The MUBSS Annual General Meeting 2009/2552BE
May 6, 2009
The Melbourne University Buddhist Studies Society has confirmed the date & time to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2009.
1) AGM
What is an AGM? An AGM is one of the most important meetings of the year, its where we officially pass on the administration of the club to a new committee for the new year. There are elections for committee members, and reports about past events.
It is also very important because the amount of people who turn up directly influences the future of MUBSS. If we don’t get at least 30 members (the minimum quorum in our constitution) on the day, WE CEASE TO EXIST AS AN UMSU AFFILIATED CLUB. Also the amount of members we have influences our funding, so the more people who come, the more money we have to put on events! This is why we need as many members as possible
to turn up for the meeting – that means you! We would appreciate your
attendance as the social cohesion & progress of the society lies in you.
In essence, the most important thing is that you just come!
Venue: Gryphon Gallery, Graduate Centre (1888 Building) (near the Eastern Resource Centre)
Time: 3.30pm-5.00pm
We mentioned elections of committee members above. Next, then the second
most important thing is the election of the new committee. ALL POSITIONS
ARE
OPEN FOR NOMINATION. This means that anyone can nominate to join the
committee. The positions available for nomination are:
Executive Committee
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Treasurer.
4. Secretary.
5. Dharma Coordinators (1-2) (organise dharma talks etc)
6. Publicity Officers (1-2) (take care of website, make posters etc)
7.Librarian (look after locker and resources)
8. Welfare Officer (organise charity related things)
Being a committee member is a very rewarding experience, you’ll get to make decisions, work in a team, and get great satisfaction when you see
members enjoying the things you have put on. The time commitment is not huge – you only get out what you put in!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE FOR ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS PLEASE SEND US
AN EMAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (email address located below).
With Metta,
MUBSS
(mubss2551be@gmail.com)
2009/2552 BE
Vesak at Bodhivana Monastery
May 5, 2009
780 Woods Point Road
East Warburton
Victoria 3799
Australia
Ajahn Kalyano (Daniel Jones) was born in London in 1962. His interest in Buddhism awakened while still a student. After completing his university degree at Bristol University, he travelled to Thailand. In 1985 received ordination in the forest tradition of Ajahn Chah.
He has trained for many years with Venerable Ajahn Anan, one of several disciples of Ajahn Chah who have become highly regarded as meditation masters in their own right. In 2000, Ajahn Kalyano was invited to establish the forest tradition there. He is now the abbot of Bodhivana Monastery in East Waburton.
Saturday 9th May
7.00 pm – Meditation
7.45 pm – Evening chanting
8.00 pm – Dhamma talk
9.00 pm – Refreshments
10.00 pm – All night silent meditation (all welcome)
4.00 am – Morning chanting
5.00 am – Finish
Sunday 10th May
10.00 am – All visitors gather at the monastery
10.45 am – Pindabata (alms round)
11.00 am – All visitors are invited to share lunch
12.15 pm – Dhamma talk followed by candlelit circumambulation of the Uposatha Hall
12.45 pm – Samanera (novice) ordination ceremony
1.30 pm – Guided tour of the monastery (please bring along strong walking shoes)
———————–
For the benefit of those who may not know, the monastery only opens its forested areas to visitors twice a year: Vesak and Kathina. On other days visitors are not allowed to venture in because obviously that’s where the monks live and meditate. I encourage those who haven’t taken the tour to do so, as it is quite interesting and inspiring to see the monks’ kutis. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a tour guide (a monk) who’s willing to share a lot of interesting stories with you.
MAY, The month of Vesak
May 5, 2009
Dear members of MUBSS,
As most of us know, the most important day observed by fellow Buddhist
is the Vesak day. This day commemorates the birth, enlightenment and
death of a teacher, the Buddha. On this month alone, there are a
number of events held across the City of Melbourne. They are as
follows:
1. United Nations Day of Vesak- Victorian observance 2009
Description- An event which will bring together Buddhists from
different traditions to celebrate Vesak (the Birth, Passing and
Enlightenment of the Buddha).
We are planning a colourful and exciting program of multicultural
song, dance and performance based on themes relating to Buddhism and
the life of the Buddha.
There will also be talks on Buddhism and the spiritual path,
meditation and chanting, a procession of monks and nuns representing a
range of Buddhist traditions – Theravadan and Mahayana traditions from
countries such as Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Japan and Thailand
– and a delightful “bathing of the baby Buddha” ceremony.
And you will have a chance to browse the stalls in the foyer offering
information about the various traditions and centres, books, and more.
So please feel free to come along and bring your family and friends to
this very special birthday celebration!
