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THE BROOKING STREET BUGLE
Issue No. 56 (New Series)
ISSN 1321 -1463

Publication Date: 11 May 2001

Published and Printed by:
The Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
A.C.N. 005 701 806 A.B.N. 42 611 496 488
33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Victoria Australia 3158. Telephone and Fax +61 3 9754 3334
e-mail address wbu@bdcu.org.au
World Fellowship of Buddhists Regional Centre

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

Editor: John D. Hughes Dip.App.Chem.,T.T.T.C., GDAIE
Vice-president, World Fellowship of Buddhists
Assistant Editor: Pennie White BA. Dip Ed

NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO ARAHATO SAMMASAMBUDDHASSA

The Venerable Dr. Viriyananda Bikkhu

Meditation Hall at 33 Brooking Street, Upwey.

The Purpose of this Publication

The purpose of this publication is to:

1. Advise Members

2. Monitor current activities

3. Improve Fundraising initiatives

4. Advise interested parties of our philosophy.

INDEX

1. Glossary

2. Coming Events

3. Sangha News

4. Keynote Opportunities

5. Infromation Technology News

6. Fundraising Appeals and Special Projects

7. John D. Hughes’ News

8. Current Research and Development 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. Sharing of Merit

Appendices:

Appendix 1: In praise of Fifty Years of flavours and interests generated by the World fellowship of Buddhists (WFB)

Appendix 2: John D. Hughes Versak 2544 B.E. 2001 C.E. Address

Appendix 3: Minutes of the General Meeting held on 6 May 2001

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1. GLOSSARY

Centenary - A space or duration of a hundred years

Prajna Paramita - Perfection of wisdom

Sumi-e - A style of brush painting

Versak - is sometimes spelt Vesak, the full moon in the fifth lunar month is celebrated

WYSIWYG - What you see is what you get

VCR - Video Cassette Recorder

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2. COMING EVENTS

12-05-01	Sumi-e Painting Class taught by Master Andre Sollier	10.00am – 3.00pm
12-05-01	Laine Smallwood's Birthday	All day!
12-05-01	John D. Hughes and Julian Bamford attend Ch'an Exhibition at Chinese Museum	2.30pm – 5.30pm
13-05-01	Buddha Chanting	6.30am – 7.30am
13-05-01	John D. Hughes and Julian Bamford attend ceremony at Inh Young Temple	11.00am – 2.00pm
13-05-01	Mothers' Day flower stall	7.00am – 7.00pm
13-05-01	Hillside Radio Broadcast	11.00am – 12.00 midday
14-05-01	Dhamma Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30pm – 8.30pm
15-05-01	Prajna Paramita Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30om – 8.30pm
16-05-01	Buddha Chanting	6.30am – 7.30am
18-05-01	Dhamma Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30pm – 8.30pm
20-05-01	Hillside Radio Broadcast	11.00am – 12.00 midday
20-05-01	General Meeting for Buddhist Discussion Centre(Upwey)Ltd.
21-05-01	Dhamma Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30pm – 8.30pm
22-05-01	Prajna Paramita Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30om – 8.30pm
23-05-01	Buddha Chanting	6.30am – 7.30am
25-05-01	Dhamma Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30pm – 8.30pm
27-05-01	Hillside Radio Broadcast	11.00am – 12.00midday
27-05-01	Ch'an Class taught by Julian Bamford and Jan Bennett	2.00pm – 4.00pm
28-05-01	Dhamma Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30pm – 8.30pm
29-05-01	Prajna Paramita Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30om – 8.30pm
30-05-01	Buddha Chanting	6.30am – 7.30am
01-06-01	Dhamma Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30pm – 8.30pm
03-06-01	Hillside Radio Broadcast	11.00am – 12.00 midday
04-06-01	Dhamma Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30pm – 8.30pm
05-06-01	Prajna Paramita Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30om – 8.30pm
06-06-01	Buddha Chanting	6.30am – 7.30am
08-06-01	June Five Day Bhavana Course commences	All Day
08-06-01	Dhamma Teaching by John D. Hughes	7.30pm – 8.30pm
09-06-01	Sumi-e Painting Class taught by Master Andre Sollier	10.00am – 3.00pm
12-06-01	June Five Day Bhavana Course concludes	All Day

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3. SANGHA NEWS

Centenary of Federation Celebration

John D. Hughes, Julian Bamford and Anita Svensson will be attending the Centenary of Federation Celebration at the Inh Young Temple on Sunday 13 May 2001 at 10.45am.

Versak Celebrations 2544 B.E. 2001 C.E.

Members and friends of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. celebrated Versak 2544 B.E. on Monday 7 May 2001. We started in the morning by chanting during the full moon which occurred at 3.52am.

Members and friends chanted from 3.30am - 4.30am and John D. Hughes gave a Dhamma talk after chanting. We launched the “International Year of Metta (Loving-kindness).

We offered Dana to two Venerable Monks and two Members of Parliament were in attendance on this day.

We opened a Ch’an painting exhibition by Ch’an Master John D. Hughes and opened the Emerald Pavilion.

