14 September 2003: Celebration of a Life of Buddha Dhamma Work

The Buddhist Hour Radio Broadcast Archives

Buddhist Hour
Radio Broadcast on Hillside 88 FM
For radio 294 Sunday 14 September 2003

This script is entitled:
“Celebration of a Life of Buddha Dhamma Work -
A Tribute to our Founder”

From 5 September 2003 to 9 September 2003, a five-day bhavana course was held at our Centre. Participants were required to list their names in one of four groups. The four groups were as follows:

Group 1. Friendliness - lack of stress in relationships
Group 2. Able to operate in groups in the world with ease-work skills Group Topic
Group 3. Analysis Power - Using Maths Skills and Abidhamma Analysis.
and
Group Topic 4. Methods of developing insight in all matters -the enlightened mind.

Participants wrote what they had learned during the course on the topic of the group of their choice. These were then compiled into reports.

The course culminated on 9 September, 2003, with our Founder's Day Celebrations. Venerable Members of the Sangha were invited, and dana was offered to them in the form of lunch.

Members of the Venerable Sangha that attended our Founder's Day 2003 CE Celebrations were:

The Venerable Master Ru-Sun, Yun Yang Temple, Narre Warren

Venerable Payagala Nanda, Buddhist Society of Victoria, East Malvern

Venerable Upatissa, Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara, Berwick

Venerable T. T. Dat, Nhu Lai Buddhist Meditation Centre, Springvale

Venerable Signoun Soun and Venerable Keoleng Sem, Wat Buddharangsee, Springvale South

Venerable Narith, Venerable Murray Peters, Venerable Then Sen and Venerable Ly Kong, Wat Khmer Dhammaram, Springvale South

Venerable Peo Liv, Wat Dhammaram, Springvale

Venerable Thien Tam, Hoa Nghiem Temple, Springvale

On the day, our President Julian Bamford and Director Evelin Halls presented John D. Hughes with a plaque. The inscription on the plaque reads as follows:

On this day, 29 August 2003 CE, Members and students of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. on behalf of past, present and future members and students in a gracious act of our heartfelt thanks for the rare opportunity of meeting the Buddha Dhamma in Australia present our Founder, Master John David Hughes, with this plaque as a token of our gratitude for his great wisdom, will and determination to persevere and above all for his love for all human beings and Gods in founding this Buddha Dhamma Temple at 33 Brooking Street Upwey, Victoria, Australia.

As a mark of respect, we vow to continue his Buddha Dhamma work at this Temple within the Triple Gem rules.

Sadhu sadhu sadhu.

29 August 2003 CE

Peter Boswell, Director
Lisa Nelson, Director
Evelin Halls, Director
Julian Bamford, President.

Following the presentation of the plaque, Evelin Halls read a series of accolades to our Founder Master John D. Hughes.

Accolades to John D. Hughes:

Suddhananda Mahathero, President, Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha, Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery, Dhaka, Bangladesh, wrote:

The Celebration of Founder's and Celebration of the 73rd Birth Anniversary of Master John D. Hughes will be marked as an eventful occasion in the contemporary history of the World Buddhist Community. John has dedicated all his life for the spread of true understanding of the Dhamma. He has been a good friend of us and the boys of our Dharmarajika orphanage have been blessed with the touch of his true love. The realm of Dhamma has much been enriched with the contributions from Master John D. Hughes.

On this auspicious occasion of Celebration we pray here for John to live more years to contribute to the true spirit of Dhamma and pave the path for the ignorants to sight the aura of Nibbana.

Most humbly
Suddhananda Mahathero
President
Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha
Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Professor Dr. Bikiran Prasad Barua, President, Aburkhil Janakalyan Samiti- Bangladesh, Chairman, Standing Committee on Publication, Publicity, Education, Culture and Art, World Fellowship of Buddhists, Thailand, Bangkok, wrote:

Dear Friend in The Dhamma,

I am extremely happy to know that 73rd Birth Anniversary of Master Dr. John D. Hughes is going to be celebrated on 9th September 2003. In this connection BDC is going to bring out a publication entitled “ Celebration of Buddha Dhamma Work – John D. Hughes 1955 to 2003” which will contain the contributions of John D. Hughes, Founder of Buddhist Discussion Centre.

Dr. John D. Hughes is a good friend of mine since long time. I still remember that he has visited my Dhamma Village Aburkhil at Raozan, Chittagong, Bangladesh twice. His visit has strengthened the bond of friendship between Dhamma Village Aburkhil and Buddhist Discussion Centre. In the year 1992, Dr. John D. Hughes has presented to me a piece of Buddha Relic while attending the World Buddhist Conference in Taiwan R.O.C.

