meaningful speeches delivered by a representative of the United Nations, as well as representatives of the federal, state and local governments.

Sri Lanka

The key-note speech on the events theme, ‘The Spirit Of Generosity’ was eloquently delivered by the Most Venerable Dhammagavesi Thero, the abbot of Lankarama Buddhist Temple, who pointed out the importance of generosity in every aspect of our lives, both individually and collectively.

audience 2

The formal proceedings were rounded out with a Bathing of the Baby Buddha Ceremony and food offerings to the monastic community.

Bilal

Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed delicious food from the many food stalls, as well as visiting the various other informative and educational information stalls.

service 2

The children and youth were also well catered for with fun activities provided, such as face painting, a jumping castle, fairy floss and other yummy delights on offer. They were also treated with an enjoyable and educational trivia quiz about the Buddha’s life and teachings. A children’s Buddhist art competition was also held, with all of the entrants receiving a prize. All winners and no losers.

fan dance

Continuing with the festive atmosphere, the afternoon featured on stage performances of song and dance from the many cultures in attendance. It was as if we were all travelling the world without leaving Sydney. The event concluded at 3pm with all of the performers on stage performing a fun rendition of ‘Wonderful World’. All in attendance had a wonderful time, with smiles all around.

jumping castle

We look forward to next year celebration. May we all be well and happy.

commencement

 

Posted in National Buddhist News | Tagged , | Leave a comment

7th Anniversary

Posted on December 2, 2017 by Udomson BK

24167346_1514397565262729_983985271_o

When people get away from big cities like Sydney and Melbourne, they always try to explore something different from what they always see in the cities like beaches, water fall and historic places. But on Sunday 19th November 2017 some people were heading to Albury, city in the country around 330kms from Melbourne. They came to celebrate 7th Anniversary of a Buddhist Temple.

There are many Buddhist temples around big cities but only few small cities in Australia have Buddhist temples. It is not surprising because in the cities there are hundred thousands of overseas migrant from Asia who brought Buddhism with them but we can see not many migrants around in the country.

Learn Dhamma

The group who start this seven years ago in Albury is part of a group of Buddhist monks and lay people who originally from Wat Phra Dhammakaya Thailand. They brought their master’s visions to Australia and established a meditation center in Sydney in 1998. In later years the group gaining supports to have centres in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Albury is only centre in reginal city they have in Australia.

P1000953

The story of the journey in the past seven year was shared again in the congregation of 7th Anniversary by Phra Satit Thitadhammo. His journey at the beginning at South Albury wasn’t a nice one. Late 2010 start running Sunday service with no attendant which later gaining some and have regular comers on Sunday. Perhaps it is because the area, the temple had twice broken in, and rock attack at the time he spent there around two years. Finally he has to leave the place in South Albury due to unsolvable legal issue of that property. But all these did not stop him to continue the journey. He had in mind that “Without this centre it will be no light of the Dhamma in this region” He understand how hard to have a temple running here with little support.

10431676_681743468546608_3926391053486185127_n
In September 2013 after they have no place to run Sunday service the group always thanks to AISHA FLOW YOGA who generously offered them the place as a temporary home for almost a year.

10636270_713263978727890_6121775244366525500_n

The big turning point of the temple is when they found the property to be a permanent place for the temple. They aimed to find the place which has beautiful nature surrounding, big size of land, close to the centre of Albury-Wodonga and affordable price. They were lucky enough to find this property on East Street which was exact what they were looking for.

23846436_1509798805722605_383727216_n
“I feel very proud that we carefully selected the best place to offer to the Buddha to be our Buddhist Temple. Our Temple building might not be so magnificent but for the beauty of the surrounding view, which would be hard to find elsewhere.” Said Phra Satit

23561822_1502920476460011_8540255439436974312_n

A part from beautiful place they also have nice and warm welcome community here. The temple keeps traditional activities and also integrates some other activities to meet the Australian culture and diversity of the community.

21-IMG_6065.JPG

The slogan for this year is “Step forward to the sustainable community”
Phra Satit explained that how we can contribute to make this sustainable community. Regarding to Buddhist practice the first step to make this society in good balance is giving. He emphasized to the audience that this is not just to talk but look at ourselves to make opportunity when we can be a giver.

23722748_825929577586375_1560814286491779786_n

On the celebration day they had set up a table for home grown sharing and it was very successful. People bring home grown to share kids make fresh orange juice to serve and say thank you to people that brought food to share on the day. It was a wonderful time that everyone enjoyed.

46-IMG_6098

Additional to this year activity of the temple they also have an association called The Good Friends (Albury) Inc. The group will bring the Dhamma practice to life. Phra Satit, the founder of this association mentioned that the entity applies social entrepreneurship as its development strategy. They will engage more in supporting the local community as part of the practice as well as running eco-friendly community online store. The store will help to maintain financial sustainability of the temple. The good friends Albury store have its slogan “an eco-friendly innovative social enterprise” The information about The Good Friends (Albury) Inc. can be found from their facebook page and http://thegoodfriendsalbury.org

23031522_1482223771885835_4185471301110060142_n

7th_jinny_Design

Posted in Local News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment