Robes Offering Ceremony 2021

Sutta Class Rains Retreat 2021
by Ajahn Tiradhammo

Guided Meditation 
by Ajahn Tiradhammo

Giving Yourself to the Practice
by Ajahn Khemavaro

Being a Monk in the Thai Forest Tradition
by Ajahn Khemavaro

Happiness is Avoiding Fools and Having Clarity
by Ajahn Sudhammo

WBD Nature Conservation Project 
by Biodiversity Conservation Trust of NSW

Following the NSW government COVID 19 Road Map, the monastery will be open to all visitors, vaccinated and unvaccinated, beginning Monday, 18th October.

Visitors will still be required to provide their name and mobile number for contact tracing. Masks are required for the kitchen, Dana Room, and Sala. Maximum occupancy of 20 for Dana Room and 30 for Sala. For overnight visitors, vaccination is strongly encouraged but not mandatory.

For more info regarding what you can and can’t do under the rules, please click here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules

26th July to 22nd October

During the Rains Retreat the community at WBD will focus on formal meditation practice, cultivating stillness, compassion, and wisdom. Due to the current NSW COVID restrictions, the monastery is closed to the public. Day visitors will be welcomed back once the restrictions are lifted (September?). We will not be able to accommodate overnight guests until early November.

Emails will be answered between 5-7 days. If it’s urgent please call the office at 0409-389-887 between 11 am and 12 noon. Thank you for your support.

Community List for Rains 2021
Monks
LP Tiradhammo
Ajahn Khemavaro
Ajahn Sudhammo
Venerable Panyannda

Layguests
Anagarika Miles
Annie
Araliya
Megan
Krystian
Yuliana
Anders

For new talks on YouTube, click below:
WBD Dhamma Talks on YouTube

Picture Gallery
Vesak 2021

Robes Offering Ceremony
Sunday 14th November 2021
Activities include: Shared Meal, Auspicious Chanting, and Dhamma Talk
10 – 3 pm

For further enquiries, please email: wbdoffice@gmail.com or call the office at 0409-389-887 between 9 – 12 noon.

True and False Refuges

To many refuges they go–
To mountain slopes and forest glades,
To parkland shrines and sacred sites–
People overcome by fear.

Such a refuge is not secure,
Such a refuge is not supreme,
Such a refuge does not bring
Complete release from suffering.

Whoever goes to refuge
In the Triple Gem
Sees with right discernment
The Four Noble Truths;

Suffering and its origin
And that which lies beyond–
The Noble Eightfold Path
That leads the way to Suffering’s end.

Such a refuge is secure,
Such a refuge is supreme,
Such a refuge truly brings
Complete release from all suffering.

                                                               Dhammapada Verses #188-191

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Laurence Mills, the former Phra Khantipalo.   He was a well known teacher in the Theravadan tradition and was also well known to Tibetan Buddhist practitioners. He is considered one of the seminal figures of Buddhist teaching in Australia.  He died on Monday 5 July after many years of ill health, during which time a number of his former students supported him with much care and compassion.    

Laurence was born in 1932 in London, studied horticulture; then while called up for service in the British army read books on Buddhism and shortly after, in 1961, he ordained as a Buddhist monk.  After 15 years in Asia, studying and practising in forest monasteries, he came to Australia in 1973, having been invited to help establish Wat Buddharangsee in Sydney.

In 1978, along with Ayya Khema he founded Wat Buddha Dhamma, a forest monastery outside of Sydney, teaching and conducting many retreats there.  He encouraged women to ordain; as early as 1984 he ordained three nuns.  He designed and built the beautiful Meditation Sala at this Wat, which was miraculously saved from the Summer 2019-20 bushfires.

Through the 1970s and 80s, he travelled widely throughout Australia giving public talks and conducting retreats.    He was a renowned Pali scholar and author of many books, such as ‘Buddhism Explained,’ ‘What is Buddhism?’   ‘Calm and Insight’ and ‘Buddha- My Refuge’ 

In 1992 he disrobed and pursued an interest in the Dzogchen school of Tibetan Buddhism. He married and co-founded the Bodhi Citta Buddhist Centre, in Far North Queensland, before ill health caused him to retire from active teaching.  Late in life Laurence briefly became a novice again at Quang Minh temple. However following a further decline in his health, he entered residential aged care where he remained until the end of his life.

A memorial service will be held at Quang Minh Temple, 18 Burke Street, Braybrook, Victoria 3019

On Monday 12 July 2021

Sangha dana                       11.00am

Ceremony                           12.45pm

Laurence indicated his preference that attendees NOT dress in sombre- hued clothing at funerals

Please check the Laurence Mills Facebook page for livestream details closer to the day.

Comings & Goings
Monks

1. Ajahn Tiradhammo has been granted another visa for four years.
2. Ajahn Khemavaro – has not travelled out of Australia since Mar 2020.
3. Ajahn Sudhammo will leave for Melbourne in December/January.
4. Ajahn Chaiyaporn will return to Thailand in November.
5. Venerable Pannananda came in February 2020 and will stay on.

Long-term lay guests (in alphabetical order)
Annie
Araliya
David
Miles

Retreats
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, retreats have been cancelled throughout 2020 and until further notice. Visitors are still welcome to visit, stay and practice at the Wat.

Completed Projects 2020
Properties damaged by 2019 bushfires have been rebuilt: Thera Kuti, all walking meditation paths, two new bridges, woodshed near lay shower block, and 8 new water tanks.
New Kuti at Taree Hermitage.
Solar panel upgrade at Sangha House.
Decking around the office area.

Building Projects for 2020/2021
Hill Kuti for LP Tiradhammo
Granny flat for laypeople

Tan Ajahn Dtun’s Autobiography