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darkstar
  - Joined on 06-16-2007
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LEARN MORE ABOUT BUDDHIST MEDITATION & PSYCHOLOGY AT THE BUDDHIST SPRING FESTIVAL 10.00am – 5.00pm, 10 and 11 November 2007 Those inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message of wisdom, kindness and happiness, during his recent Australian tour, can find out more about Tibetan Buddhist meditation and psychology during the annual Buddhist Spring Festival on the weekend of 10 and 11 November. Teachers at the 17th annual Buddhist Spring Festival will impart the insights of great Buddhist traditions that offer deep wisdom and good heart for this modern world. More than 2,000 people are expected to take part in this community festival at the Tibetan Buddhist Society’s magnificent 10-acre property in Yuroke, located 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. Teachers from the Tibetan, Thai, Zen and other Buddhist streams will give talks and guided meditations on Buddhist methods to create a happier and more meaningful life. Talks will take place in one of the only traditional Tibetan temples in the Southern Hemisphere, which was blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his 2002 Australian tour. The talks provide a taste of Buddhist teachings on compassion, love, karma, enlightenment, impermanence, ethics and concentration – which are more deeply explored in subsequent weeks during the Sunday afternoon introduction series from 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the temple. A popular highlight of the festival weekend is the Blessing Ceremony for world peace at 12.00 noon on Saturday 10 November. Buddhist monks and nuns are joined by guests from Christian denominations, other religious leaders and political and community representatives to pray for international harmony and wellbeing. Speakers at last year’s ceremony included Venerable Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, the Spiritual Head and Founder of the Tibetan Buddhist Society, and representatives of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Andrew Robb, and the Premier, the Honourable Candy Broad. Festival visitors are encouraged to wander through the 10 acres of landscaped gardens, relax and enjoy the fragrance of 2,500 rose bushes in 400 varieties. The gardens also feature tranquil lakes and more than 2500 trees including 23 Californian redwoods, 36 golden robinias, 31 olive trees and weeping mulberries. Festival highlights include:· Cosmopolitan market with hundreds of items including Tibetan and local handicrafts, Indian shawls, Thai jewellery, Tibetan and Nepalese blankets, kimonos, books, meditation cushions, bags, ornaments, candles, soaps, and incense;· Garden tours with Venerable Tim McKibben providing explanations of the various roses, the history of the centre and the art of companion planting and pesticide free cultivation;· Temple tours, led by Venerable Cathy Evans, explaining the significance of the religious and artistic treasures such as the 18 foot statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, constructed in Nepal;· Delicious vegetarian food and home-made cakes in a delightful outdoor cafe; and · Photographic exhibition showing the Tibetan culture in pre-1959 Tibet and today’s exiled communities in India.Entry to the Festival is $6. Children 12 and under are free. Garden tours and the photo exhibition are free. There is a facility charge for talks and the temple tour. All proceeds go to support of the temple. The Tibetan Buddhist Society’s Peaceful Land of Joy Meditation Centre is 30 minutes from the Melbourne CBD, 1425 Mickleham Rd, Yuroke, Melways 385 J8 (Access from Cookes Rd). For more information please call 9333 1770 or visit www.tibetanbuddhistsociety.org. Peaceful Land of Joy Meditation Centre The Tibetan Buddhist Society’s Peaceful Land of Joy Meditation Centre is a magnificent property on Melbourne’s northern rim. A traditional Tibetan temple, unique in the Southern hemisphere, was completed in 2000 and all classes are held here. His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed the temple on 23 May 2002, describing it as a place for continuing study and practice of the rich Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, psychology and meditations. The renowned Tibetan Buddhist master and scholar, Venerable Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, now 84, founded the Tibetan Buddhist Society in Australia in 1979. Geshe Loden (Geshe-la) trained as a monk from the age of seven. He left Tibet for India in 1959 after China invaded his country. In India Geshe-la completed the highest studies of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, debating and meditation. Geshe Loden is also the Spiritual Leader of other Tibetan Buddhist Society centres in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The Society undertakes regular fundraising activity - having raised more than $100,000 for local and international causes since the mid 1990s. The Society’s current campaigns include the Tibetan Refugee Students in India Scholarship Appeal and the Tibetan Refugees in India: Sera Je Monastery Hospital Appeal to raise much-needed funds for education and health for the exiled Tibetan communities in India. Learn more about Buddhism and meditation The Tibetan Buddhist Society supports the learning and practice of Buddhism through an extensive programme of weekly classes, residential retreats and book publishing. New students start with the Introduction to Buddhist Meditation and Psychology course based on the introductory text Essence of the Path to Enlightenment composed by Geshe Loden. This course is held on Sunday afternoons from 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. It includes talks, guided meditations and afternoon tea. Those with some background in Buddhism or having completed the introductory course can attend the Path to Enlightenment classes on Sundays 4–5.30pm and the Views of Reality philosophy classes on Thursdays 7.30–9pm. More advanced vajrayana classes are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings. For more information please call 9333 1770 or visit www.tibetanbuddhistsociety.org.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact Kathryn Van Kuyk on 9435 8029 or 0414 726 958. High quality images are available on request.
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