The Brooking Street Bugle

Issue No. 122 (New Series)
ISSN 1321 - 1463

Publication Date: 26 March, 2005

Published and Printed by the Chan Academy Australia.
Chan Academy is a registered business name of the
Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
A.C.N. 005 701 806 A.B.N. 42 611 496 488
33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Victoria 3158 Australia
Telephone and Fax: +61 3 9754 3334
E-mail address: wbu@bdcu.org.au
World Fellowship of Buddhists Regional Centre
Associated Institution of the World Buddhist University





Lifetimes of Learning
and the cultivation of Friendliness, Practicality, Professionalism,
Cultural Adaptability and Scholarship

Our websites:

www.bdcu.org.au
www.bddronline.net.au
www.bdcublessings.net.au
www.bsbonline.com.au
www.buyresolved.com.au

Editor: Leanne Eames, B.A., M.A.
Assistant Editor: Anita M. Hughes, RN Div 1

Chan Academy Australia
Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. Disclaimer

As we, the Chan Academy Australia, Chan Academy being a registered business name of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd., do not control the actions of our service providers from time to time, make no warranty as to the continuous operation of our web site(s). Also, we make no assertion as to the veracity of any of the information included in any of the links with our web sites, or any other source accessed through our website(s).

Accordingly, we accept no liability to any user or subsequent third party, either expressed or implied, whether or not caused by error or omission on either our part, and member, employee or other person associated with the Chan Academy Australia, Chan Academy being a registered business name of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.

May You Be Well and Happy.

The Purposes of this Publication

The purposes of this publication are to:

Inform Members and others of coming events.

Report on monitoring of current activities and policies.

Help Members and friends understand the benefits of using technology in our organisation for Teaching Buddha Dhamma.

Write in a style recognisable by those who use English as a second language.

Provide glossaries and definitions for key terms used for teaching Buddha Dhamma.

Improve, report and develop cash generating activities to promote Buddha Dhamma.

Show examples of Buddha Dhamma education within our five styles of cultivation in action.

Provide timely advice on Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S).

Declare, celebrate and record scheduled Buddhist educational events.

Provide accurate information via our websites on how we educate on Buddha Dhamma legally in Victoria, Australia.

Provide opportunities for Buddha Dhamma activities and ceremonies.

Assist our globalisation of Buddha Dhamma education policy.

Provide text for our online version of the Brooking Street Bugle at www.bsbonline.com.au.

Index

1. Glossary
2. Sangha News
3. Coming Events
4. Company Structure
5. Keynote Opportunities
6. Appeals and Special Projects
7. Current Research and Development Interests
8. Information Technology News
9. Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)
10. Corporate Governance & Reporting (CGR)
11. International Dhamma Activities (IDA)
12. Local Area Planning & Asset Management (LAPAM)
13. Members' News
14. Funds Appeal
15. Photographs
16. Transferring of Merit

Copyright Provisions

The Brooking Street Bugle is for free distribution. It contains Buddha Dhamma material and is provided for the purposes of research and study. It is also published online with colour photographs at www.bsbonline.com.au. Brooking Street Bugle On Line is a registered Business Name in the state of Victoria. Permission is given to make printouts of this publication for free distribution only with acknowledgements of the source, Australian Company Number ACN, Australian Business Number ABN and publication address. Please keep it in a clean place.

"The gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts".
© 2002, Copyright. Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.

1. Glossary

Upajjhaya: Preceptor

2. Sangha News

Visit by Ajaan Thanasanti

Ajaan Thanasanti, a Nun in the Thai forest tradition, is currently visiting Melbourne.

Ajaan Thanasanti was born in California in 1962. She completed a BA in Biology and worked for a few years as an analytical chemist before beginning training in 1989 as a Novice Nun at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. She received ordination in 1992 at Amaravati and trained for 11 years in England at both Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries with Ajahn Sumedho as her Teacher. Ajaan Thanasanti has been leading Buddhist seminars since 1985 and teaching intensive meditation retreats internationally for many years. Her interest is integrating insight into the full human condition and using nature as a support in the practice.

Ajaan Thanasanti will give a Dhamma talk at our Centre on the evening of Monday 28 March, at 7.30 pm. The theme of the talk will be anatta: no self.

There is no charge for this Teaching.

Weekly Theravada Teachings on Monday Evenings

Venerable Vimalananda and Venerable Upatissa from the Sakyamuni Buddha Vihara in Berwick continue guide meditation at our Temple every Monday evening from 7.30pm. Please arrive by 7.15pm.

We thank the Venerables from the Sakyamuni Buddha Vihara for their ongoing teaching program.

3. Coming Events

Five Day Bhavana Course Friday 25 March 2005 to Monday 28 March 2005

This course is called: The No self you are looking for through guarding the mind.

Ajaan Thanasanti will give a Dhamma teaching on No-Self on Monday 28th March at 7:30pm.

Julian Bamford will guide meditation on Sunday 27 March from 8:30 to 9:30pm.

The teacher for the course is Anita Hughes - Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Leila Igracki will coordinate the food.

All persons attending are requested to help with the preparation and serving of meals and the cleaning after meals.

This course is to develop in the student the causes to see anicca, dukkha and anatta. It is to build the mind that sees anicca, dukkha and anatta on the body (rupa).

Seeing the body as impermanent, unsatisfactory and having no real owner is the ultimate reality view.

A mind that sees these three marks of existence at once, that is at one time, is a mind that can access nibbana.

So the practice is to use mindfulness and alertness to see the three marks of existence on one's body all at once.

Accessing this view, one can then develop the mind further by seeing anicca, dukkha and anatta in all of our internal and external phenomena.

To start, we guard the mind, to protect it, we must bind the mind up, to stop it from running wild on its natural habits of reacting to everything it sees, smells, touches, feels, hears and thinks, to stop it from making causes to hurt in the future. We practice Occupational Health & Safety for our current and future life.

To do this, focus in the present on what is happening (what is arising) and what are we doing (what are our actions). This is called developing sati (mindfulness).

When you know what is happening in the present (what is arising) then you can use alertness or wisdom to see the impermanence of what is arising. What is arising in the present will pass. Your present feelings, thoughts and sense perceptions come and go. Focus on the unsatisfactoriness of what is arising some things that arise you want to stay and other things that arise you do not want to stay. There is no end to the wishing for, and the wishing not for, various things- this causes the unsatisfactoriness or dukkha of our world, both internal and external. Focus on the lack of self in what is arising. You see that what is arising in the present is the result of past actions, and nothing else. The reason someone gives you flowers is because you made causes to see flowers being given to you, you gave flowers in the past, you grew flowers, you wished to see flowers, you said " I love flowers" and you repeated these actions on body, speech and mind many times in the past. That is the real reason. Everything that arises in your world is because you made the causes for those things and phenomena to arise.

So on each phenomenon that arises in the present to see anicca, dukkha and anatta, not just one of them, but all three. Generate the wish to see all three marks of existence at once.

Stop the actions that you do not wish to perpetuate and generate and continue the actions that you do wish to perpetuate or keep doing.

How do you know what actions to perpetuate and what actions to not continue?

Precepts. The Buddha gave us rules, known as precepts and vows, as a means of knowing what not to do and what to continue to do.

With your alertness use the five precepts and any extra precepts and vows that you have decided to live by to check your actions in the present moment.

To give yourself more control over your actions, plan ahead. Do actions that you know are good and are opposite to actions that go against precepts and vows. Develop a life plan ­ a plan of living in accordance with the precepts.

All the ritual actions that we do will be of no benefit unless we guard our mind from making causes that result in our suffering.

The process is to make merit and use this merit to see anicca, dukkha and anatta all at once.
1. Make merit: For merit-making activities please choose from our project list.
2. Keep five precepts or more to guard your mind and protect it from making painful causes.
3. Contemplate five reflections on food when eating or drinking anything.
4. While performing any activity, direct your mind to see anicca, dukkha and anatta in all that you see, feel, think, smell, touch, hear and do.
5. Please record you activities and your findings on PC1A in the Sariputta room at the end of this file. You may remain anonymous.

On Friday, Saturday and Monday, meditation is after lunch 3:00- 4:00pm and after dinner at 7:30 to 8:30pm. On Sunday mediation is at 8:30 to 9:30pm.

Sukhavati Puja II with Francisco So

Date: 28 March, 2005 (Easter Monday)
Time: 9.30 pm to 11.30 am
1.30 pm to 4.00 pm

Documents required:
Sukhavati ritual
Visualization of Sukhavati Sutra

Please bring round-shaped fruit, cakes, and any other suitable offering.

All are welcome.

Buddha Dhamma Teaching Program

We invite Members of the Sangha to come to our Temple to give Dhamma talks on Monday and Friday evenings as part of our Buddha Dhamma Teaching Program for 2004. Classes commence at 7.30pm.

We thank the Venerable Sangha for blessing our Temple, and Members and Friends and accepting our request.

May the Buddha Dhamma be taught at our Temple.

Members and students are welcome to attend and are requested to bring suitable offerings such as flowers, daily necessities and books as dana for the Sangha.

On Friday evenings from 7.30pm teachings are held from the Mahayana tradition. Sessions so far have included the playing of videotaped teachings of the late Master John D. Hughes on the Prajna Paramita (The Perfection of Wisdom) We have also listened to the CD series "Mahamudra" by Geshe Michael Roach.

Currently we are listening to taped teachings by the late Master John D. Hughes on Friday evenings.

Please feel free to invite Buddha Dhamma Teachers in the Mahayana tradition to come and give Teachings on Friday evenings.

Students and Members are invited to bring suitable offerings such as flowers, food, water, paper, and Buddha Dhamma texts as offerings.

We thank Mrs. Anita M. Hughes for initiating this program of Buddha Dhamma teachings at our Temple.

May Anita M. Hughes be well and happy.

Abhidhamma Classes

Abhidhamma classes are now being taught by Pennie White. We thank Pennie for her efforts in this regard.

Also, Evelin Halls will be developing study notes for Abhidhamma classes to give to students. This will commence by mid-year.

Abhidhamma classes continue every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm. Chanting takes place in our Hall of Assembly prior to the class at 7.15pm. All Members and Friends are welcome.

Our current Abhidhamma studies are based on "The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma" by Dr. Mehm Tin Mon. Classes are free of charge.

Students are requested to bring suitable offerings each week to the Abhidhamma Teachings, including flowers, Basmati rice and two reams of Reflex A4 paper. Recycled paper is not suitable as it jams in our printers.

Coming Events at Other Centres

We have a white folder titled "Coming Events at Other Organisations".

Persons who are interested in these events can find the folder in the Sariputta Room, shelf next to PC1A.

Some coming events at other organisations are also published in the Brooking Street Bugle and uploaded onto our websites.

It is suggested that all Members keep track of what is happening at other organisations so that they know which are the important events to attend.

This will also help us to step up our PR programs. We want to continue to provide our Temple for future students so that they can learn the Buddha Dhamma for at least the next 500 years.

Please refer to the white folder labelled "Coming Events at Other Centres" for further details about these events.

4. Company Structure

Our Company Office Bearers and Management Team
(as of 7 August 2004)

Founder
The late John D. Hughes Dip. App. Chem. T.T.T.C. GDAIE

Resident Practitioner
Anita Hughes R.N.Div1

Abbot
Anita Hughes R.N.Div1

Assistant Abbots
Julie O'Donnell
Evelin Halls B.A.

Directors of the Centre
Anita M. Hughes, RN Div 1
Evelin Halls B.A.
Julie O'Donnell

President
Julian Bamford B.A. App. Rec.

Junior Vice-President
Alec Sloman

Secretary
Anita Hughes RN Div 1.

Assistant Secretary
Julie O'Donnell

Joint Treasurers
Peter Boswell CPA and David Igracki

Financial Controller
Peter Boswell CPA

Assistant Treasurer
Frank Carter B.Ec.

Vice Presidents
Corporate Governance & Reporting
Evelin Halls B.A.
International Dhamma Activities
Pennie White B.A.Dip.Ed.
Local Area Planning & Asset Management
Frank Carter B.Ec.
Fundraising
David Ley, Architect (UK), BBlgs

Assistant Manager, Local Area Planning & Asset Management
Paul Tyrrell

Joint Managers, Occupation Health & Safety
Anita Hughes R.N. Div1
Frank Carter B.Ec.

Fuel Manager
David Igracki

Catering Manager
Leila Igracki

Chief Information Officer
Leanne Eames B.A., M.A.

Librarian
Anita M. Hughes R.N.Div1
Assistant Librarian
Julie O'Donnell

Editors Buddha Dhyana Dana Review
Evelin Halls B.A.
Pennie White B.A. Dip. Ed.
Assistant Editor Buddha Dhyana Dana Review
Julian Bamford B.A. App. Rec.

Editors Longhair Australia News
Julian Bamford B.A. App. Rec.
Leanne Eames B.A. M.A.
Evelin Halls B.A.
Pennie White B.A. Dip. Ed.

Editor Brooking Street Bugle
Leanne Eames B.A. M.A.

Executive Producer Buddhist Hour Broadcast
Julian Bamford B.A. App. Rec.

Producer Buddhist Hour Broadcast
Pennie White B.A. Dip. Ed.

Assistant Producers Buddhist Hour Broadcast
Julian Bamford B.A. App. Rec.
Evelin Halls B.A.
Leanne Eames B.A. M.A.
Lainie Smallwood B.A. Business, B.A. Comm.

Director of Abhidhamma Teachings
Evelin Halls B.A.

Assistants of Abhidhamma Teachings
Leanne Eames B.A.M.A.
Pennie White B.A. Dip.Ed

Manager Enterprise Technology
Evelin Halls B.A.

IT Development Engineer
John Watson Senior CTS Engineer

IT Technical Support
Kamfatt Lin B.Sc (Eng),MCP, CNA, MCSE, MCDBA

5. Keynote Opportunities

We wish the Buddha Dhamma to grow in the hearts and minds of men, women, devas and devatas.

Our Centre has grown steadily over the past 25 years, allowing many beings their first access to Buddha Dhamma in this life and providing them with suitable conditions to learn and practice the Buddhist Path.

Now we are planning to build a new Meditation Hall and Library. The new Meditation Hall will be called the "The John D. Hughes Meditation Hall". We plan to start digging the stump holes this year.

The merit made by helping to build this Meditation Hall and Library will be vast and will be experienced by those that participate for many lifetimes.

Our wish is to benefit all beings by building a Temple where the Buddha Dhamma can be taught in this Buddha Sasene. We are planning to finish the new Meditation Hall and Library by 2007.

We will invite three Buddha Dhamma Teachers to come to our new Meditation Hall to give Buddha Dhamma discourses. We intend to invite the Venerable Ajahn Phra Plien Panyapatipo, Geshe Michael Roach and Venerable Mahinda.

We request the Devas and Devatas of Building and Construction to please help us.

We request the Dragon King and Nagas to please help us.

On 29 October 1989 a foundation stone was laid in the Western part of our Centre's Heavenly Dhamma Garden with the words "Meditation Hall". The ceremony formed part of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. Long Life Day held on the Centre premises.

Following a traditional Thai Temple inauguration presided over by the Sangha, jewel offerings were made to establish protectors for the Meditation Hall site and the Chief Monks assisted in the laying of the Foundation Stone. The Mangala Sutta was chanted during the ceremony. The Monks were then requested to establish the Meditation Hall boundary which was done with 32 poles.

Long Life Knots were offered to the Monks, our members and the many lay persons who attended the day.

In his welcoming address the President, John D. Hughes, began with the blessing:

NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO ARAHATO SAMMASAMBUDDHASSA

We include excerpts from his speech for you today.

Since the inaugural meeting of this Centre on 9 September 1978, many, many people have been given food and shelter, clothing, material aid, monetary assistance, work opportunities, work skill training, educational guidance, counselling and advice in career paths.

During the last decade, we have been privileged to attend upon many Buddhist Monks and Nuns who have visited or lived at this Centre.

Without doubt, we have the will to continue such beneficial deeds for decades to come.

The repeated accumulation in this location of Dana and Sila actions opens the Path leading to access and fruit of many wholesome cetasikas in our students.

With a basis of cultivated wholesome cetasikas, the students' wisdom increases enabling them to practise Dana and Sila actions with greater understanding, energy and precision.

We never lose sight of our primary objective which has been from our inception to encourage the study, practice and realisation of Buddha Dhamma.

He noted that the immediate need of our Centre is a new Meditation Hall.

John D.Hughes concluded by saying:

"Again and again and again I praise the Buddha Dhamma Sangha which is our Refuge. Like you, again and again and again, the Buddha Dhamma Sangha shall be praised in this place, and to continue this praise it is my honour to call upon the two Chief Monks to perform the ceremony of setting and fixing of the Foundation Stone".

Some years later our Founder guided the construction of a life-size image of Padmasambhava positioned just in front of the foundation stone, using clay dug from the area of ground around the altar.

Our new Meditation Hall and Library will incorporate the Padmasambhava image into its design.

Our Centre is the oldest operating Buddha Dhamma Centre and Buddha Dhamma library that has remained in the same location in the State of Victoria.

Our library, The John D. Hughes Collection, contains most of our sources of research information. During the last four decades the library collection has been assembled by our Teacher. The main body of the collection will be housed in our new Meditation Hall.
The new Meditation Hall and Library is greatly needed to maintain our Key objectives as follows:

1. To introduce a philosophy of life based on Buddha Dhamma.
2. To encourage the study, practice and realisation of Buddha Dhamma.
3. To preserve the Buddha Dhamma teachings.
4. To promote activities associated with Buddha Dhamma and Buddhist culture in Australia and overseas.

Some of our Members attended Teachings by Venerable Ajaan Plien Panyapatipo on his recent visit to Australia. When they informed Venerable Plien of our intention to build the new Meditation Hall and Library, he gave his blessings, saying that it would be a great means by which to help others, saying also that "This will make you strong", and that this opportunity would create the causes to "make you very happy".

We thank Venerable Plien for his blessings.

The Bodhi Care Aged Nursing Home for Mind and Body is to developed and operated on Buddhist principles. It will be run as a Not for Profit organisation.

The initial working party comprises Anita Hughes, Julian Bamford, Frank Carter and David Ley. On 16 March 2005 Mr David Reese from Universal Care Management Melbourne visited 33 Brooking Street and provided an overview of the Commonwealth Aged Care Approvals funding process, how to go about applying, likely time lines.

Mr Reese will send a proposal outlining how their organisation may be of assistance including the stages and indicative fees.

Caroline Lee, an Aged Care Specialist and Consultant has agreed to act as our special Adviser for the project and application process.

The Commonwealth funding application process closing date is approximately 12 weeks, commencing around late April/May. It is thought likely that funding announcements will be made around September 2005.

In the 2004 funding for 755 new beds was allocated totalling $14.99 million.

There is a set maximum period of 2 years from the time of gaining funding approval to commencing building a new facility. Progress during this time, identifying the right site, planning approvals etc is monitored by the Commonwealth on a quarterly basis.

Application forms can be downloaded from the Commonwealth Aged Care site at www.health.gov.au.

We need to ascertain mix of care levels for facility. Low to High care (scale of 1 to 7).

It is suggested that we apply for the highest number of beds we feel we can service. The minimum level is 60 beds rising to 100+.

The design of the facility would be based on an eight-sided wheel accommodating for example 108 beds.

Actions:

Collect most recent ABS demographics on Buddhists living in Victoria/Melbourne.

Print out list of Buddhist Centres/Temples in Melbourne and map their locations. Matrix these against ABS/LGA demographics.

Prepare letter to ACPAC for April meeting to advise them of our intention to start Bodhi Care, and seek meeting to put case. This is a preliminary to step to flag our intention to submit application for 2005 Aged Care Funding Approval.

Anita Hughes, Frank Carter and David Ley to visit Buddhist Nursing home in Western Australia.

Identify criteria/timelines for the Commonwealth Government Aged Care Approvals Round 2005.

Arrange for meeting with Caroline Lee

Working party Members (Frank, Julian, David and others) to study the field of Aged Care including: current practices, management, facility development, operations and trends.

Nursing Home Update for 24 March 2005

Frank Carter rang Mr Salim Lee on 21 March 2005 who resides in Perth to find out about a nursing home he has already built based on Buddhist principles.

Mr. Lee has a close connection to Geshe Michael Roach and the World View organisations including the Enlightened Business Institute.

Mr. Lee is a professional architect and has designed and built a resort type complex which is not overtly Buddhist but has been conceived and designed by applying the principles of Six Perfections of Buddhist practice.

Mr. Lee mentioned that Master Rusan and Jason Lee had visited the complex for a four day period to help them plan and construct a nursing home at Narre Warren in the future.

The advice given by Mr Lee was essentially to create a small team of full time professionals to plan and implement the project and then other persons can help them in a voluntary capacity.

He also said he would like to see a nursing home built by Buddhists in Melbourne and he offered to help us.

We have subsequently sent an email to Mr Lee to enquire if he is likely to visit Melbourne in the near future. We have invited him to come to our Centre to visit us at that time.

Next Nursing Home Meeting

A meeting will be held on Saturday April 9 at 2pm. Anita Hughes, Julian Bamford, Caroline Lee, an Aged Care consultant, Penny Webster, an Aged Care industry professional and Owen and Tiffany Smith will be in attendance.

Members who are interested in helping with the project please attend.

Sumi-e Program 2005

Dates for sumi-e classes for the remainder of 2005 with Master Andre Sollier are:

22 April, 21 May, 18 June, 16 August, 17 September, 15 October, 19 November, 10 December

Each sumi-e class commences at 10am and runs until 3pm with a one hour break for lunch. Students are welcome to bring food for lunch and flowers for offering to the Teacher.

Students should arrive at the Centre by 9.30am to be seated in the hall ready for the class to commence at 10am.

Student fees are $66 per class (including GST) with all painting materials supplied.

Payments should be made in cash or cheque made payable to Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.

For bookings please telephone Mr Julian Bamford on 0400 267 330 or call the Chan Academy Australia on 03 9754 3334.

Chan Painting Teachings

Melba Nielsen is teaching the basics of Chan Painting to those who wish to learn. Class participants are learning to paint the Four Friends - bamboo, chrysanthemum, plum blossom and the orchid.

The 2005 Chan Program is uploaded on our website www.bdcu.org.au. You can find it by clicking on the link "2005 Chan Painting Program" on the home page.

Thangka Painting Classes

Thangka painting classes are held at our Centre every second Saturday evening, commencing from 7.30 pm. Subjects include Green Tara, Vajrasattva and Padmasambhava. Members are enjoying learning the techniques of thangka painting, guided by senior Members and referring to some of our library resources on this subject, as well as the joy and the merit of this activity.

The next class will be held on April 2, 2005. Please contact Julie O'Donnell for details on 9754-3334.

6. Appeals and Special Projects

Easter Sunday 2005 Flower Stall

On Sunday 27 March 2005 our Easter Sunday Flower Stall is being held at the Mobil Service Station, 619 Boronia Road, Wantirna.

Based on results from previous years, we have budgeted to raise $400 profit. If sales are stronger than in previous years more flowers can be purchased during the day to increase our profit.

We request the Deva of Wealth to help us with this flower stall fundraising project.

The following Members and friends will be helping us with the event.

David Ley
Xiou Yen
Leila Igracki
David Igracki
Frank Carter
Julie O'Donnell
Paul Tyrrell
Celestina Giuliano
Melba Nielsen
Lainie Smallwood

We thanks Stacey the Manager of the Mobil Service Station for kindly allowing us to use the front lawn of their premises for our stall.

Camberwell Market Stall

Thank you to the Chief God of Wealth and all other Devas and Devatas and Members who help us with the Camberwell Market Stall.

This is an important fundraising and PR activity, attracting prospective buyers with our white tents and colourful blessing flags. Goods for sale include Chan prints, gift cards, plants and second-hand goods.

The Camberwell Market Stall held on Sunday 27 of February 2005 generated the following returns.

Profit $160.00, Raffle $48, Bangladesh Stand $20.65.

The sales team for the day was Celestina Guiliano, Frank Carter, David Ley and Julian Bamford.

The Camberwell Market Stall held on Sunday 6 March 2005 generated the following returns.

Profit $168.10, Raffle $100, Bangladesh Stand $13.55.

The sales team for the day was Alec Sloman, Frank Carter, David Igracki and Julian Bamford.

The Camberwell Market Stall held on Sunday 13 March 2005 generated the following returns.

Profit $123.65, Raffle $34, Bangladesh Stand $13.75.

The sales team for the day was David Ley, Xiou Yen, Frank Carter, David Igracki and Lainie Smallwood.

The Camberwell Market Stall held on Sunday 20 March 2005 generated the following returns.

Profit $129, Raffle $60, Bangladesh Stand $7.70.

The sales team for the day was David Ley, Frank Carter, David Igracki and Alec Sloman.

7. Current Research and Development Interests

JDH Digitisation Project

The Digitisation Paper on digitisation of the John D. Hughes Collection of audio recordings is currently being developed. See the Information Technology section for details.

Information Communication Technologies at the WBU

Ms Pennie White will be reporting on the research conducted at the World Buddhist University on their use of Information and Communication Technologies.

8. Information Technology News

Next VET update due 27 March 2004

It is recommended to update our LAN machines at least every 3 months with the latest update files.

Next VET update due: 27 March 2004

PC13A, PC5A and PC15A have also been updated with the latest VET - now we have all computers running the latest VET.

NOTE: Our Internet machine automatically updates itself whenever we are online.

PhotoLAN update

Tiraj Adikari has reported that the administrative aspect of the software he has developed is now completed. We thank Tiraj for his continued efforts.

A meeting was held at Tiraj's house with Frank Carter and Alec Sloman.
During the meeting many aesthetic changes were made to the website, which now is in accordance with our website standards.

We hope that 'Buddhaview' will be ready to publish very soon.

9. Occupational Health and Safety News (OH&S)

1. Injuries reported

There were no injuries reported for March 2005

2. Hazards Identified, Potential and actual

Seal the main house roof from possums and rats.
Extend the retaining wall at the East End of the Chan
Hall.
Repair the sensor light at Suite 10A
Remove the hazards identified during the recent Fire
Fighting Drill.
Replace the low voltage lights on the Buddha Rupa
Pavilion
Clean gutters

Hazards Removed

Replaced the metal strips on steps leading up to the kitchen dining room with rounded edging
Fitted new lino in the amenities block
Fitted hardwood floor boards in the amenities block entrance
Fitted wire mesh to underside of main house to prevent
embers attack

4. Our Fire Fighting Program

Identification of fire risks matters to be attended to was written down after our Fire Drill in January.
The fire fighting water pipe is to be fitted to the North wall of the new kitchen dining room.
The roof eaves need to be fireproofed
A new extension ladder needs to be obtained.

5. First Aid Kit

Please Note: We are not allowed to provide medications as first aid. Our first aid kit does not contain medications. Members must bring their own Panadol, sunscreen, etc.

Resuscitation Kit

Anita Hughes is the only Member trained to use this equipment.

We encourage other Members to undertake First Aid Level 3 certificate, which will train them in the use of this equipment. This will be especially beneficial in a bush fire situation where smoke inhalation is a major problem.

7. Occupational Health & Safety infrastructure improvement.

Members who see any OH& S items which need attention please either mention this to Frank Carter or Anita Hughes.

8. New OH&S Publications

Occupation Health & Safety Report March 2005.

9. Current Projects

Obtain a new extension ladder
Complete building the safety retaining wall at the end of the Chan Academy Hall
The fire fighting water pipe is to be fitted to the North wall of the new kitchen dining room.
Gutters to be cleaned
Extension ladder to be obtained.
Fire Hazard Reduction
Fire Proofing

10. Future Projects

LAPAM Audit and Do List

11. Essential Services Report

Preliminary work commenced.

The 240 Volt electrical cable which has been used to power the 12 volt lighting system on the Buddha Rupa main pavilion will no longer be used due to the risk of electrical shock.

Solar lighting units are being donated to the Centre for lighting in this area.

A new Dyson vacuum cleaner has been purchased by Anita Hughes.

This vacuum cleaner has a sophisticated filter system called a hepolite filter which removes fine dust particles from the air when it passes through the machine. It is better for people with allergies, hay fever and respiratory problems than conventional vacuum cleaners.