We thank Julie Hedjes for the following article about our Versak celebrations printed in the local “Free Press” Newspaper:

"Versak Festivities:

Last Monday, Buddhists from around the world joined in Vesak festivities to commemorate and pay respect to the life and teachings of Buddha. In Upwey, about people gathered at the Buddhist Discussion Centre for celebrations from 3.30am with chanting, followed by lunch offered by members of the centre to visiting Buddhist monks. An exhibition of paintings and calligraphy was opened. Vesak is celebrated on the day of the first full moon on May."

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4. KEYNOTE OPPORTUNITIES

Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd - Website No.8

We are now planning for an eighth website, which will be a dedicated site for the

Buddha Dhyana Dana Review.

The cost of the website hosting will be $360 for one year. The hosting company is Oznet One. Oznet One is also the website hosting company for www.buyresolved.com.au owned by John D. Hughes and Associates Pty. Ltd.

Thank you to Frank Carter, Rilla Oellien, Lenore Hamilton, Stuart Amoore, and Jan Bennett for donating monies toward the cost of BDDR website hosting fund. If you would like to donate towards this fund please see Julian.

Our webmaster Evelin Halls has suggested that the site be called: www.bddronline.org.au

Prajna Paramita Images

Three Prajna Paramita images have arrived at our Centre in Upwey, Victoria, Australia.

The three Prajna Paramita Image locations are:

1. The Bodhi Tree

2. In the JDH Collection Library - near the Western altar

3. The Sariputta room - next to the Dragon King altar.

All Prajna Paramita Images were placed on bases and numerous offerings have been made to these images.

Thank you to Lyne Lehmann for organising this project and to all those who contributed to the cost.

** Photo available

Training on Statistics and Time Planning

The third CGR Statistics Training session will be held on 20 May at 4pm. All CGR Task Unit Members must attend these training sessions. The session will start at 4pm and run for one hour. Julian Bamford will conduct the training.

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5. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Installation of ISYS Version 6.0

ISYS Version 6.0 is now installed on PC13A. To use it, double click on the left button on the mouse, with the arrow on the Q icon on the bottom right screen and the program will load. This new ISYS version was installed on 22 April 2001.

ISYS indexed 3,264,546 words out of 5,645,241 words in 1212 folders. It did not yet index Lotus Word Pro files, but other than that, the entire network including all sub folders and the e-mails is searchable.

We are working on finding a way to make the Lotus files searchable as well.

The John D. Hughes Collection library catalogue On Line

The John D. Hughes Collection library catalogue was uploaded to the www.bdcu.org.au website on 5 April 2001. The catalogue containing 3728 references took 9 minutes and 56 seconds to upload.

Visitation figures for our websites.

As at 9.12pm on Wednesday 9 May 2001 total visits to our websites since 18 January 2001 were , 2468 an increase of 446 from Monday 16 April 2001. The visitation figures for each are as follows:

www.bdcu.org.au 819

www.skybusiness.com/j.d.hughes 63 from 11 February

www.buyresolved.com.au 56 from 6 March

www.companyontheweb.com/buddhatext 109

www.companyontheweb.com/buddhamap 175

www.bdcublessings.one.net.au 1246

“How to guidelines for future Webmasters”

This is the first of a series of 'how to' guidelines for our future webmasters, to assist them in learning how to build and maintain our Dhamma websites.

Topic: Inserting Graphic files into html documents.

When inserting graphic files into a html document with a html WYSIWYG editor, such as Star Office, you must check the path in a code editor, such as First Page 2000, as all WYSIWYG editors tend to insert their own codes (these are nick named 'spaghetti codes).

Sometimes these codes are incorrect, for example if you work on editing one file from two different PC's, that may have a different file structure, and inadvertently insert the wrong file path. Another example is that the WYSIWYG editor will delete the meta tags and insert its own meta tag set.

You can check the new or edited html file off-line with the preview function which exists in both Star Office and First Page. But, be aware that the PC will search for file paths, and find a path which may not necessarily be the one you inserted. This can occur, for example, where files are inserted from a floppy disk.

Alternatively you may open Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator and go to the file menu, left click on mouse on “open” then left click on mouse on “browse” and then type in the website address.

Note that all files, including photos are uploaded separately to the server, and must therefore have the correct path name to enable the server to find them when the website is being downloaded for someone to view on their PC.

Be aware you cannot work on a website html file as if it is a word document. The operating rules for html documents are more involved and complex, requiring that the user pay careful attention to each step. It is important to work systematically, recording your steps, checking your actions and being patient.

Copying Digital Video Footage to VCR

Method of operation for copying the digital video footage to VCR in the Sariputta Room.

1. Connect the digital video camera leads to the video player.

2. Attach the corresponding coloured leads from the camera to the back of the VCR, in the 'line in' sockets.

3. Turn on the television and select channel 4 and press the AV button twice, for the 'AV2' to appear on the tv screen.

4. Switch the camera to 'VCR mode' and press play and check to see if what appears on the camera viewfinder appears on the tv screen as well.

5. If the above steps have been successful rewind the camera tape, then press the play button again on the camera, while at the same time pressing the record function on the VCR and let it play for two minutes.

