Vesak meeting this SUN @ 2pm after youth retreat - Posted by Rasika Wijayaratne on Tuesday, 06 Jan 2009

Dear everyone,

Here are a few more additional point that I wish to add to the below from Chirath.

1. During the meeting, we also discussed helping to make the maha kuduwa that the temple is planning on doing. This is an alternate project for the group, we are keeping all our options open.

2. I spoke with Ven. Wimalananda who is in SL at the moment and he has approved the Apaya idea, however he also feels it is a big project and would require a lot of help and not insignificant monetary resources for it to be successful. He suggested that we hold it at the car park area as that area does not get muddy. The biggest challenge for this project is making the building structure to hold the hell exhibits that is strong enough to withstand the winds. However if there is enough support by people (numbers wise and in other ways) and enough enthusiasm, we could still proceed with this despite the challenges.

The Dhamma Group is currently running a series on two discourse from the Majjihima Nikaya that describe hells. Keep your eyes peeled on those for inspiration and information.

Here are some links that have information relevant to hells:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naraka_(Buddhism)

    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html

    http://www.mettanet.org/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima3/129-balapandita-e.html

    http://www.mettanet.org/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima3/130-devaduta-e.html

3. We are still open to other ideas. So if you have any other ideas that you would like the youth group doing, then you can reply to this email (goes to everyone) or come to the youth Vesak meeting on Sunday the 11th of January at 2 PM. For more information please call the temple on 03 9702 6275, Rasika 0410 340 399, Changeeka 0432 153 404 or Chirath 0419 878 273.


4. We have setup a group on Facebook for the Thurunusaviya youth group. You can discuss Vesak and other matters on the message board there once you join up. Here is the link

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55870205711

5. The youth retreat is on this Sunday at 9 AM. For more information please call the temple on 03 9702 6275, Saman 0419 878 273, Rasika 0410 340 399 or Chirath 0419 878 273.

May you all be happy and well,

Rasika.

Minutes from the youth meeting on 2/01/09 and Vesak 2009 - Posted by Chirath Pathirana on Monday, 05 Jan 2009

Attendees for last Youth Meeting:
Ven. Chandima, Ven. Asama, Daham Weerakkody, Chirath Pathirana, Ananth Pathirana, Changeeka Jayakody, Upendra Jayasinghe, Chamera Withanage, Kershan Dias, Sajith Jayaratne, Rasika Wijayaratne.

Firstly, thanks for all those that attended the valuable sermon by Ven Pitigala Gunaratana Thero and a special thankyou to Saman uncle for translating the entire oration.

Vesak celebrations is set for mid May this year. At the youth meeting, the concept of creating an 'Apaya' (Hell) for public display was brought upon.

Although the idea is creative and meaningful, it is a massive task that will need consistent support from both the youth and adults.
More will be discussed after the youth Sill session on the 11th of Jan. (2.00pm) Please feel free to attend and provide your ideas on the topic.

Regards,
Chirath

Minutes from youth meeting Sun 22nd JUN - Addendum - Posted by Rasika Wijayaratne on Monday, 05 Jan 2009

Attachment 1: http://www.vihara.org.au/t7/pub/atts/2008/07/Thurunusaviya_Youth_Group_Guidelines.pdf

There are a few more points that I would like to append to your minutes :)

    We disucussed this at the end of the last youth sil and decided to give everyone some time to think about attending the Rye Interfaith Festival and doing an acitivity like lantern making for kids (please see here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thurunusaviya/message/1042 more details). This will be the last call on this item to see if anyone would be interested in going. Please let the youth reps (Changeeka, Shehan or Gayanie) and/or myself know if you would be interested in attending. If we don't get enough interest by the 29th of June, we wont be able to pursue this any further.

    As you were already notified yesterday, we are planning a trip to the Warburton temple this Sunday the 29th. Please see this link for more details on this:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thurunusaviya/message/1048

You can view photos of our previous trip to Warburton here:

http://vihara.org.au/t7/youth/photos/2006/trips/default.aspx

    Another idea put forward for the youth to do as a group is starting a publication/journal, which would allow the whole group to participate by contributing Dhamma articles, poems, artwork etc, getting involved in assembling, publishing as well as the distribution of it. Fund can be raised for the temple building work as well as a result.

    The Thurunusaviya Youth Group Guidelines document was already distributed to the group last week, but here it is again for any new members who missed it. Please provide your feedback on this document and raise any concerns that you have. The document can be downloaded from the temple website's youth section here:

Here is the direct link to the document:

http://vihara.org.au/t7/youth/Thurunusaviya_Youth_Group_Guidelines.pdf

It has also been attached as a PDF document to this minute.

Attachment 1: http://www.vihara.org.au/t7/pub/atts/2008/07/Thurunusaviya_Youth_Group_Guidelines.pdf

Minutes from youth meeting Sun 22nd JUN - Posted by Shehan De Silva on Monday, 05 Jan 2009

For those that attended yesterday's Youth Meeting, thank you for your support! For those that weren't able to attend, we hope to see you next time. Here's a wrap up of what you missed out on:

    Agreement that the Berwick Temple Youth Group (aka BTYG) needs energy & buzz. We can drive some group bonding via social events outside of the temple. While it sounds a little cheesy/corny, it's an effective way of getting to know one another. This is not a substitute for the monthly meeting, but an extra activity to allow everyone to feel comfortable around each other and encourage opinions. Social events will still need to be held within the parameters of Buddhism so won't be having drinks at the pub :) Maybe you can suggest some Buddhism-friendly activities for the group to participate in.

    We are looking to recruit more Youth Representatives. Gayanie Dharmaratne has volunteered her time & effort and I'd like to thank her for this. I'd also like to encourage anyone who feels they'd like to contribute to get in touch with me, Changeeka (aka Changy) or Gayanie and express their interest.

    We'd like your ideas on what you'd like to cover during our meetings. To start off with, our first topic will be the Bodhi Pooja, its significance & meaning to Buddhism, why we have the Pooja & the do's/don't do's. We'd like to hear what you want to learn about & as a group we can learn it together.

    Changy, Gayanie & my details to be given to anyone who wants to get in touch with us in order to pass on ideas, opinions and anything else relevant to the BTYG. If you just want to have a chat and discuss the weather, I am open to that as well :)

Our details as follows:

    Changeeka Jayakody
Mobile : 0432 153 404

    Shehan De Silva
Mobile: 0402 320 879

    Gayanie Dharmaratne

Once again, thank you everyone for your support & I look forward to see you at the next BTYG meeting on the 20th JUL 2008.