 committee for United Nations Day of Vesak 2009 celebration event -
Posted by Kosala Jayasinghe
on Tuesday, 23 Dec 2008
Chair Person : Venerable Phuoc Tan
Minute Secretary : Anita Carter
AGENDA ITEM TOPIC ACTION TAKEN FOLLOW UP
1. Present : Name and Position Temple / Centre Contact details
Venerable Sen Then The Khmer Buddhist Centre Melbourne Inc 458-462 Springvale Road, Springvale South 3172 PH : (03) 9548 5285Fax : (03) 9512 6057M: 0413 725 657
Venerable Ajarn Kham Phou Thammavong Wat Lao Melbourne, 698-700 Whitehorse Road Mitcham (03) 9872 4697
Venerable Ajarn Phanh Savandala Wat Lao Melbourne, 698-700 Whitehorse Road Mitcham (03) 9872 4697
Venerable Santindriya Daham Niketananya 1690 Mickleham Road Yuroke 3063 PH : (03) 9333 4848Fax : (03) 93334848dahamniketananya_au@...
Venerable Thich True Thong Dunct Hien Quang Meditation7 Walmer Avenue St Albans Vic 3021 (03) 9356 4889
Venerable Thich Thien Tam, Abbot Hoa Nghiem Buddhist Temple442 - 448 Springvale Road Vic, Australia 3171 Ph: (03) 9548 2215Fax : (03) 9540 3087Email : hoanghiempagoda@...
Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan, Abbot Quang Minh Temple, 18 Bourke Street, Braybrook, Vic 3019, Australia Ph: (03) 9312 5729Fax : (03) 9311 0278Email : phuoctan@...
Mary Lou Considine on behalf of Venerable Carolyn Lawler Tara Institue Ph : (03) 9525 1763M : 0417 037 305spc@...@ozemail.com.au
Di Cousins Buddhist Council of Victoria2 Jamford Court Mt Waverley Vic 3149 Kailash108@... : 0415 380 144
Kosala Jayasinghe Buddhist Vihara Victoria ( Sakyamuni Temple) 125 homestead Road Berwick Vic 3807 Kosala@... : 0418 556407
Mr Peter Jackson Buddha Vihara Temple Inc939 Canterbury Road, Box Hill Vic 3128 M : 0411 871 296Email : peter@...
Kal Kingi E-vam Institute, 673 Lygon Street Carlton North e_vam@...@hotmail.com(03) 9387 3118M: 0402 262 959
Albert Chang Yun Yang Temple, Narre Warren M : 0411 883 988achang@...
Rachael Waas Quang Minh Temple18 Burke Street, Braybrook, Vic M : 0421 583 131rachael_waas@...
Michael Chenh Fo Guang Shan Temple, BLIA 89 Somerville Road Yarraville Vic 3013 T: (03) 9314 5147Fax : (03 )9314 2006M : 0411 274 322michaelchenh@...
Mr Frank Carter Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Victoria 3158 Ph: (03) 9754 3334Fax : (03) 9754 3334Mobile : 0408 303 550
Mrs Anita Carter Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Victoria 3158 Ph: (03) 9754 3334Fax : (03) 9754 3334Mobile : 0401 092 337
2. Intro Venerable Phuoc Tan gave an introduction about the event Ï United Nations nominated a day to celebrate the birth of the BuddhaÏ This year the event was a success and we would like to run a similar event next yearÏ Next year the event will be a Melbourne observance of Vesak, rather than the Australian ObservanceÏ It is a great opportunity for all Buddhist temples to join together to celebrate this major eventÏ We must be mindful about the World Parliament of Religions, opening of Yun Yang Temple's shrine room and Fo Guang Shan Vesak day in the city.
3. Buddha Puja Venerable Sangha members Venerable Sangha Members perfomrmed Buddha Dhamma Chanting to open the meeting.
4 Business Arising 4.1 Date of event and time Saturday 9th of May 2009 was choosen as the day to hold the event. It was agreed that the main ceremony run for 2 hours, 3-5pm. For further discussion : Cultural events ocurring prior to the main ceremony , possibly 1-3pm with food stalls and other stalls held in an adjacent area.
4.2 Feedback from last year's event Ï mid afternoon maybe better - 6pm start too difficult for families Ï difficult to get to last year - have a central locationÏ too long, no food or drinks available
4.3 The main program Ï 2 hours only- have a core Dhamma component, Ï Emphasise the message of the Buddha, Family duties, Peace comes from within ourselvesÏ Chanting by the Sangha from each traditionÏ allow audience to particiapte prior to the main event – perhaps offering water by bathing a statue of the Baby BuddhaÏ Each community to provide their own translatorÏ Headsets be available for listening in languages other than English Ï advertise more, have a UN presenceÏ Have food stalls and other stalls so persons can purchase food and drinks and books etc.Ï invite other faith leaders to attend
4.4 Venue Suggested locations – Collingwood Town Hall, Dallas Brooks Hall, Camberwell Civic Centre, Melbourne Town Hall. Event managers to see these places and report to all via email so we can secure the venue as soon as possible.