6. Then stop the camera and the VCR, rewind the VCR then press play on the VCR to check if the recording is successful.

7. If OK rewind both the camera and the VCR and follow the same process.

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6. FUNDRAISING APPEALS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

PhotoLAN Network Opportunity To Multiply Merits

The Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd needs to complete planned work on the PhotoLAN network. We request the kind generosity of our Members and friends to help achieve our goals and take the opportunity to multiply merits. To do this the following hardware is required:

1. 2 X100 Megabites per second network switches (approx. $150 each)

2. Good quality computer for an e-mail server (less than $300 )

3. A Keyboard Video Mouse (KVM) switch (less than $100 )

Garage Sale

Lenore Hamilton has started collecting for the next Garage Sale, which is scheduled for a few weeks after Mother’s Day.

Film Night

Sunday 20 May 2001 at 6.00pm is the date for the next BDC(U)Ltd film night fundraiser. The film is “The Mummy Returns”.

The screening will take place at the Cameo Cinema, Burwood Highway Belgrave. Adults $15 and children $12. Supper will be served after the film.

New Dana Jars

A new format for the Dana Jars has been designed by John D. Hughes, Julian Bamford and Rilla Oellien. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu.

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7. JOHN D. HUGHES NEWS

Chord Zither & Classical Guitar Recital

John D. Hughes attended a 'Chord Zither & Classical Guitar Recital at the Dandenong Ranges Community Cultural Centre, Glenfern Road Upwey, on Saturday 28 April at 7.30pm.

He was accompanied by Lisa Nelson and Julian Bamford. We thank Etienne for the beautiful recital.

‘A New Australian Industry’ by John D. Hughes

On day one of the Five Day Bhavana Course Tim Browning and Evelin Halls worked on editing the 140 page working paper ‘A New Australian Industry’ (short title) written by our Teacher John D. Hughes over the last six months.

The document was edited into five working papers over a period of eight hours.

The major aim of the website project is to provide a public Geology program based on sound Buddhist principles. The Museum has two parts, one ‘actual’ and the other ‘online’.

This new Australian industry will open windows on the world for persons around the world. (this paragraph is an excerpt from the home page of www. buyresolved.com.au - owned by John D. Hughes and Associates Pty. Ltd.)

It was uploaded to www.buyresolved.com.au by site webmaster Julian Bamford on the morning of Monday 16 April 2001.

SADHU SADHU SADHU

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8. CURRENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INTERESTS

1. John D. Hughes will continue to add to the Paper on the Geology Museum operations entitled ‘A New Australian Industry’. This represents a new industry for Australia.

2. Exploration of ways to generate standby electricity for our LAN

3. CGR will train Members in statistical software packets and Time Planning as these will be used as Key Performance Indicators for Corporate Governance and Reporting

4. Mapping of the pH of the garden site

5. Program PHOTOLAN using Linux

6. Because the new Canon FB00P scanner scans photographs three times faster and with better resolution than the earlier model we have, we will be using this as our standard for our PHOTOLAN and website feeds

7. The digital camera works better with new batteries according to experiments conducted by Julian Bamford. We intend to obtain a second digital camera to set up in Suite 10A which is the IT service Centre. Brendan Hall estimates he should be processing 50 digital images per week from archive photographs. He needs two persons to help him.

8. Locate financial software suitable for five-year planning projections

9. Provide Members with selling techniques for our web sites

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9. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY NEWS (OH&S)

10. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & REPORTING (CGR)

Colour Code: Red

CGR Manager: Anita Svensson

CGR Task Unit Members: Pam Adkins, Julian Bamford, Tim Browning, Vincenzo Cavuoto, Leanne Eames, Evelin Halls, Lenore Hamilton, Isabella Hobbs, Clara Iaquinto, Rodney Johnson, Lisa Nelson, Rilla Oellien, Amber Svensson, Anita Svensson and Lainie Smallwood

CGR Task Unit Responsibilities: To handle correspondence; to adhere to legal requirements of corporate affairs, accounts, meetings, Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S); to schedule events; to organise attendants for staffing the Centre; to maintain data bases; to maintain office supplies; and to communicate with government departments.

Buddhist Discussion Centre(Upwey) Ltd. Memberships for 2001- 2002

All financial Members are reminded to pay their Membership fees by 1 July 2001 to

retain their ‘Financial Member’ Status.

$33.00 for Annual Membership fees

$33.00 for Annual Library Membership

Next General Meeting

The next General meeting of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd., will be held on Sunday 20 May 2001 at 2:00pm.

Style Manual

The Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey)Ltd. Style Manual 2000, abstract document, file reference i:/ida/wfbradio is located in the CGR Office in the Centre’s filing, cabinet FCA7 Drawer 1, under Master Copy.

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11. INTERNATIONAL DHAMMA ACTIVITIES (IDA)

Colour Code: Yellow

IDA Manager: John D. Hughes

IDA Vice-President: John D. Hughes,

IDA Joint Vice President: Julian Bamford

IDA Task Unit Members: Pam Adkins, Vince Cavuoto, Leanne Eames, Evelin Halls, Jocelyn Hughes, Vanessa Macleod, Julie O’Donnell, Rilla Oellien, Maria Pannozzo, Orysia Spinner, Amber Svensson and Anita Svensson.

