Despite the pending decision from the authority re the legal status of the place, Ajahn Satit and members of the temple announced the celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the reopening of Wat Buddhvongsayaram, known to many as Wat Albury or Albury Buddhist Temple.
The event was not only to celebrate the achievement of the temple of the past two years but it is to recognise and express their gratitude to the great support of the community who have been there all the way with them. Without the support, they will not be able to come to this day.
The celebration was on Sunday 25th November 2012, four days after the exact date 2 years ago when the new team of monks from Sydney held the first opening ceremony on the 12th month of the lunar calendar – 21st November 2010. It has been a long hard road for the team to rebuild the reputation and promote the temple to the local community. They have overcome many obstacles and now the temple community is growing continuously.
The celebration was the combination of the normal Sunday service, meditation guide, dhamma talk, certificate presentation, free lunch and live music, and a special robe offering ceremony in the afternoon. The Buddhist followers from Melbourne have organised this robe offering to support the work of Wat Albury.
The full capacity of the temple hall was stretched to the maximum that day, even the walkway was filled up with the late comers.
The formal speech to remark the cerebration was made by Ajahn Satit during the morning session. He has highlighted and summarised the incidents, obstacles and difficulties that the temple has gone through this past two years. From the very humble beginning with only three or four attendants for the service to be a full house most weeks of the month, from a well equipped for the service and household maintenance to be stripped of all equipments and tools, through twice broken in, by thieves, but determination prevails as Ajahn Satit mentioned in the speech that he has a great teacher who teaches him that
“We do not ask why people don’t come to the temple. We only look at making temple a good place for people to come. We have to develop good place, good food, good friends and good dhamma.”
Sue Hamilton, who joined the community in February 2012 reveal to our reporter.
“I remembered when thieves took lawn mowers and other equipment earlier in the year. When Ajahn told us at the Sunday service after the second theft that the temple was going to donate all other items of value to charity to demonstrate our tolerance and kindness, I remember how proud I was that I was now part of this generous community.”
The celebration was enjoyed by all on the day. Local people were joined in this event by many out-of-towners from different cities and towns like Sydney, Melbourne, Wangaratta, Myrtleford, Henty and Shepparton, as Albury temple was the only Buddhist temple in this area of 200km radius. Albury-Wodonga was not a cultural diversity area like other big cities. Hence, the photos of the temple activities each week that shows more Australian attendants than the Asian ones, have amazed many who have never thought this could happen in a conservative country town in Australia.
To follow the activities of the temple in Albury please visit
Dhammakaya Meditation Centre, Albury 