Date: 9 May 2009 (the Official Holiday in most asian countries)
Location: Melbourne Town Hall, Cnr Collins/Swanston St
Time: 2-4:30pm approx
(For more info, check out: http://www.unvesak.org/)
2. Buddha’s Day Festival @ Federation Square
Description- Organized by Buddha’s Light International Association
(BLIA or Fo Guang Shan), the event is held to commemorate the birth of
the Buddha and to introduce the traditions of Buddhist ceremony of
this key religious festival to the greater public. Buddha’s Day and
Multicultural Festival incorporates the traditions of Buddhist
ceremony including the “Bathing of the Buddha”, daily Dharma
ceremonies, the Wishing Bell and traditional incense offerings; a
vegetarian culinary tour of Asia alongside the Yarra on the River
Terrace; cultural demonstrations and insights; music; art and craft,
community service groups providing information and assistance to
Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike plus special activities and games
for the younger of body and mind.
Date: 16-17 May 2009
Location: Federation Square
Time: TBA (refer to Buddha Day homepage)
(For more info, check out: http://www.buddhaday.org.au/index.html)
3. Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso’s Visit to the Buddhaloka Centre/Buddhist
Society of Victoria (BSV)
Description- Ajahn Brahm, the Abbot of Bodhiyana Monastery, will be
with us to lead Wesak celebrations commencing Saturday 16th May and
will return to Perth on Wednesday 20th May.
Saturday 16th May: 8pm Dialogue with the Under 35s at the Buddhaloka Centre
Sunday 17th May: 8am – 5pm : Wesak celebrations at Buddhaloka Centre
8pm Dhamma talk at Monash University
Religious Centre
(Clayton Campus)
Monday 18th May: 8am – 5pm : One day retreat at Buddhaloka Centre
8pm Dhamma talk at Monash University
Religious Centre
(Clayton Campus)
Tuesday 19th May: 8am – 5pm : One day retreat at Buddhaloka Centre
8pm Dhamma talk at Buddhaloka Centre
(71-73 Darling Road, East Malvern)
Location of the BSV:
71-73 Darling Road, East Malvern 3145
Monash University Religious Centre
Building 9
Clayton Campus map available at:
http://www.monash.edu.au/campuses/clayton.html
(For more info, check out the BSV home page:
http://www.bsv.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=88&Itemid=31)
Happy Vesak!!!!
With metta,
MUBSS
BE 2552
About Vesak (from UN Vesak homepage)
May 5, 2009
Vesak Day
Sometimes informally called “Buddha’s birthday”, Vesak Day is regarded by all Buddhist traditions as the anniversary of the birth of the Buddha. Some traditions regard it as a time to also commemorate the enlightment and passing of the Buddha.
The exact date each year varies according to the lunar calendars used in different traditions.
Buddhists observe the occasion in a range of ways – meditation and prayer, observing precepts (no killing, no stealing, no lying, no sexual misconduct, no intoxicants, etc.), fasting, partaking of vegetarian food, giving to charity, and “bathing” of the baby Buddha ceremonies.
Celebrating Vesak also means making special efforts to bring happiness to the unfortunate like the aged, the handicapped and the sick.
While this day has been celebrated for many centuries in Asian cultures, it was only in 1950 that it was formally recognized at the first Conference of the World Fellowships of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka.
The Life of the Buddha
Siddhartha Guatama, the founder of Buddhism, was born in the city of Lumbini around the year 485 BCE.
Moments after birth, according to the scriptures, he performed the first of several miracles, taking a few steps and proclaiming, “Supreme am I in the world. Greatest am I in the world. Noblest am I in the world. This is my last birth. Never shall I be reborn.”
Shortly after, a wise man visited his father, King Śuddhodana. The wise man said that Siddhartha would either become a great king (chakravartin) or a holy man (sadhu) based on whether he saw life outside of the palace walls.
Determined to make Siddhartha a king, Śuddhodana shielded his son from the unpleasant realities of daily life. Years after this, Gautama married Yasodhara, with whom he had a son, Rahula, who later became a Buddhist monk.
At the age of 29, Siddhartha ventured outside the palace complex several times, despite his father’s wishes. As a result, he discovered the suffering of his people through encounters with an old man, a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. These are known among Buddhists as “The Four Sights”, one of the first contemplations of Siddhartha.
The Four Sights eventually prompted Gautama to abandon royal life and take up a spiritual quest to free himself from suffering by living the life of a mendicant ascetic—a respectable spiritual practice at the time. He found companions with similar spiritual goals and teachers who taught him various forms of meditation, including jhāna.
One day, after almost starving to death, Gautama accepted a little milk and rice from a village girl named Sujata. After this experience, he concluded that ascetic practices such as fasting, holding one’s breath, and exposure to pain brought little spiritual benefit. He abandoned asceticism, concentrating instead on meditation, thereby discovering what Buddhists call the Middle Way, a path of moderation between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.
After discovering the Middle Way, he sat under a sacred fig tree, also known as the Bodhi tree, in the town of Bodh Gaya, India, and vowed not to rise before achieving Nirvana.
At age 35, after many days of meditation, he attained his goal of becoming a Buddha. After his spiritual awakening he attracted a band of followers and instituted a monastic order.
Shakyamuni Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the Dharma, travelling throughout the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent. He died at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, India.
Taken from http://www.unvesak.org/