IDA Task Unit Responsibilities: to maintain WFB liaison; to arrange Dhamma and Prajnaparmita Teachings, chanting, pujas, translations; to maintain and preserve the John D. Hughes Collection; to organise audio and video recording 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” Hillside radio scripts; to organise and teach Ch’an classes.

Australian Prime Minister

Most Honourable John Howard

Versak Message to our Centre

The following is a message from the Most Honourable John Howard, Prime Minster of Australia, received via facsimile transmission, at the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. on Friday 4 May 2001 at 9.31am (local time). “MESSAGE: CELEBRATION OF VERSAK, THE LORD BUDDHA’S DAY - MONDAY, 7 MAY 2001 It gives me great pleasure to provide this message in support of the celebration of Versak, the Lord Buddha’s Day. Buddhists are renowned for the value they place on peaceful co-existence and the importance they attach to their search for harmony between the physical and spiritual aspects of life. This festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of Sakyamuni Buddha is a wonderful opportunity to further promote these beliefs and to honour the memory of Lord Buddha’s compassion. Over the past century, Australia has fostered a truly multicultural society that respects and encourages communities to pursue their individual cultures and beliefs within an Australian context. It is my hope that Australia continues in this direction and maintains a society in which equality, mutual understanding and respect remain as fundamental tenets of our way of life. I send my best wishes to all members of the Buddhist community participating in this festival and congratulate the organisers on what I am sure will be a highly successful event. John Howard”

Versak Greeting

from the

Honourable Phillip Ruddock

Australian Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

Message from the Minister of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Honourable Phillip Ruddock MP, to be read by the Hon Andrew Olexander MLC at VERSAK 2544 BUDDHIST DISCUSSION CENTRE (UPWEY) LTD MELBOURNE, MONDAY 7 MAY 2001 My sincere thanks to Mr John Hughes and members of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) for inviting me to attend this year’s Versak celebrations. Although prior commitments have prevented me from attending, I welcome the opportunity to send my very best wishes on this most important occasion for your Centre, and indeed, for Buddhists everywhere. No one is certain when Buddhism was introduced to this continent. Some anthropologists have suggested that it may have been as early as the fifteenth century, when the Ming emperors sent their ships to explore this region. We do know, however, that during the 1800’s, Buddhism was practised by the Chinese on the goldfields, and then by the Sinhalese, who came to work in the sugar cane industry. What we can say, without fear of contradiction, is that Buddhism is one of the fastest growing religions in Australia today. And this is due, not only to the influx of Immigrants refugees from Asia during recent decades. In fact, it is apparent that undoubtedly due to the fact that the teachings of Buddhism are universal and transcend cultural and social boundaries. I also believe its popularity in Australia reflects the special significance that Buddhism increasingly attracts adherents from a wide variety of backgrounds. This is has for people living in a multicultural society. The qualities and values espoused by Buddhists are very much in tune with the virtues of tolerance and understanding that are so important in a culturally diverse community such as ours. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) for your services to the Buddhist community of Australia. As you celebrate the life and teachings of the Lord Buddha in the spirit of friendship today, I join with you in the hope that these actions, in honour of the Lord Buddha’s 2544th Birthday, will indeed benefit all sentient beings, and bring more beauty, harmony, compassion and wisdom to the world. (Phillip Ruddock)

A Message from

Helen Shardey, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs

to the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. on the occasion of

Versak Day, May 7 2001

Please accept my apologies for not being able to be with you all here today to celebrate the Buddha’s Birthday. Without doubt Buddhism is one of Australia’s fastest growing religions. During the last decade the number of Buddhists in Australia has grown by almost 300 percent. There are now some 65,000 people of the Buddhist faith in Victoria and about 200,000 in total around Australia. This community forms a valuable and widely respected part of Victoria’s cherished multicultural way of life. However, the Buddhist community’s recent growth belies the religion’s long history in Victoria. Buddhism was first introduced during the Victorian Gold Rush of the 1850’s when Chinese miners arrived in their thousand bringing their faith with them. In fact, Chinese Buddhists were among the first multicultural community to come to Victoria following European settlement. Since then, Buddhism with its universal message that the solution to the problems of existence lie within each individual, has inspired many Australian politicians, thinkers and artists. Three times Australian Prime Minister Alfred Deakin was one of those impressed by the faith. In 1880, Deakin wrote about the “infinite tenderness and boundless compassion” of Buddhist doctrine. In 1951, the first formal Buddhist Society was founded in Sydney but real growth did not begin until the increase in Asian immigration during the 1980’s. This influx of practicing Buddhists firmly established the faith in Victoria where there are now more than 100 Buddhist groups or associations. As Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs it seems to me that Buddhism and the concept of Multiculturalism have much in common. Both call for harmony, acceptance and respect as a means to creating a better and richer society but perhaps the broader community still has something to learn from the tenets of Buddhism. We must all work to maintain our diverse and happy community. This should not be an onerous duty but rather one that we all accept with joy and pride. On behalf of the Leader of the Opposition and the Victorian Liberal Party I wish you all the best for today’s celebrations. Helen Shardey Shadow Minister for Aged Care, Housing and Multicultural Affairs.

