'The
Buddhist Hour" radio script for Sunday 7 July 2002
Broadcast on Hillside Radio 88.0 FM
The
Australasian Buddhist Convention
Day Two, 23 June 2002
This
script is entitled: More on the Australasian Buddhist Convention
Last week, we shared with you our report and
recollections of “a remarkable event to remember”, the
inaugural Australasian Buddhist Convention, held on 22 and 23 June
2002 at Camberwell Civic Centre, Melbourne, Victoria. Australia.
This week we will continue with our recollections of the
Teachings on the theme of “Buddhism: the Pathway to a Peaceful
Mind” delivered at this historical and exceptional event by
eminent and respected Teachers from different Buddhist traditions,
and who reside both within Australia and as far abroad as the U.S.
and Sri Lanka.
Lasts week’s script, covered many of the
activities and talks given on the 22 June 2002. Today’s focus
will be on talks and activities from 23 June 2002.
The second
day of the Australasian Buddhist Convention commenced with an
“Introduction to Buddhist Meditation” given by Venerable
Pannyavaro.
Venerable Pannyavaro teaches Buddha Dhamma
meditation and is the author of the website Buddhanet. Buddhanet can
be found at www.buddhanet.net
He described the meditation he
taught as a form of Zen. This involves just watching the mind without
relaying or commenting on what is found to be arising and
falling.
Venerable Brahmavamso spoke on “Traditional
Teachings in Non-Traditional Times.
Venerable Brahmavamso
explained how peace of mind is developed through freedom from
desires, not freedom of desires.
This fundamental point
underscores the traditional practice of virtue which aims to generate
a sense of inner freedom by weakening desires. Virtue gives kusala
(moral) minds that destroy akusala (immoral) minds as they
appear.
Buddha Puja offerings were done by Monks at the Buddha
Altar and was followed by Maha Dana (Meal) for Monks.
Then
there was a luncheon for participants in the foyer.
The next
topic was new research in Buddhist Teachings by Professor Richard
Gombrich.
He cautioned that the prospect of further Pali
research at Oxford University continuing into the future is at grave
risk.
For example, at the Meeting of International Buddhist
Association of Scholars in Thailand scheduled for December 2002, Pali
research is not on the agenda.
He deplores the lack of a
successor to his work, he is retiring soon. By the analogy of pyramid
he said currently, he has ten researcher students helping him, with
himself at the top of the Pyramid generating the research topics. At
present, there is no one scholar fit to replace him. There is no-one
doing the top Pali research writing.
Professor Gombrich is
the President for the Pali Text Society.
Professor Gombrich
appealed for people to support the Pali Text Society and the
importance of that organisation.
Applications for Membership
for the Pali Text Society can be forwarded to:
The Pali Text
Society
73 Lime Walk
Headington, Oxford
OX3
7AD
U.K.
Ordinary Membership costs 10 pound sterling for
one year and 40 pound sterling for 5 years; and Sponsorship
Membership costs 20 pound sterling for one year and 80 pound sterling
for 5 years.
The Pali Text Society Ltd. is Registered Charity
No. 262216
Registered No. 770074 (England and Wales)
VAT
Registration No. 229 7681 25
Professor Gombrich spoke about
some of the things the Buddha said about obtaining peace - that peace
can only come from liberation and it is the unshakeable liberation -
“the liberation of my mind is unshakeable”.
He said
to have true peace of mind one must know what’s what - The five
groups: materiality, feelings, perceptions, memory and consciousness;
show impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and no self or essence as their
characteristics.
He pointed out that kamma, commonly
translated as action, is in fact meant to be translated as intention,
when the Buddha said “ by action I mean intention”.
New
discoveries in the history of Buddha Dhamma show the importance of
the Pali language.
Professor Gombrich cited examples of many
scholars doing Pali studies and research. In particular he mentioned
Joanna Jurewicz who has found a similarity in the Rgveda 10,129 to
the Chain of Dependent origination. Her publication is called :”The
Rgveda 10,129- an attempt of interpretation”, Cracow Indological
Studies vol. I : International Conference on Sanskrit and Related
Studies September 23 - 26, 1993 (Proceedings), Cracow, Enigma Press
1995, pp.141-49.
Professor Gombrich talked about Sue
Hamilton’s book Early Buddhism: a new approach. London: Curzon,
2000.
He spoke of the research done by Bhikkhuni Juo-Hsueh
Shih who has gone back to the texts to find that there is no where
that the Buddha said that Nuns and Monks are required to initiate
Nuns, in her book : Controversies over Buddhist nuns, Oxford: Pali
Text Society, 2000.
Professor Gombrich explained that in
ancient times the calendar years were longer and different to now.
This affects the dating of events. The language at the time of Buddha
was not Pali but a language close to it.