4.5 Theme It was decided to not make another theme – stay with United Nations International Day of Vesak Celebration, as our focus.
4.6 Steering Committee formed Chairperson : Venerable WimalanandaTreasurer : Venerable Phuoc Tan: Budget and FinanceSecretary : Mr Frank Carter :Minutes, co-ordination of meetings, Correspondence.Public Relations Officer : Mary Lou Considione: Publicity and marketing Event Management Team : Peter Jackson, Anita Carter and Frank Carter : Planning, Co-ordination and running of the event
4.7 Finance The Treasurer set the budget for the event at $10,000.Each Temple is requested to donate $300 or more if they wish, towards the event.
4.0 Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Saturday 17th January 2:30 pm Quang Minh temple, 18 Burke Street Braybrook.Meeting closed at 4:30pm
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Proposed Reforms: -
Posted by Kosala Jayasinghe
on Monday, 29 Sep 2008
At the dayaka meeting held on 25th Sept 2008 Saman Fernando Proposed following Reforms:
Reinstate our mission statement and operating principles.
The Lord Buddha, Dhamma-Vinaya of the Buddha Sasana, and Arya Maha Sangha (Theruwan) are the Most Supreme. All activities should reflect this motive.
The temple caters to Buddhists and Non-Buddhists who have a genuine interest in learning and practising Dhamma in order to attain Nibbana. This should be our key focus.
Ven Soma is the Founder of the Temple and Ven Madihe Pannasiha is the Founding adviser to the temple. While recognising this fact it should be understood that the temple is not dedicated to either of them. The Temple is dedicated to the Lord Buddha, Dhamma-Vinaya of the Buddha Sasana, and Arya Maha Sangha to whom Ven Soma and Ven Madihe Pannasiha dedicated their lives. The Supreme Lord Buddha and his Dhamma are our one and only leader in line with Mahopadesa found in the Maha Parinibbana Sutta.
The Dayakas must support Residing monks at all times to pursue their own spiritual development by relieving them from mundane householder duties. Dayakas shall not engage in any activity that could directly or indirectly disturb a residing monk from their spiritual development according to Dhamma-Vinaya.
All Visiting and Residing monks are encouraged to refrain from handling money, maintaining personnel bank accounts or dealing with financial institutions. The Chief Incumbent Monk is authorized to implement this condition in accordance with Bhikkhu Vinaya Rules. The Treasurer, and suitable members of the Dayaka Sabhava appointed by the Chief Incumbent monk, shall manage the monetary matters on behalf of the monks and the temple. This would avoid uneasy situations and significantly reduce the distractions experienced by residing monks. All Dayakas must be aware of these conditions.
All fund raising, loan re-payment and any other financial responsibilities shall not be borne by the Residing Monks. All such responsibilities must be held and borne by the Dayaka Sabhava. Residing Monks will participate in fund raising functions only with the invitation of the Dayaka Sabhava. If a fund-raising event is in contravention of the vows being observed by the monks, they are at liberty to refrain from accepting such invitations.
All public gatherings and functions at the temple must have a Dhamma Theme.
Any public statement issued with the emblem or logo of the temple or identified as the view of the temple must go through a rigorous review process in line with Mahopadesa found in the Maha Parinibbana Sutta.
Except under special circumstances, Organised Mundane Social Welfare is not a function of the Temple. According to the Lord Buddha the greatest service to the society will be made by getting the society to learn and practise the Dhamma. The focus of the temple must be directed this way.
The temple does not get involved in any mundane political issues.
Dayaka Sabha Meetings
The Chief Incumbent Monk is the adviser (governor) to the Dayaka Sabha Meeting. All residing monks (need not include visiting monks) should participate in the meeting. Meetings must be conducted on temple premises.
The Chief Incumbent Monk appoints an appropriately trained member of the Dayaka Sabhava to chair the meetings.
All meetings must be minuted and actioned by a person appointed at the meeting (default the Secretary).
Agenda:
The following fixed agenda is observed on all meetings. All agenda items may not be discussed at each meeting.
1. An agenda item is dedicated to correspondence received in the month. Receivers of correspondence are responsible for reporting to this session. Action items on these correspondence will be discussed.