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International Year of Metta (Loving-kindness) - 7 May 2001 - 26 May 2002

Target for the Year B.E. 2544-2545.

Commencing on Vesak, 7 May 2001, Buddhist Regional Centres of the World Fellowship of Buddhists will have a target to observe the year, 7 May 2001 to 26 May 2002 as the International Buddhist Year of Metta (Loving Kindness).

After the end of all our meetings / seminars and/ or religious performances, the diffusion of Metta ( Loving Kindness) will be observed by reciting the following Pali and English versions.

Diffusion of Metta or Loving Kindness :

Sabbe Satta;

(May all sentient beings),

Avera Hontu ;

(Be free from enmity),

Abyapajjha hontu ;

(Be free from ill will ),

Anigha hontu ;

( Be free from suffering ),

Sukhi attanam pariharantu ;

(Live a happy life ).

At our Centre, this will occur every Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights after meditation, Morning Chanting and other special occasions and functions.

Centenary of Federation and Buddha’s Day Multicultural Festival

On Saturday 5 May, representing our Teacher John D. Hughes and Members, our President Julian Bamford and Director Clara Iaquinto attended the opening ceremony of the Centenary of Federation and Buddha's Day Multicultural Festival by the Yarra River in the City of Melbourne.

Our Teachers love and best wishes were extended to Venerable Man Chien, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Melbourne Temple, with a gift of flowers, our Teachers business card and our Centre's Versak Press Kit including the Prime Ministers Versak message.

This is the program for the opening of the Buddha's Day:

1. Lion & Dragon Dance (10.50am)

2. Opening Ceremony (general welcome to the day in English and Chinese)(11.00am)

3. National Anthem

4. Blessing Ceremony - Flower Offerings

Bathing the Buddha Dharma Function

1. Incense Anthem

2. NA MO BIEN SHI SHI JIA MO NI FO (3 times) Blessed be our own Mast

Shakyamuni Buddha

3. Heart Sutra (Prajna-paramita Sutra)

4. Prayers and Wishes at the Buddha's Birthday Festival (by Fo Guang Shan Melbourne)

5. Bathing the Buddha Verse

6. Transfer of Merits

7. Address

A welcome speech was delivered by James Yang, President, Buddha's Light International Association of Victoria Australia Incorporated., followed by speeches from Distinguished Guests.

Messages of support were delivered by the following Distinguished Guests:

Speech by the Honourable Peter Batchelor, Minister for Transport, representative for the Honourable Steve Bracks, Premier of Victoria & Minister for Multicultural Affairs.

Speech by Honourable Helen Shardey, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, representative for the State opposition leader the Honourable Dennis Napthine.

Speech by Cr. Clem Newton-Brown, Deputy Mayor, City of Melbourne.

Speech by the Honourable Kay Patterson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs - representing the Minister - the Honourable Philip Ruddock.

Speech by the Honourable Anna Burke, Federal Member for Chisholm, representative of the Shadow Minister of Immigration, the Honourable Con Sciacca.

Speech by Abbess Venerable Man Chien.

Group Photo, Opening Ceremony end.

John D. Hughes Collection

The following document was written by John D. Hughes about the John D.Hughes Collection.