I have preserved the relic with due serenity. I also visited Buddhist Discussion Centre while traveling to Australia in connection with the Assembly on World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP). Still I remember the calm and quite atmosphere of the place where the Buddhist Discussion Centre is located. Dr. John D. Hughes loves Bangladesh very much. I have observed in him the magnanimous kindness and sympathy for the Buddhists of Bangladesh. He always tries his level best to support Bangladesh in any disaster, calamity. Whenever any appeal from Bangladesh has gone to from any organization, he has always published the appeal in his Buddha Dhyana Dana Review and circulated the appeal throughout the world. His contributions towards the propagation of Buddhism is unparalleled. Dr. John D. Hughes has graced the Chair of Vice Presidentship many times in the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) and is actively associated with World Buddhist University.

Dr. John D. Hughes is a devoted Buddhist in the Buddhist world. His writings are worth mentioning and praiseworthy. I am his admirer and appreciate him for his outstanding works through the Buddhist Discussion Centre.

On behalf of Aburkhil Janakalyan Samiti-Bangladesh, a Regional Centre of the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY), and on behalf of the Buddhist devotees of Dhamma Village Aburkhil, in commemoration of his 73rd Birth Day we would like to award him formally with a title “DHAMMARATNA” ( which means Jewel of Dhamma) for his remarkable contributions towards the propagation of Buddha’s Teachings for the benefits of mankind and humanity. It is our pleasure if he be kind enough to accept our given title.

I wish him every great success in life. I wish him good health and free from all sickness. May the blessings of the Triple Gem be on him and the Buddhist gods protect him in all respects.

Prof. Dr. Bikiran Prasad Barua
President, Aburkhil Janakalyan Samiti- Bangladesh
Chairman, Standing Committee on Publication, Publicity, Education, Culture and Art, World Fellowship of Buddhists, Thailand, Bangkok.

Message on the 73rd Birth Anniversary of Master John D. Hughes and your Founder's Day Celebrations, written by Dr. Sukomal Barua, Professor and Ex Chairman, Department of Sanskrit and Pali, University of Dhaka:

Dear Sir,

I received your e-mail just today. I was not in station for a long time. I beg your pardon that I could not reply in time due to my participation in the Conference of South-East Asia Buddhist Civilization held in Seoul, South Korea.

I am very much glad to learn that you are going to celebrate the 73rd Birth Anniversary of Master John D. Hughes and your Founder's Day Celebrations on 9th September, 2003. I think it is a praiseworthy step taken by you.

John D. Hughes is an authority in Buddhism. He earned high reputation over the world by virtue of his scholarship and outstanding contribution. I firmly believe that the life and contribution of this great savant will inspire the new generation with academic spirit and help us to devote to the flourishment and development of Buddhism and lay a new milestone in the history of Buddhism.

I on behalf of the Buddhist Community of Bangladesh as well as the Department of Sanskrit and Pali, University of Dhaka, convey my gratitude and respect to him on this auspicious day.

May John D. Hughes have long life.

I wish grand success of the 73rd Birth Anniversary of Master John D. Hughes and your Founder's Day Celebrations.

Yours in the Dhamma

Dr. Sukomal Barua
Professor and Ex Chairman, Department of Sanskrit and Pali
University of Dhaka

The next accolade was written by John's wife Anita:

On the great occasion of his 73rd birth anniversary 9 September 2003.
From his wife Anita.

Most Venerable Master John D. Hughes, Noble friend, Dear Husband.

My heart overflows with love as I realise you are here on this earth to celebrate another birth anniversary of this human life.

I rejoice that you can continue your great work in Buddha Dhamma to help all sentient beings and that is my utmost wish.

I thank you for your life's work in establishing a place where the Buddha Dhamma can be taught, preserved, practised and realised.

I know it as a rare opportunity to meet the conditions to learn the Buddha Dhamma. This opportunity exists at this Temple because of your work this life and in your past lives.

Today is your birthday and the birthday of this Temple, Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. Today is Founder's Day celebrations.

I join with all Buddha Dhamma practitioners and students in the world and in the heavens to celebrate the founding day of this Temple, a sattadevamanussanam, a Temple for Humans and Gods.

Thank you John D. Hughes.

We come together to celebrate globally in the attainment of Members and students of this Temple.

Thank you John D. Hughes.

We revel in and admire the minor and major works accomplished by this Temple.

Thank you John D. Hughes.

We come together in harmony, meet in harmony, disperse in harmony as recommended by Lord Buddha to generate the causes for long life of this Temple.

Thank you John D. Hughes.

We celebrate your determination and will in recovering from illness and overcoming many pains living here.

Thank you John D. Hughes.

We celebrate you resuming your Teaching Buddha Dhamma to us, guiding us and generating the good conditions for us to learn.

Thank you John D. Hughes.

We celebrate our good fortune in continuing to know you and helping you with your mandate, that this Temple last for the next 500 years as a Buddha Dhamma Temple for the future generations of sentient beings.