2. An agenda item is dedicated to fundraising and financial matters. The Treasurer is responsible for reporting to this session. A sub committee to be appointed to look after the fund raising activities.
3. The temple should conduct regular Dhamma Programs (dedicated to different levels of participants with the intention of development to the next level) based on the Buddha Dhamma-Vinaya found in the Thripitakaya. A sub-committee to be appointed to look after the organisation and operation of these programs. An agenda item is dedicated for this purpose. The investment made on the Temple hall must provide its benefits to the society via dissemination of Dhamma and Practice.
4. The Temple Hall should be furnished and kept as a meditation hall/sermon hall conducive to practising meditation by any person willing to use it at any convenient time. An agenda item is dedicated to the Meditation Hall. A sub-committee to be appointed to look after the Main Hall.
5. The Vihara premises must be kept clean and safe in accordance with safety and environmental guidelines imposed by the statute and the teachings of the Lord Buddha. A sub-committee to be appointed and will have a dedicated agenda item.
6. The library should be organised (a committee be appointed) and kept in good use, open to any person willing to use it on the premises. Some books will be available for borrowing. An Agenda item is dedicated to the library.
7. The website should be maintained under the guidance of the Dayaka Sabhava led by the Chief Incumbent Monk. The Webmaster is a required participant of the Dayaka Sabha Meetings. An agenda item is dedicated for the website.
8. Daham Pasala matters have a dedicated agenda item. Members/representative of the Daham Pasala sub-committee is a required participant of the Dayaka Sabha Meetings.
9. Other Businesses will be the last agenda item.
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This is how your tsunami donations are spent by Janavijaya -
Posted by Rasika Wijayaratne
on Thursday, 22 Feb 2007
From Kosala Jayasinghe:
Dear all,
I just returned from Sri Lanka and file this report for your information.
Out of our total tsunami collection we remitted $20,000 to Janavijaya Fund formed my our Ven. Soma thero. The young active monk in charge of tsunami work is Ven. Rajawelle Subhuti tel. 0714 177714, Secretary is Ven Lankananda thero 0714 042416. These monks are taking over the Janavijaya Fund from laymen.
On the 3 rd April, our Ratna Fernando with his two sons (who actively collected relief materials and arranged the shipping of 2 FCL) and myself visited few Janavijaya projects in tsunami areas.
1. We laid a foundation stone for a budugeya at Galle Dhammaratana Maha Viduhala. We were of the opinion that a Budugeya was not urgent for the school as it is abutting a temple. But the principal of the school Sarath Wijesinghe (tel. 0722 529724, 0788 505448) and the monk of the area was keen to have a Budugeya. The school was established in 1869 by Ven Dhammarathanaand caters to number of tsunami affected children. School library and the so called lab is like a cattle shed. The school library and the lab is to be renovated by a Christian priest of the area and it is a good idea to use our funds to build this budugeya.
2. I was privileged to lay the foundation stone for a library on seemamalakaya at Kahawa Akurala Sri Vijayaramaya temple. ( There is no telephone for this temple). Over 20 monks from the area took part in the religious ceremony. This is the only seemamalakaya damaged by tsunami. The temple is situated more than a KM away from the sea. The waters spared the viharaya and Buddha statues but destroyed the devalaya and deva statues. The library with valuable books which was on the seemamalakaya was destroyed too. The elderly chief incumbent Ven Naranowita Anandatissa is a heartbroken monk.
3. I also inspected the Samarasingharamaya in Thelijjawila, Matara. Within a month Janavijaya has constructed a building (up to the roof level) which is to be used as a preschool for the tsunami children. This temple gave shelter to over 350 tsunami families and still over 50 families live in tents on the temple land. These days due to heavy rains, refugees cannot sleep inside the tents. The very active young chief incumbent of the temple, Diddenipotha Sumedha monk (tel. 041 2240306 mob. 0773 16990)is sleeping elsewhere allowing refugees to sleep in his avasaya. Meals are provided by James Finlay. Navy is guarding the camp. Refugees clean the temple site and nobody smokes or consumes liquor in the camp. Refugees just sit in front of their camps and stares helplessly at passes by .
This temple has the world's only limestone budda statue (marana manchakaya), which changes Buddha's face from a sad expression to a happy expression during the Vesak month. Ven. Sumeda explained a miracle that took place on the tsunami day. Not a drop of water went in to the viharaya with this limestone statue. Waters came up to the door and sank under the door.
I have recorded all above on video. I have given you the tel nos of various monks to enable you to call them and support them in their hour of need.
Just before leaving the island on the request of Trikunamalaye Ananda thero I also gave evidence to the Soma himi commission
In metta
Kosala
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