A tool for Buddha Dhamma Researchers Our Global Aspirations to improve our research tools by changing to E-Information Delivery of our Data. Our Management Team has access to the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey)Ltd’s Dhamma Reference works, The John D. Hughes Collection. Developed over four decades the collection continues to grow as a heritage multilingual reference library for Buddha Dhamma Scholars and Practitioners. Access is also granted for Key Members to a Business Library, an I.T. Library and an Education Research Library owned by John D. Hughes. We have a superior collection of Dhamma reference works. Our Key Members have set our benchmarks for delivering e-information on-site in terms of retrieval time. For management purpose we operate e-information as an adjunct to our Buddha Dhamma Collection. We use a logarithmic scale (base 10) to define delivery speed. Second class delivery is defined as 20 seconds retrieval time. First class delivery is defined as 2 seconds retrieval time. Our new President, Julian Bamford B.A. App. Rec has stated he is adamant and determined to drive this initiative of improvements to give first class involvement of cataloguing what we have. This month, we have upgraded to the new ISYS 6.0. This runs eight times faster than ISYS 5.0. Our new software, can search our library databases for key words in the titles or abstract of books and journals, with bubbling joy in our heart, our President is adamant we can form catalogue raisonaire of books of interest on a given topic for research purposes. Our Local Area Network entries, email, radio talks and company reports are searchable on this new system. Also, Corporate Governance and Reporting and Local Area Planning and Asset Management records can be searched at the same time. The plan is to scan into e-information extra historical material from our records. Will it make a difference to our credibility? We are in the process of forming a group of active scholars in accordance with our World Buddhist University (W.B.U.) charter. Our senior Managers develop themselves as better administrators. They need development as authorities on sound doctrine for Buddha Dhamma projects based on good canonical references must be attained. Our Key Members need to know the Buddha Dhamma from our references. A practical training program on Boolean Algebra use is our prime target this year. We estimate within four months scanning of new material we can flush out 200% more references in half the time on a given topic. The indexing pace of current book holdings is increasing under the supervision of Vanessa Macleod. We are overcoming the backlog accumulated over the last two years. Key words in book titles will show up in the next generation of detailed searches. As our search capacity for detail increases by the addition of ISYS 6.0, we can make known more transparent information bridging our strategic and operation plans to help senior managers towards best practice in project management. To bring about the necessary focus we intend to produce case studies of organisations at home and abroad. When we write and produce the amount of good work that has to been done from here, constitutes a bridging stage along the road towards wider cooperation with other Buddha organisations we networked in the past. We may be able to supply some Buddhist organisations with a case study of their history that present Members do not know. The torments of our past research will not be wasted. The ambiguity of the state of historical knowledge of Buddha Dhamma Centre’s operations needs much bridging research to consolidate the processes of whether to renew or not renew networks. It may be that some organisations today do not wish to recall their Theravadin foundations. We do not intend to disparage the intellect or motives of organisations when we say this fact. For example, we could produce histories of our past contacts. But the history we would like to write does not merely wish to editorialise our contacts and dismiss uncertainties of direction when they arise. These case histories should be made with risk management in mind if we think a network organisation is at risk. If requested, we can advise them of suitable solution sets we have used. Twenty-three years ago, our Teacher was funded by the Australian Schools Commission. To date, such important history research and photographs are not on our websites. We must take steps to include this early Australian Buddhist history for scholars. Our focus is on what our International Dhamma Activities (IDA) policy should be to help others avoid mistakes by remembering their Vows when they started their organisations. Our scholarship must not be too trite, and be just comment. It should be practical to awaken in others of European culture a sense of their cultural dependence on the most advanced minds that have been employed in writing about Buddha Dhamma over the last few millennium. Historically since the olden days of schisms in the Sangha there has been some separationism. For example, Theravada, Mahayana and their doctrinal sub-division like Vajrayana, Sahajayana, Kalacakrayana, Sarvastivada, Madhyanika, Vijnanavadin and so on among the Indian and Nepali Buddhists. In China, Japan, Korea and Tibet several factions appeared. In Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand, Vietnam also similar divisions prevail. Even in Europe, America, Australia, South Africa, continents the Buddhists preserve their Nikaya identity strongly. So, the globalisation of Buddhism in pluralistic manifestation becomes a weak force to face the challenges of one worldism time to the new world order in our Age. The apparent pluralistic approaches can be homogenised through the exposition of the Four Noble Truths. A Vajrasattva with a strong view of self-determination believes retroversion to be unified with the Wisdom (Prajna). To achieve this Members have been taught Prajna Paramita. We are interested in arousing Buddha Awareness on a massive scale. Then as the true history of Buddhist influence in the world must be made clear, others can learn. For our Centre the golden age of Buddha Dhamma information in the English language has arrived. We must exploit our gold mine of history for the benefit of the Many. Our Information on History Explosion will give a Leading Edge in future History. Since, John D. Hughes has documented events since 1977, there is much World history for our websites. Original documents will be scanned and displayed to guide others. There are approximately two billion pages on the World Wide Web. Yet most of the true history of Buddha Dhamma is not available. As yet such information in our archives is not available. Some other websites contain useful data but our records have fuller data than most. As we write case studies, we, will build our organisational consensus as a practical supplier of case studies to help. We had several good projects in the past. Our need is for speed to sort history to e-information suitable for our training requirements. The Usefulness of Base Studies Once we have some of the history case studies of Australian Buddhists on the Web, persons can benefit. When we write we must consider key search words. Today, various search engines are available. Web search engines have a component called a spider or crawler that is always searching for new additions or deletions. The task is massive when you consider how they might miss our history in two billion pages. Once the search engine has indexed the new history page, it is not yet indexed. The search engine lists the pages found in the index with the first entry being what its algorithm calculates as being the most relevant. Use a different search engine and you get a different result we must supply Webmasters with search topics. Information on various search engines is available in Communiqué April 2001 pp. 23-24. Our next IDA six month development is to provide a training resource of how to write case studies for our history requirements. The ISYS Version 6.0 is leading edge in the world and can put our case study references into historical date order. Our International Dhamma Activities requires we get a name as a BUDDHIST CENTRE OF INFORMATION FOR RESEARCH AND LEARNING HISTORY. These new history case studies resources are required for the state of transition from print to electronic media. We, must not ..... persons or organisations. Many of the changes offer enormous potential for our Librarians to upgrade to become case studies Historians. Or they can be Information Officers and Information Officers can become Knowledge Managers. If we do not document the case studies of history today we will regret it tomorrow. The persons who can help us will soon pass away. We will create new insights for Buddhist history to be understood as a culture. The recent destruction of Buddha Rupa overseas flags up this need. We have expanded our client expectations at the WFB and we ought to be able to provide more historical integration between organisations of Internet. Our number one priority is to make sufficient causes for this case study of history to happen. An overall improvement in history processing is to get our Library catalogue on to the Internet with 6000 book titles available for viewing. This step will raise the profile of our Library and increase staff satisfaction. Evelin is making this her number one priority this month. The John D. Hughes Collection includes our Library. A new series of information sources and Internet access together with ISYS allows us access to new knowledge resources. They can add new products when they have designed new databases, new networks and new communication technology. WHAT WE WANT TO DO THE NEED FOR MORE TRANSPARENT CASE STUDY INFORMATION BETWEEN STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL PLANS AT OUR CENTRE. We are looking for the provision of a manual having case study core skills training for use on our Information Centres. We want 80% of our Members to complete core skills training in our case studies in the next two years. May you be well and happy. John D. Hughes Vice-President, International Dhamma Activities.