Thank you John D. Hughes.

Let goodly co-mates in the righteous life come here in the future, and let those that have already come live happily.

Please continue with your Buddha Dhamma work and live a long and healthful life for the sake of all sentient beings. I walk with you and serve you all the days of my life.

Julie O'Donnell wrote in her accolade for John D. Hughes:

Saddhu, Saddhu, Saddhu John David Hughes.

Thank you for taking birth in lands where there is no Buddha Dhamma and making causes and sowing seeds so that Buddha Dhamma may flourish.

Thank you for practising the ten perfections in many ways over countless lifetimes in all realms.

Thank you for building a suitable location at 33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Victoria, Australia, where the light of Buddha Dhamma can shine.

Thank you for teaching us to work in harmony and develop fellowship as a Buddha Dhamma community.

Thank you for showing beings their Buddha nature and recovering it again for them.

Thank you for training in the path of love, compassion and bodhicitta and teaching it to others.

Thank you for coming back to this world and enduring old age, sickness and death allowing others to see the truth.

Kind Guru, John D. Hughes, I request to be taught, I request to be taught, I request to be taught. Please teach me and grant me blessings so that I may cut the vine of self grasping in my mental continuum, and train in love, compassion and bodhicitta.

May you and Anita have long life, good health and the support of our Members and friends for as long as you wish.

Leanne Eames wrote:

I have been blessed to have been a student of John D. Hughes for many years this life.

In earlier times at the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd, many people with serious life problems such as drug and alcohol dependency, came to the centre. The Teacher would put them to work "chopping wood and carrying water", until their minds were settled enough to learn something. Then the great kindness and patience of the Teacher would become apparent as he spent many consecutive hours and days teaching them in order that they could begin to build a new life based on the principles of Buddha Dhamma practice, learning how to be happier.

Thank you John D. Hughes, for the many things you have taught me over many years, both worldly and non-worldly, but most of all, thank you for teaching me the Dhamma.

A good Buddha Dhamma Teacher is a rare and precious thing to find.

Thank you for teaching me the universal bases of Buddha Dhamma practise, knowledges that I carry with me wherever I go.

Thank you for your forbearance and great effort and determination as you teach many beings.

Thank you for building a Buddha Dhamma centre rich with opportunities for students to make merit and thus learn.

Thank you for being a wish-fulfilling gem.

And thank you for teaching me how to begin to open my heart.

May the Triple Gem bless you always.

With love, Leanne Eames.

The final accolade we would like to read for you was sent by Alex Serrano, a past Student of John D. Hughes.

In Praise of John Hughes, Dhamma Teacher
Composed by Alex Serrano on the occasion of Founder’s Day 9 September 2003

If we are comfortable with Life, and reconciled to our passing from Life, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we are unperplexed, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we are worthy of responsibility and praise, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we are sane, and free from irrational fears, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we are patient in difficulty, and persist in doing what is good, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we are tolerant of our limitations, and accept the limitations of others, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we can perceive, and enjoy, that which is truly beautiful in this world, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we love without regret, and rejoice in others’ achievements, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we can feed ourselves, and possess the means to feed ourselves again, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we trust in our intellects to grow in knowledge and wisdom through dint of effort, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we recognise vanity or willfulness in any of our own, or others’ actions, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we have indefatigable energy, akin to a country stream winding its way to the parent ocean, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we recognise the most precious aspects of our own persons, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we become daily more handsome and pleasant in appearance, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we become more comfortable both in mind and body, with each passing day, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we can communicate clearly and directly, without resorting to convoluted expressions, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we have abandoned perplexed thinking, and employ workable reason, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we see hope where once we saw hopelessness, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we protect our knowledge where once we debased its currency among the ignorant, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we esteem our parents, tolerating their limitations as we recognize our own, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we adapt to change as the colour of the ocean does to that of the sky, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we apply flexible solutions to intractable problems, eschewing dogmatism and embracing opportunity, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we are free from addiction to negative emotional or intellectual states, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we become happier with each passing day of each passing year, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If our determination becomes more and more thoroughgoing and well founded, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we can understand the paths to wealth and happiness, and those which conversely lead to indigence and unhappiness, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we can understand that to be human means to impact in many ways the lives of others, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we understand that actions bring about their natural results as effectively as a wheel mark follows a wheel, it is because our Teacher guides us.

If we understand why nations develop and become powerful, and why they decay and become weak, it is because our Teacher guides us.

We praise the day we first met our Teacher.

We praise the day we can learn from our Teacher.

We praise the day we can practice the Buddha Dhamma.

Sadhu!
Sadhu!
Sadhu!

This script was compiled by Leanne Eames and Evelin Halls.

References:
Our LAN2, I:/SETOFACCOLADES

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