Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Program:

00:00 Guided Meditation by Sandra Henville (BSWA)

24:24 Dhamma Talk by Dr Lydia See (Tzu Chi Foundation)

Dharma Master Cheng Yen established the Tzu Chi Foundation in 1966 in Taiwan. The mission started with Charity, Medical Services, Education and Humanistic Values, and then extended further to Bone Marrow Donation, Environment Protection, Community Volunteerism and International Relief – Known as Tzu Chi’s Eight Footprints. Tzu Chi’s Australian footprints first appeared in Brisbane and Sydney in the early 1990s when members migrated to Australia from Taiwan. The Australian chapter of Tzu Chi Foundation was officially incorporated in 1996 and became a national body in 1999. Since then Tzu Chi Foundation has grown to encompass offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth, with over 10,000 supporters Australia-wide. Volunteers offer their free time to serve the local communities. Their regular presence can be found in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice wards, school for deaf and blind children, and homeless centres.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

HEAVENLY MESSENGERS 2024 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2024)

Out of respect for our teacher, the teachings, and the precious opportunity we have to receive them from afar, please attend the online teachings in the same way that you would if you were at the teachings in person. Comments have been disabled to maintain a wholesome learning environment and prevent opportunities for unskillful speech.

The BSWA is now using Ko-fi for donations. Please join us on Ko-fi and cancel your donations via Patreon. Thanks for your ongoing support!

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Kathryn Choules joins the Armadale Meditation Group again for part two in her four part series, on-line live for Rains 2024.

Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) is designed to teach you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, then receiving meditation instructions and meditating together, followed by asking questions and finally if time remains listening to a Dhamma talk. However, the layout can vary. These weekly Tuesday night teachings are happening via Zoom from Bodhinyana Monastery.

“All views expressed by our Rains Retreat Guest Speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the BSWA”

The BSWA is now using Ko-fi for donations. Please join us on Ko-fi and cancel your donations via Patreon. Thanks for your ongoing support!

Audio teachings are available to download from our BSWA Podcast Channel (Dharma talks and guided meditations) and BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel (Rain's Retreat teachings, retreats and suttas). Videos can be viewed on our BSWA YouTube Channel. Books and articles are available on our website here.

Past Presidents and long-term members came together to reflect on 50 years of BSWA. We shared happy memories of the various turning points that made the Society what it is today. We remembered it’s small beginnings end explored what makes it thrive, we talked about challenges and our hopes for the future. It was a wonderful insight into how a multicultural community comes together in peace and kindness. This starts from 38:35 minutes after the guided meditation.

From the far left to the right: Drew Bellamy, Dennis Sheppard, Sanath de Tissera, Malkanthi de Tissera, Sandra Henville, Binh Anson, Ananda Thilakasiri and Vivara Kunabutr

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

*Apologies, this video is missing the first few minutes of the introduction and starts with the guided meditation in progress

John Waite strives to focus on study and practice but recognises the need to use one’s skills to benefit others as needed. To this end, he is an active volunteer firefighter in the Murray Shire and currently serves on a few FPMT committees and/or boards. He tries to complete a couple of retreats a year; in 2023 he completed one in honour of his guru Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, fulfilling a commitment recently made to this revered teacher before his passing. This year’s retreat and pilgrimage in Nepal has also affirmed John’s desire to share the joy of practice with fellow students in Australia and serve others. He has embarked on a project to help improve education and potential for young women in Nepal.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice.

While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.

TURNING POINTS 2023

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

Published with permission of Treasure Mountain Podcast. Please visit Treasure Mountain Podcast, Everyday Dhamma Network and Treasure Mountain Facebook page. 

This episode is about the late, great Master Hsying Yun, a true dynamo of a monk, dedicated to the spreading of the teachings and practice of Buddhism in Taiwan, China and around the world. Master Hsing Yun has achieved so much in his lifetime that it is virtually impossible to relate but a small part of it here in the introduction. However, by way of offering a introduction, here is a quick outline some of his achievements in brief:

Starting in the 1950s, Hsing Yun started making many achievements at an early age. He taught numerous classes, built many schools for children, recorded the first Buddhist hymns, and was promoted as an executive in many Buddhist associations. In 1957, Hsing Yun established a Buddhist cultural center in which a variety of Buddhist books are published with training tools such as audio and visual aids. In 1959, Hsing Yun also supported the Tibetan movement against communist suppression, and organised the first float parade in celebration of Wesak in Taiwan.

Perhaps one of Hsing Yun’s greatest achievements was his successful push for Wesak to become a national holiday in Taiwan, a wish that had been granted by former President Lee Teng-hui in 2000.

Master Hsing Yun was the founder and spiritual leader of Fo Guang Shan, a Buddhist organisation that has established around 300 temples and monasteries all over Taiwan, as well as in 12 other countries including China, the United States, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. He is also the author of 395 books in Chinese, many of which have been translated into other languages, notably to English. And all of this is just a brief outline, leaving out much of what Master Hsing Yun has achieved in his life.

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Further information regarding to topic of this episode:

• Hsingyun.org

• 佛光百科 FoGuangPedia - FoGuangPedia

• Home - Hsing Yun Education Foundation (hsingyunef.org.au)

• An-Honest-Revelation-—-An-Open-Letter-PDF.pdf (hsingyunef.org.au) 

Treasure Mountain Podcast links:

• Treasure Mountain Podcast
• Treasure Mountain on Facebook
• Everyday Dhamma Network

Thank you for listening to the Treasure Mountain Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode please share it with you friends. If you'd like to support me to produce this type of content in future, you can support my work by offering a tip via the Ko-fi payment applet or via my Patreon.

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.