Autumn Bell Puja

On Saturday 14 April 2001 at 4.00pm a Bell Puja was held. Orchestrated by John D. Hughes and Julie O’Donnell.

During the First Bell Puja, the Goddess of Autumn visited. The second Bell Puja, John D. Hughes requested Vajrayogini to dance. The Bell Puja’s are created to bless sentient beings, to create the conditions for long life and good health.

Thank you to Brendan and Jeanette Grainger for making an audio recording of the Bell Pujas. Both Puja’s were played at the Buddhist Hour Radio Program on Sunday 15 April 2001.

SADDHU SADDHU SADDHU

Buddhist Hour Radio Broadcast

Broadcast Date		Title
Sunday 6 May 2001		Report on the progress of our Spiritual Training Centre Activities for the World Buddhist University
Sunday 29 April 2001		In praise of Fifty Years of flavours and interests generated by the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB)
Sunday 22 April 2001		The purpose of Learning
Sunday 15 April 2001		The demise of the Prosaic Person
Sunday 8 April 2001		Which cetasikas are you cultivating

To read previous Buddhist Hour radio scripts please visit our website at www.bdcublessings.net.au/radio.html.

The weekly “Buddhist Hour” radio broadcasts can be heard on Hillside Radio 87.6FM and 88.0FM and 1620 AM in Victoria, Australia.

The 'Buddhist Hour' radio show is broadcast live on Internet radio at www.gbradio.com on Sundays from 11am to 12pm. This means that persons from all around the world are able to hear the Radio Broadcast that consists of chanting and Buddha Dhamma texts.

As ‘gbradio’ is a very popular station, it may happen that you cannot get a connection. In that case, just keep trying until you get through.

Thank you Brendan and Jeanette Grainger at Hillside Radio and to Great Britain Radio and their technicians and webmasters.

Lisa Nelson and Julian Bamford share the position of Program Producer.

Preservation of the Radio Broadcasts

It is important that we preserve the Dhamma that is why we need good quality tapes to record our radio broadcasts. Only BASF Chrome audio cassettes will be used to record our precious Buddhist Hour Radio Programs as they are much stronger and have a longer life expectancy.

74 Minute Digital Mini Disks and Storage Case.

Disks and storage case can be purchased from JB Hi-Fi in Ferntree Gully at a cost of $18.75, or $3.75 each (including GST) including the disk case which can store up to 10 minidisks.

Ch’an and Sumi-e Classes

Please contact Julian Bamford on 0400-267-330 for further information or to make a booking for all Ch’an Academy classes.

Our Websites

www.bdcu.org.au

www.bdcublessings.one.net.au

www.skybusiness.com/j.d.hughes

www.companyontheweb.com/buddhamap

www.companyontheweb.com/buddhatext

www.johnhughes.citysearch.com.au

www.buyresolved.com.au

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12. LOCAL AREA PLANNING & ASSET MANAGEMENT (LAPAM)

Colour Code: Green

LAPAM Manager: Frank Carter

LAPAM Task Unit Members: Stuart Amoore, Julian Bamford, Jan Bennett, Frank Carter, Brendan Hall, Lenore Hamilton, Isabella Hobbs, David Igracki, Leila Lamers, Lyne Lehmann, Lisa Nelson and Philip Svensson,.

The LAPAM Task Unit Responsibilities: To maintain and develop the buildings and gardens of the Centre; to undertake new construction works; to refurbish the Centre’s buildings; and to look after equipment and supplies.

The Emerald Pavilion

The new Emerald Pavilion, also known as suite 3A - Sundeck, was completed on Sunday 6 May 2001. The Emerald Pavilion only took 22 days to complete.

The new Emerald Pavilion (Suite 3A - sundeck), located at the rear of the CGR office was constructed with a base of 24 redgum stumps in 4 rows of six stumps.

In order to increase the space available for the new Pavilion the caravan was moved approximately 2 metres towards the rear fence of the property.

Geological specimens have been installed in the filing drawer and the dexion filing shelves. Plants that had been made at the Centre were placed along the green railing.

A temporary guard rail has been installed for the opening of the Emerald Pavilion and will be replaced by a standard railing.

Dandenong Ranges Cultural Community Centre (DRCCC) Car parking Tuesday Evenings

Members are reminded not to park their cars in the Centre’s driveway or in Brooking Street on Tuesday evenings.

The purpose of this policy is to reduce traffic and noise and its impact on our neighbours.

