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Founders Day Celebration
9 September 2005
Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
Welcoming Address
Written and presented by
Julian Bamford BA.App.Rec. President
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhasa
Venerable Sangha.
Our Abbot, Anita Hughes, Members and Friends in the Dhamma.
Welcome, to our 27th Founders Day Celebration here at No. 33 Brooking Street,
Upwey Victoria at our home the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
A Monk once asked his teacher, "What is the fundamental teaching in Buddhism?"
The Master replied, "Attention".
The student, somewhat dissatisfied with the answer said, "I wasn't asking about
attention, but was wanting to know the essential teaching in Buddhism".
The Master replied, "Attention, Attention, ATTENTION".
Similarly we could ask, what is the practice? Vague advice to an aspiring
meditator, making a first tentative visit to a Temple, such as 'be mindful'
or 'be attentive', while offered with good intention, is unlikely to be
effective.
In a Buddhist Hour radio script titled: “Are you moving with the times”
which was broadcast back on the 7 May 2000, our Founder John Hughes explained
that the likely ineffectiveness is because the student is advised about a
single (in Pali eka) cause and it is in first order knowledge. We need
multiple causes and higher order knowledge just to begin to practice.
Our Lemma is ‘Lifetimes of Learning’.
We teach our Members to pay attention to our five styles of Friendliness,
Practicality, Professionalism, Cultural Adaptability and Scholarship.
In the Heavenly Chan Garden that surrounds us this can mean “Chop Wood Carry
Water” while inside it might be “wash the dishes, clean the amenities block,
light the fire, take out the dead flowers, one stroke one stroke”. One hundred
different things for one hundred different persons and dispositions.
A student may forget the basics as he or she tries to answer the question,
"Does time move us? Or do we move with the times?"
It is easy for the student to forget, that we are each of us in a life series
of processes, like it or not like it. You are becoming involved in the change
and aging of your body.
Over the past 27 years hundreds and hundreds of persons, young and old have
come and lent a helping hand, some just once, some again and again.
Our Life Member and True Friend in the Dhamma Frank Carter, a student here
for over 20 years, has seen hundreds and thousands of noble projects begun
and completed.
In that time our Buddha Dhamma library with its many rare and precious texts
has grown to now reach out to the world through the virtual library corridors
of the world wide web, in written words, pictures and the recorded talks of
our Precious and Teacher and the late John D Hughes.
In a few moments Frank will tell you a little of our most important project
of recent times, the Digitisation of our Buddha Dhamma Recordings.
Calling on the vernacular of a popular recent movie, our young Padawan and
Junior Vice President Alec Sloman beats the Dhamma Drum for our new generation
of students and future teachers. Alec will shortly present a small Dhamma
talk for you on the Law of Cause and Effect. Thank you Alec.
Thank you to everyone here today and all those who have blessed this Temple
with their practise over the past year, over the past 27 years.
We have a bright future, with a determined commitment to making each
action we take here a powerful cause for the Buddha Sasana and that
this Buddha Dhamma Centre here in Upwey, last for 500 hundred years.
May we meet here together in harmony again and again.
May all beings who come here become fully enlightened.
May you be well and happy.
Thank you very much.
Julian Bamford
9 September 2005
Reference: The Buddhist Hour Radio Broadcast Script 84, Sunday 7 May 2000
Entitled: Are You Moving with the Times? Published online at
www.bdcublessings.net.au
May You Be Well and Happy.
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