Professor Gombrich
gave the following bibliography of recent discoveries about early
Buddhism and recommended this reading for students and scholars of
Buddha Dhamma.
Gombrich, Richard: “Three souls, one or
none: the vagaries of Pali pericope.” Journal of the Pali Text
Society, vol.11:73-8. 1987.
“Recovering the Buddha’s
message.” In Earliest Buddhism and Madhyamaka. D. Ruegg and L.
Schmithausen, editors. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 5-23, 1990. Reprinted in
The Buddhist Forum: Seminar papers 1987-1988. T. Skorupski, editor.
London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London,
1:5-20, 1990.
“The Buddha’s Book of Genesis?”
Indo-Iranian Journal, vol.35: 159-78, 1992.
“A momentous
effect of translation : the “vehicles” of Buddhism”
Apodosis: Essays presented to Dr W.W. Cruickshank to mark his 80th
birthday. St. Pauls School, London; 34-46, 1992.
How Buddhism
began: The Conditional Genesis of the Early Teachings. London: The
Athlone Press,,1996.
Kindness and Compassion as Means to
Nirvana. (1997 Gonda Lecture) Amsterdam: Royal Netherlands Academy of
Arts and Sciences, 1998.
“Playing with Fire: The
pratityasamutpada from the perspective of Vedic thought.”
Journal of the Pali Text Society, vol. 26: 77-103, 2000.
Wynne,
Alexander: Released on both sides?: the origin and position of
formless meditation in early Indian Buddhism. M.Phil. thesis, Oxford
University, 2000.
Professor Gombrich concluded by talking
briefly about the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies (OCBS) that is
being founded to promote academic study of Buddhism.
The aim
is to study Buddhist thought, culture, literature, history, and
practice in any period and any part of the world. No Buddhist
tradition is excluded.
The Centre will be based in Oxford and
will seek to operate in co-operation with the Oxford
University.
Academic study at university and research level
will be the Centre’s top priority.
Lama Choedak Rinpoche
spoke on “The Four elements” . He said that Dependent
Origination is at our disposal. If you know what makes the wheel turn
you can stop it. The Buddha turned the wheel at Saranath when he gave
the first sermon. Lama Choedak compared the four elements to the four
brahama qualities. Earth -Loving Kindness; water -compassion, fire -
sympathetic Joy and air – equanimity.
“Introduction
to Metta Meditation (Loving Kindness) and the “Role of Metta
Meditation (Loving Kindness) in the Development of a Peaceful Mind”
was taught by Venerable Mahinda.
Venerable Dhammavihari
delivered his speech on Wisdom and the Peaceful Mind.
He said
that we have all been on a treasure hunt for a peaceful mind. He said
that Samadhi is not concentration but a “gathered togetherness”
of having the mind inside. Do not let the mind escape through the
five senses.
He said firstly, we must practice say once a week
to withdraw from the world. This means taking five precepts : no
killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no intoxicants plus three
extra ones - fasting, only take two meals per day, no
entertainment-no music, TV and not providing too much comfort- try
sleeping on the floor.
Next, he said follow the eight fold
path. He said get number 6 correct - right endeavor, then you are on
the launch pad to take off from the gravitational pull of household
life.
The eight fold path is :
1. Samma-ditthi : Right
View
2. Samma-Sankappa : Right thought
3. Samma-Vaca : Right
Speech
4. Samma-Kammanta : Right Action
5. Samma-Ajiva :
Right Livelihood
6. Samma-Vayama : Right Effort
7.
Samma-Sati : Right Mindfullness
8. Samma-Samadhi : Right
Collectiveness
Then he said you must strive to remove evil
thought and cultivate good thought - discipline your mind.
With
the above now in place, add the 4th Jhana ( a mind level which can
see clearly) to this practice of withdrawing from the world and you
have a very sharp tool-telescopic wisdom. Total liberation of the
mind can only come through wisdom.
Only after attaining number
8 of the eight fold path - right concentration does wisdom come.
In
Panel Discussion II, the question was asked : Does the mind exist
after it has attained enlightenment? The reply was : the mind
definitely exists after the attainment of nirvana - The Buddha did
this and his mind was in extremely good working order. He taught for
40 years after attaining nirvana.
The panel was asked : Can a
non-Buddhists attain enlightenment ? …and replied : Was the
Buddha a Buddhist?
Many other questions were taken from the
floor.
The conference was a great success. Dr Ananda Guruge
summed up by saying that each speaker had shared with us their own
personal journey that they had taken to attaining a peaceful
mind.