We have permission from the Dandenong Ranges Cultural Community Centre (DRCCC) Management to park in the lower of the two car parks located off Matson Drive. Please do not park in the parking spaces in front of the DRCCC as this is used for evening visitors to the DRCCC. Drive past the DRCCC building (old Council building) to the second lower carpark (unsealed).

The exceptions to this policy are for John D. Hughes attendants staying at the Centre overnight, Members driving the Sangha to and from the Centre, or special guests.

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13. MEMBERS’ NEWS

Lisa Nelson has enrolled to do one undergraduate unit of Mathematics for Sciences and Technology 1A in study period two and will study two undergraduate units of Measurement in Laboratory Science and Introductory Microbiology in study period three through Open Learning. Lisa has a commitment to organise her time and allot some of it to help our Centre.

Lenore Hamilton has been transferred to a new Sofa Workshop store. For the month of April she was given a budget that was not expected to be achieved and the reasons for this were: unknown to area, limited advertising, half stock only available to view at the showroom, 2 staff when 3 were required which meant 6 working day rosters were necessary, no Eftpos facility or banking services(this was done by phoning other Sofa Workshop stores)However the premium importance was to open the store and begin selling.

She was working with the most senior sales staff member and longest serving manager who works closely with the company's General Manager. Lenore has been working for Sofa Workshop for five months.

Lenore said: “We achieved Budget and exceeded expected sales figures by 36%.The General Manager and the company owners were delighted with the result. We each received a $250.00 bonus. The manager had set up a competition (between us)for best sales figures and was amazed when I achieved the best result, $8888 more.

Customers commented that it was my friendliness and lack of hard sell style that got the sales. I use the Five styles when I am at work, especially when I am creating leads and selling, this I learnt from John D. Hughes and fellow Members at the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd”. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu. Lenore has a commitment to organise her time and allot some of it to help our Centre.

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14. SHARING OF MERIT

May this gift of merits help all beings know the path, realise the path, follow the path.

MAY ALL BEINGS BE WELL AND HAPPY

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

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Appendix 1:

In praise of Fifty Years of flavours and interests generated by the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) Created by John D. Hughes Dip. App. Chem. T.T.T.C. GDAIE Vice-president of World Fellowship of Buddhists Founder Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey)Ltd. Award Visuddhananda Peace Award 1999 The personal experiences and ideas that have been generated through contact with the WFB have passed through the usual stages of tastes and interests; first, of that uncritical admiration of the glittering and the sympathy with crude and exuberant sentiment which are natural to youth; second, then of mature search for intellectual or moral sustenance and Enlightenment; and finally for desire for pure refreshment of the mind in the company of “serene creators of immortal things”. By training, the author is a scientist whose first discipline is chemistry. As it was taught, there was never any suggestion that mind could exist and influence materiality in any manner. In general, it appeared that the assumptions of the foundations of physics, chemistry and scientific method that I was taught had a specified amount of uncertainty in quantum mechanics but for the massed property of stuff, it appeared to follow set laws. It was silent on questions of moral value or how to live. Fortunately, driven by what I could remember of Buddha Dhamma learned in past lives, I set out on another quest for meaning apart from that of earning my living as a textile technologist and joining in the higher aspects of post World War II cultural life in Melbourne. Because of Australia’s vigorous migration program at the time, I met with many ideas from Europe that seemed to challenge the position and standards of Christian ethics that held power within the establishment of Australia. Existentialism had an appeal because it suggested that insight could be obtained by exercise of the human will. This was the period of the Cold War. The causes of economic differences of why some persons were poor and some were rich was expressed by Marx’s theory or just plain luck. I attended the inaugural meeting of the Buddhist Society of Victoria in Melbourne where I gathered an impression that is was a battle between Sri Lankans who wanted a place to practice their traditional rituals and some Australians who seemed to me to be somewhat anti-cleric in their approach to what was needed in the sense that the Theosophical Society (U.S.Version) thought processes of that time were dominant. Little, if any, real understanding of cause and effect was taught. The word “kamma” was loosely known. Any earlier Buddhist heritage from the Chinese in Victoria was lost or neglected by the white Australians. Racism was accepted. What I thought were reasonable questions of purpose of teaching and social structure for outsiders in the organisational sense seemed to be dismissed by the assembled company. It did not seem clear that good information flow have a high priority. I did not follow up this organisation to any great extent for some years as a possible source of learning about Buddha Dhamma because culturally I did not feel I could relate to what seemed to me to be a narrow agenda of a very set pattern with little opportunity for questioning. Instead, I read everything that was available locally, which was no more than about 20 books of dubious lineage which did not seem to add much light to what I already knew from intuition and past kamma. I resolved to get superior information of the state of the art of Buddha Dhamma overseas. I could see an opportunity through funding from the Australian Schools Commission to undertake a systematic study of the half dozen Buddhist societies that existed in Australia in 1976. This project took three years of my spare time. I thank all those Monks and Nuns who helped me come to terms with what they were doing. To get good references, I had to search overseas publishers and I received some help from editors in London. Mr Russell Web was the editor of the Pali Text Society journal and introduced me to several eminent