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Founders Day Celebrations
9 September 2005
Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
Cause and Effect
Written and presented by
Leanne Eames and Alec Sloman
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhasa
Today, the ninth of September 2005, is Founder's Day of the Buddhist
Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd., and is the birthday of the founder of this
Centre, the late Master John D. Hughes.
This is the second time we have celebrated the achievments of
Master John D. Hughes since his passing away, leaving behind the legacy
of his Dhamma teachings, and the structures that comprise this Dhamma Centre.
Master John D. Hughes passed away on Saturday the twenty-ninth of
November 2003 at 5:50pm at the Angliss Hospital in Melbourne.
Master John D. Hughes was the Founder, Abbot and Resident Teacher
of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. It is a Regional Centre
of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, an Associated Institution of the
World Buddhist University and is a member of the Ethnic Communities Council
of Victoria.
Master John D. Hughes was a former Vice-President of the World
Fellowship of Buddhists and the recipient of the Visudhananda Peace
Award 1999, as well as being a Council Advisor to the World Buddhist
University.
He taught over 1 million students in 14 countries during his lifetime.
He was a great man who dedicated his life to the Buddha-Dhamma and his
passing away is a loss to this Buddha Sasana.
The most important thing for John fundamentally was to show teachable
beings the way out of suffering, to help them to understand the way out
of suffering and to provide the materiality to do it.
The theme that has been chosen for reflection today is that of cause
and effect, which brings us back to the very reason that Master John
D. Hughes established this Centre. He built this temple to provide
persons in Australia the opportunity to make merit, so that they can
make the causes to receive the effect of being able to learn and practice
the Buddha Dhamma.
John chose a suitable location for the temple in the quiet hills of the
Yarra Ranges. He established a heavenly Chan garden which surrounds the
Buddhist Centre as well as a multilingual Buddhist reference library,
called the John D. Hughes Collection. His wish was that this Centre last
for five hundred years.
As well as providing the structure to support students in their practice,
John also established many systems based on his understanding of the law
of cause and effect. He set up the conditions for his students to create
the causes for their own advancement along the Buddha Dhamma path. Some of
these systems include library referencing activities, the writing of life
plans, Chan painting classes, association and with Buddhist conferences and
Buddhist organisations in Australia and overseas, publishing our flagship
journal, the Buddha Dhyana Dana Review, many websites containing precious
Dhamma material, which continue to be upgraded and expanded on a regular
basis. Even after his death these systems have remained in place.
There is still much merit to be made.
His knowledges were vast and he was full of loving kindness, always ready to
lend a helping hand, and to show people the way out of suffering. John was
practical and was often delegating tasks to others; he had many people
helping him. John D. Hughes was a very inspirational person who helped
and will continue to help many beings.
May we always honor his memory with our efforts in practicing in the way
in which we have been taught.
We dedicate the merit of today's virtuous activities to Master John D.
Hughes' wish that this centre last 500 years. As a token of our gratitude
for his great wisdom, will, determination, and above all for his love for
all human beings and Gods in founding this Buddha Dhamma temple, we vow to
continue his Dhamma work at this temple within the Triple Gem Rules.
References
Hughes, John D. Atisha's Lamp on the Path. Teaching recorded 23 September 1989 at the
Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. CD Reference 22_09_89T4S1
File name I:\22_09_89T4S1_JDHtranscribe.rtf
Hughes, John D. Atisha's Lamp on the Path. Teaching recorded 22 September 1989 at the
Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. CD Reference 22_09_89T3S1
File name I:\22_09_89T3S1_JDHtranscribe.rtf
May You Be Well and Happy.
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