After the convention, our Teacher John D. Hughes wrote
to Doctor Ranjith Hettiarachi, the Convenor of the Australasian
Buddhist Convention Conference and Chairman of the Buddhist
Foundation (Victoria) Australia Inc. ABN 12 630 808 612, For Teaching
Dhamma Practice Motto: “Sacchitta Pariyodapanam” (Purify
and Refine Your Mind) of 130 Station Street, FAIRFIELD VIC 3078,
Australia Tel: 61 3 9465 8236
Fax: 61 3 9489 5749 Internet address
: www.bfvaust.org
His letter reads:
“Dear
Ranjith
It is with my warmest wishes that I congratulate you
on the actualisation for your resolute determination to help and
inspire Buddha Dhamma practitioners.
Your vision and inspired
leadership enabled the most successful presentation of the first
Australasian Buddhist Convention Conference in Camberwell, Melbourne
on 22 and 23 June 2002.
The Conference theme of 'Pathway to a
Peaceful Mind' created a suitable framework to bring together Buddha
Dhamma scholars and practitioners from around the world.
Our
Members have all had Path enriching experiences.
Please let me
extend our Organisation's congratulations to you and your committee
and all who helped bring about this great occasion for Path learning,
for the work in presenting this truly meritorious event.
We
will continue to help you in your future efforts.
Sadhu Sadhu
Sadhu
Yours in the Buddha Dhamma
John D.
Hughes
Founder, Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
Vice
President, World Fellowship of Buddhists
Advisor, World Buddhist
University”
In reply Dr. Ranjith Hettiarachi wrote to
John D. Hughes as follows :
Mr John Hughes
Resident
Teacher
Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
30 June
2002
Dear John,
Many thanks for the thoughts of loving
kindness and compassion expressed in your letter. Your heartfelt
message arising out of Muditha did touch me deeply. We all no doubt
need to be indebted to a timeless Dhamma and the most compassionate
guidance of the Maha Sangha for an exquisitely joyous experience in
Buddhist Practice at the Convention.
We are reminded of a
beautiful teaching in the Dhammapada which says, “A single day
in life seeing the Supreme Dhamma is better than a hundred years of
non-seeing” (V 113).
We were most heartened to learn from
the numerous messages and letters such as yours, that our program
content was well structured, comprehensively covered and effectively
delivered. The outcome that impacted on us the most was a lasting
inner joy, peace and the contentment you derived, as the receiver. We
sincerely hope that the mental and physical transformation we
intended and assured for everyone would be realized by the dedicated
practice of the Pathway to a Peaceful Mind.
The Buddhist
Foundation will be delighted to receive your ongoing support and
assistance with a view to providing you with every opportunity to
cultivate and develop Buddhist Practice. This is our primary
focus.
Towards this end, it is indeed our pleasure to be with
you literally and metaphorically. We are then certain to grow and
benefit like one practice family.
John, I would personally
welcome your services and contribution to the practice programs of
the Foundation, which will certainly pave the way to your own
practice in the long term. We thank the members of your Centre who
contributed much to our organisational work for the Convention.
May
you be well and happy with the blessings of the Supreme Triple
Gem!
With Metta and Regards,
Dr Ranjith Hettiarachi
The
conference closed on an elevated note with a personal message from Dr
Ranjith Hettiarachi, Convenor of the Convention and a medical doctor.
Dr Hettiarachi told the convention about his own personal journey to
a peaceful mind and healthy body. He explained how traditional
Buddhist meditation practiced consistently, had cured his physical
chronic ailments when western medicine could not.
You can
purchase videos and CD recordings of the Australasian Buddhist
Convention at www.bfvaust.org
May we all enjoy a similar peak
event in Australia with the second Australasian Buddhist Convention
scheduled for 2005 C.E.
May you be well and happy.
We
close this script with a verse to practice loving-kindness, told to
the conference by the Chairperson, Dr Ananda Guruge.
May those
that are in suffering come out of suffering
May those that are in
fear come out of fear
May those that are in sorrow come out of
sorrow
May all beings be well and happy
May I be well and
happy.
The authors and editors of this script are: Anita &
John D. Hughes Dip.App.Chem. T.T.T.C. GDAIE, Evelin Halls, Dip. of
Foreign Language Correspondence and Pennie White B.A. Dip.
Ed.
References
The Buddhist Foundation (Vic)
Australia Inc. (2002) The Australian Buddhist Convention, 2002,
published by the Convenors of the Convention: The Buddhist Foundation
(Vic) Australia Inc., Fairfield, Victoria.
Readability
Statistics
Counts
Words: 2,808
Characters:
2,241
Paragraphs:172
Sentences: 103
Averages
Sentences
per paragraph: 1.6
Words per sentence: 16.8
Characters per
word: 4.9
Readability
Passive sentences: 23%
Flesch
Reading Ease: 52.1
Flesh-Kincaid Grade Level : 10.1
Colman-Liau
Grade Level : 16.7
Bormuth Grade Level : 11.5
Estimated
writing and editing time: 224 minutes
3:00pm to 3:10pm on 1 July
2002 to 23:28 5 July 2002.
Revision number 20
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