10. Corporate Governance & Reporting (CGR)

Colour Code: Red
CGR Manager: Pennie White
CGR Vice President: Evelin Halls
CGR Task Unit Members: Julian Bamford, Peter Boswell, Frank Carter, Leanne Eames, Lenore Hamilton, Lisa Nelson, Lainie Smallwood, Anita Hughes, Amber Svensson.

CGR Task Unit Responsibilities: Adhere to legal requirements of corporate affairs; accounts; communicate with Federal, State and Local government departments; organise GST payments; supply Australian Tax Office with Business Activity Statements; provide timely managerial information to ensure profits are made; provide monthly Profit and Loss Activity Statements; arrange for the audit of accounts at a professional level to meet the Statutory requirements of the Gaming Commission of New South Wales (NSW).; arrange General meetings and maintain statutory minutes for these meetings; monitor and adhere to Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) policy; provide first aid facilities; organise attendants for staffing the Centre; correspondence; schedule events for our Teacher; structure new databases and train persons to maintain them; train personnel to operate CGR functions; refreshment supply; fund and organise Dana for the Sangha visiting the Centre; create goodwill with our neighbours; and with local newspapers to advise the community of upcoming events.

Junior Vice-President

Alec Sloman has been elected as a Junior-Vice President of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.

Alec said, "I hope that this training will prepare me to become a good President in the future!"

New Treasurer's Activities

The handover of Treasurer duties from our previous Treasurer Peter Boswell to our new Treasurer David Igracki is now complete.

David Igracki with the help of Angus is now performing all the activities required including preparation of our Quarterly Business Activity Statement, presentation of financial statements and reports at company meetings and the Annual General Meeting and transfer of donated funds to Dhammarajika Orphanage in Bangladesh.

Thank you David and Angus for your good work to support and look after our Centre.

General Meetings Held Last Friday of Each Month

The next General Meeting will be held on Friday 29 April, 2005 at 8.00pm. All Members are encouraged to attend.

11. International Dhamma Activities (IDA)

IDA Colour Code: Yellow
IDA Manager: Evelin Halls
IDA Vice-President: Pennie White
IDA Task Unit Members: Anita M. Hughes, Julian Bamford, Peter Boswell, Helen Costas, Leanne Eames, Leila Igracki, Julie O'Donnell, David Ley, Lainie Smallwood, Amber Svensson, Paul Tyrrell, Celestina Guiliano.

IDA Task Unit Responsibilities:

To maintain WFB liaison; to maintain WBU liaison; to arrange Abhidhamma Teachings; chanting, pujas, translations; to maintain and preserve the John D. Hughes Collection; to organise audio and video recordings of teachings and events; to develop and maintain the Centre's IT systems, data warehouse, LAN and web sites; to train Members to become Webmasters; to develop e-commerce; to produce, edit, publish and distribute the BDDR and BSB, to write and broadcast "Buddhist Hour" radio scripts; to organise and teach Chan classes.

JDH Collection Audio Tape Digitisation Project

Members continue to transcribe and check teachings by Master John D. Hughes.

Through the continued efforts of many students, we have now completed transcribing all 19 discourses given by John D. Hughes during a 5-Day Bhavana course in June 1988.

We will continue to transcribe the teachings given by John D. Hughes, the next one to be transcribed is 'Meditation on Hate, Greed and Ignorance' which was recorded on 06/08/1984.

An archive version is created from each tape, which is then edited for uploading onto our http://www.edharma.org website. Click on the link to "Teachings" to find the audio files in mp3 format ready for download.

The teachings are also used as the basis for our weekly radio broadcasts on the Buddhist Hour at 88.0FM.

We are currently working on Tape 9 of this series.

We are planning to load many more audio and text files of the Teachings of John D. Hughes.

The No-Self You are Looking for

The entire body of text that composes the June 1988 Bhavana course has been compiled by Alec Sloman. It has been given the name:

Buddha Dhamma Teachings by John D. Hughes.
The No-Self You Are Looking For.

Much editing and revision of this text is still required. In other words, this text is not in its final form.

The reason for this compilation is to create the causes for the teachings of John D. Hughes to be made available to the public so that they can benefit many beings. Also, when the text has been thoroughly proofread, it is hoped that we can print many copies for the purpose of giving it as Dana to visitors.

A bit of background on the teachings and the manner in which they were compiled:

During the 5-day meditation course in June 1988, there were recorded ten audiotapes of the actual discourses given by John D. Hughes. They were then sorted by date and stored in the John D. Hughes Collection.

During 2004 and now, 2005, those audiotapes were reformatted into a digital audio file and were then transcribed onto a word processor.

Each of the transcriptions (there are 19 in total) are accordingly named as to their content, and are now arranged in their chronological order on our LAN2 text server.

Presented in 14 chapters, some transcriptions have been combined, as they are continuations of the same discourse.

For the purposes of editing, there are a couple of things one should know:

1. Apply edits to THIS DOCUMENT ONLY, the original transcripts are to remain in their current form. Please check any edits with Frank Carter or Leanne Eames.

