In Memory of Laurence Mills

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Laurence Mills, the former Phra Khantipalo.   He was a well known teacher in the Theravadan tradition and was also well known to Tibetan Buddhist practitioners. He is considered one of the seminal figures of Buddhist teaching in Australia.  He died on Monday 5 July after many years of ill health, during which time a number of his former students supported him with much care and compassion.    

Laurence was born in 1932 in London, studied horticulture; then while called up for service in the British army read books on Buddhism and shortly after, in 1961, he ordained as a Buddhist monk.  After 15 years in Asia, studying and practising in forest monasteries, he came to Australia in 1973, having been invited to help establish Wat Buddharangsee in Sydney.

In 1978, along with Ayya Khema he founded Wat Buddha Dhamma, a forest monastery outside of Sydney, teaching and conducting many retreats there.  He encouraged women to ordain; as early as 1984 he ordained three nuns.  He designed and built the beautiful Meditation Sala at this Wat, which was miraculously saved from the Summer 2019-20 bushfires.

Through the 1970s and 80s, he travelled widely throughout Australia giving public talks and conducting retreats.    He was a renowned Pali scholar and author of many books, such as ‘Buddhism Explained,’ ‘What is Buddhism?’   ‘Calm and Insight’ and ‘Buddha- My Refuge’ 

In 1992 he disrobed and pursued an interest in the Dzogchen school of Tibetan Buddhism. He married and co-founded the Bodhi Citta Buddhist Centre, in Far North Queensland, before ill health caused him to retire from active teaching.  Late in life Laurence briefly became a novice again at Quang Minh temple. However following a further decline in his health, he entered residential aged care where he remained until the end of his life.

A memorial service will be held at Quang Minh Temple, 18 Burke Street, Braybrook, Victoria 3019

On Monday 12 July 2021

Sangha dana                       11.00am

Ceremony                           12.45pm

Laurence indicated his preference that attendees NOT dress in sombre- hued clothing at funerals

Please check the Laurence Mills Facebook page for livestream details closer to the day.

Monastery Closed

Following the 26 June NSW government COVID restrictions, Wat Buddha Dhamma is closed until further notice.

For more info regarding NSW COVID restrictions, please click on this link: COVID Restrictions.

Saturday Night Dhamma Talks and Sutta Classes have been uploaded to YouTube. Click here: WBD Talks.

Any further queries, please call the office on 0409 389 887 or email us at wbdoffice@gmail.com

Monastery Report November 2020

Lotus Blooming
Bush Blooming
Sala Blooming (Kathina Day)

Comings & Goings
Monks

  1. Ajahn Tiradhammo has been granted another visa for four years.
  2. Ajahn Khemavaro – has not travelled out of Australia since Mar 2020.
  3. Ajahn Sudhammo will leave for Melbourne in December/January.
  4. Ajahn Chaiyaporn will return to Thailand in November.
  5. Venerable Pannananda came in February 2020 and will stay on.

Long-term lay guests (in alphabetical order)
Annie
Araliya
David
Miles

Retreats
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, retreats have been cancelled throughout 2020 and until further notice. Visitors are still welcome to visit, stay and practice at the Wat.

Completed Projects 2020
Properties damaged by 2019 bushfires have been rebuilt: Thera Kuti, all walking meditation paths, two new bridges, woodshed near lay shower block, and 8 new water tanks.
New Kuti at Taree Hermitage.
Solar panel upgrade at Sangha House.
Decking around the office area.

Building Projects for 2020/2021
Hill Kuti for LP Tiradhammo
Granny flat for laypeople

Rains Retreat 2020



Rains Retreat 2020
6th July to 2nd October 

During the Rains Retreat the community at WBD will focus on formal meditation practice, cultivating stillness, compassion, and wisdom. The monastery is open for day visits, however, we will not be able to accommodate overnight guests.  Regarding day visit, please follow instructions below. Emails will be answered between 5-7 days. If it’s urgent please call the office at 0409-389-887 between 11 am and 12 noon.  Thank you for your support.


Community List for Rains 2020
Monks
LP Tiradhammo               
Ajahn Khemavaro
Ajahn Sudhammo                               
Ajahn Chaiyaporn                      
Venerable Panyannda

Layguests
Annie
Araliya
Daniel
Miles
David
Cuc
                               
Videos of Saturday Night Dhamma Talks 

WBD Dhamma Talks on YouTube

ATTENTION ALL VISITORS
Please keep the monastery safe

PLEASE DO NOT VISIT if you have
ᴓ been feeling unwell
ᴓ any flu like symptoms – including fever, cough, sore throat or loss of taste/smell
ᴓ travelled to any hotspot location identified by NSW Government in the last 14 days
ᴓ been in close contact with any confirmed cases of COVID or persons awaiting test results
ᴓ been tested positive of COVID or awaiting test results
If you meet any of the above criteria please leave the monastery and contact your doctor for advice

If you are safe to enter, please follow the guidelines below:
√ Complete COVID logbook for contact tracing
√ Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or sanitiser
√ Avoid touching your face with your hands
√ If you cough or sneeze, use a tissue and bin after use
√ Keep 1.5 meter distance from others

 
Kathina Ceremony
Sunday 11th October 2020TBC
Activities include: Shared Meal, Auspicious Chanting, and Dhamma Talk
10 – 3 pm.
 
For further enquiries, please email:  wbdoffice@gmail.com or call the office at 0409-389-887 between 9 – 12 noon.

True Refuge
To many places beings withdraw
to escape from fear:
to mountains, forests, parklands and gardens;
sacred places as well.
But none of these places
offer true refuge,
none of them can free us from fear.

The Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha
these are true refuge;
these are supreme;
these lead to Liberation.

Dhammapada Verse #188-191

Covid 19 Update–Open with Restrictions

Sangha and Long Term Guests May 2020

On 1st June, the NSW government eased certain restrictions regarding COVID 19.  Places of worship can have a maximum of 50 people attending services, however the capacity must not exceed 4 square metres per person. For WBD, that means a maximum of 30 people in the Sala/Meditation Hall and 20 in Dana Sala/Kitchen Area.

Visitors will be required to provide their name and contact details when they enter so that they can be used for contact tracing.

To ensure that we comply with the regulations, please contact the office at 0409 389 887 or email at wbdoffice@gmail.com before visiting the monastery.

For more info regarding what you can and can’t do under the rules, please click here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules

Covid-19 Update

Following the NSW government new regulations on 15th May, the monastery is able to accomodate up to 10 visitors at any one time. To ensure that we comply with the regulations, please contact the office at 0409 389 887 or email at wbdoffice@gmail.com before visiting the monastery.

Please note the following precautions:

Download COVIDSafe App before visiting the monastery.
Please leave your food offerings on the tables outside and 
do not come into the kitchen.  
Maximum of 4 people in the kitchen at any one time.
Please keep a distance of 1.5 meters from other people.

Visitors are asked to strictly observe the following hygiene rules:

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or liquid hand-wash frequently.
Use paper towels to dry your hands or air-dry them.
Use hand sanitiser when it is available.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or clothing, or a tissue, 
not the room or your hands.
Dispose of tissues straight into a bin and wash your hands.

We also ask that if you are experiencing a fever or flu or cold symptoms, that you refrain from coming to the monastery.

Monastery Closed

Following the NSW government regulations regarding closure of all indoor places of worship, the monastsery will be closed from Monday 23rd March.

Any further queries, please call the office at 0409 389 887 or email at wbdoffice@gmail.com