2.As aforementioned, some chapters are combinations of multiple transcriptions. You can identify where one ends and the next starts by the heading information at the start of each discourse.

John Hughes' Teachings audio files on Internet

Mp3 files with John D. Hughes Buddha Dhamma teachings are loaded on our website www.edharma.org.

You can find the audio files by clicking on the "Teachings" link. Persons can download the mp3 files onto their computers and burn them onto CDs. You can also listen to the teachings online.

PC4 at the Centre is equipped for online listening. Just click on the particular mp3 file, and the Windows Media player will automatically open and you can hear the teachings. With our new broadband connection and the upgraded PC, the audio quality is high.

Any person who has access to the Internet with a PC set up to listen to audio files can now hear John's teachings.

Thank you to all beings, humans, devas and devatas who have helped to make this possible. Please continue to help us.

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

Articles for the BDDR

All Members please help us to write articles about Dhamma activities that we can use for the BDDR.
If you come across any material that would be suitable for inclusion in the BDDR, please pass it along to our webmasters.

Thank you to all who have helped with our websites, and please continue to help.

12. Local Area Planning & Asset Management (LAPAM)

Colour Code: Green
LAPAM Manager: Frank Carter
LAPAM Vice President: Frank Carter
LAPAM Task Unit Members: Julian Bamford, Peter Boswell, Frank Carter, Evelin Halls, David Igracki, David Ley, Brent Kerr, Lisa Nelson, Amber Svensson.LAPAM Task Unit Responsibilities: To maintain and develop the buildings and gardens of the Centre; to undertake new construction works; to refurbish the Centre buildings; and to look after equipment and supplies.

LAPAM Maintenance March 2005

During March 2005 LAPAM members have completed the following maintenance works.

Planted a row of black bamboo behind Suite 10A to soften our next door neighbours view of the high rear wall and roof of this building. (Alec, Frank)

Raised the height of the cover over the Bodhi Trees. (Frank, Paul, Alec, David, Julian)

Repaired the wood heater in the Anita Room. (Frank, David)

Fitted new metal fly screening around the underside of the building to prevent ember attack in bushfire conditions. (Frank)

Repaired the rotting floor at the entrance to the amenities block. (Frank, Alec)

Replaced the lino in the amenities block with new lino. (Frank, David, Alec)

Replaced three lengths of weatherboard on the Sariputta Room which had rotted with new weatherboard. (Paul)

Weeded the garden of the God of Wealth Altar (Leanne)

Placed protective wooden strips on the edge of the stairs into the dining room (Paul)

Cleaned the images and main altar in the Chan Hall (Anita, Julie, Lainie, Frank, Paul, Alec, Celestina)

Other maintenance work to be completed:

Build a protective barrier at the end of the Chan Hall.
Refit the water spray pipe to the Dining Room.

Cleaning and Painting of Buddha Rupa image

On March 26, Anita Hughes, Julie O'Donnell, Jay Eames, David Igracki, Lainie Smallwood and Leanne Eames assisted with the cleaning and touching up with new gold paint of our Buddha Rupa image.

13. Members' News

Retreat Attendance by Members

Junior Vice-President Alec Sloman is currently attending a meditation retreat at Bodhinyana Monastery in Warburton under the guidance of Ajaan Kalyano.

From there, Alec and fellow Member Andrew Pilskalns will proceed to a 3-day retreat at Coastal Forest Lodge in Angelsea under the guidance of Tan Ajahn Dtun, Abbot of Wat Boonyawad in the province of Chonburi where he has lived for the past 14 years. Tan Ajahn Dtun has been a monk for 27 years, and ordained at Wat Nong Pah Pong with the Venerable Bodhinyana Thera (Ajahn Chah) as his upajjhaya.

14. Funds Appeal

Donations

Donations may be sent to:

The Secretary,
Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.,
33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Victoria, 3158.

Please state your name/organisation, address and indicate whether or not you require a receipt.

Please make all cheques payable to "Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd."

Thank you for your kind contribution.

The gift of Dhamma excels all others.

May you be Well and Happy.

Gifts are not tax deductible.

15. Photographs

Ajaan Thanasanti

Ajaan Thanasanti with Members and Friends in the John D. Hughes Meditation Hall

Abbot Anita Hughes offers flowers to Ajaan Thanasanti

Lainie Smallwood offers flowers to Ajaan Thanasanti

Kate Ryan offers flowers to Ajaan Thanasanti

Alec Sloman offers flowers to Ajaan Thanasanti

Frank Carter offers flowers to Ajaan Thanasanti

Paul Tyrell offers flowers to Ajaan Thanasanti

Leila Igracki offers flowers to Ajaan Thanasanti

Julian Bamford offers flowers to Ajaan Thanasanti

16. Transferring of Merit

We regularly transfer merit to the Mahasangha and local deities. They help us on all our projects.

We offer blessed water and food to the deities at the NAT House.