The monks will be in Thailand visiting different meditation monasteries from 1st to 16th Feb.  The Wat will be closed to the public.  Any queries, please contact the office between 10 – 12 noon at 0409 389 887 or 02-4323-3193.

Saturday 29^th October @ Wat Buddha Dhamma

Dana              10:00 am

Q & A            11:30-12:30 pm

Sunday 30^th October  @ Wat Buddha Dhamma

Robes Offering Ceremony 10 – 3 pm

Monday 31^st October @ Wat Buddha Dhamma

Dana                          10:00 am

Tuesday 1^st November @ Buddhist Library

Public Talk    7-9 pm

For more info, please call 02-9519-6054

Wednesday 2^nd November @ Buddhist Library

Public Talk    7-9 pm

For more info, please call 02-9519-6054

5-Day Retreat at Wat Buddha Dhamma

3^rd to 7^th November

Register for the retreat by visiting our website at www.wbd.org.au, filling out an online application form under “Visiting/Overnight and Longer”.   If you have any further queries, please call the office between 8-10 am and 11 to 2 pm at (02) 4323 3193 or 0409-389-887.

 NB: Please register early as there are limited spaces.

The above schedule is subject to last minute changes depending on LP Piak’s health and energy. Please plan to arrive by 9:30 am for dana at 10. Any queries, please call the office at 0409-389-887 or email: wbdoffice@gmail.com

About the Teacher:

Luang Por (Venerable Father) Piak is one of Thailand’s most respected teachers of Dhamma and meditation. Born in 1948, Luang Por Piak’s given name is Prasobchai but he was nicknamed ‘Piak’. As a child and young man Luang Por Piak did not have much interest in religion or meditation. It was when he was studying for his Masters in New York that Luang Por Piak began to develop an interest about the mind.

The first time Piak began to develop an interest in his own mind was during the years in New York. On the subway, for example, while heading to work, he would find his mind naturally observing and converging on his breath. There he found both pleasure and peace. He also noticed that he was able to wake up in the morning at whatever time he wished simply by mentally determining the time the night before. Even if he’d spent most of the night at a party, he’d still wake up exactly at the predetermined time. These experiences made him curious about how the mind worked and led on to an interest in meditation.

Venerable Piak then received full bhikkhu ordination from Luang Por Chah on July 3rd 1976, just before the beginning of the rains retreat that year.  In 1981, when Venerable Piak had been ordained for five years, a piece of property was offered outside of Bangkok for a branch monastery.  Luang Por Chah asked Venerable Piak to live there as the abbot. It was unusual for a monk to be asked to take on so much responsibility at such a young age, but Venerable Piak had had quick progress in his Dhamma practice and was also native to that region.  Initially surrounded by rice fields as far as one could see, within ten years his small monastery had been completely engulfed by Bangkok’s urban sprawl. Noise, heat and pollution notwithstanding, Luang Por Piak has remained a refuge of peace and soothing coolness within the heart of Thailand’s largest city. Although he never completed his masters degree, he quickly came to be recognized as one of the most respected  masters of our time.

He will be accompanied by Ajahn Mudito, his translator.  Ajahn Mudito, born in Brazil, has been a monk for 12 years, and has spent the last 7 years living with Luang Por.

20^th July to 16^th 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.   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.

It is hard to find a being of great wisdom; 

Rare are the places in which they are born. 

Those who accompany them when they appear, know good fortune indeed.

                                                Dhammapada Verse #193

Comings & Goings

Monks
1. Ajahn Tiradhammo left for NZ after a two months stay.
2. Ven Subharo, who joined the community in Dec, will be spending Vassa in Sri Lanka.
3. Ven Ning has returned to Boonyawad Monastery on 18 June.
4. Venerable Sumangalo from Ajahn Dtun’s monastery will be joining the community for the Rains Retreat.

Layguests
Fran left for Perth in May, having spent 18 months with the community.
The following lay guests will be joining the community for Vassa:  Donna from UK via Thailand, Hong, Kim, and Van from Mel, Dana and Jacinta from NSW.

Upcoming Retreats

New Year Retreat
30th Dec to 2nd Jan 2016

Visits from Senior Monks in 2016

Bhante Khippapanno
17th to 21st January

Ajahn Tiradhammo
February-May

Ajahn Dtun
11th to 20th March

LP Sumedho
22nd to 27th April

Community List for Rains 2016

Ajahn Khemavaro
Ajahn Santutthi
Venerable Chandapo
Venerable Sumangalo
Samanera Issaro

Possible Visits from Senior Monk 2017

Ajahn Dtun in March/April 2017

Projects for 2016/2017

Monks Toilet—Finished in June. Much appreciation to Jon, Nat and friends who came on weekends to help with the work.
New Buddha Statue for Eating Hall—Ceremony in 4th Feb 2017 at Wat Boonyawad, Chonburi. Estimated Cost $4K
Road Work—Resurfacing the main tracks from office to Sala and Sangha House. Estimated cost $10K
Water Tanks—Two additional water tanks near the Sala.  Estimated Cost $7K

1.  We have two new visiting Monks:

• Luang Por Tiradhammo (who will be staying with us until May 11th, 2016).

Biography:

Ajahn Tiradhammo is a very warm and cheerful Bhikkhu, and always an interesting speaker. He is also a world famous author of many free-for-distribution books. Now ordained for 41 years, he has lots of experience with all aspects of Buddhism. Newcomers will certainly find his talks easy to follow, as well as experienced meditators.

He is currently of no fixed abode and travels widely.

Latest Free-for-Distribution ebook: Working with the Five Hindrances, also available in hard copy at WBD

• Ajahn Santhutthi, WBD’s own happy Buddha, has been in Perth for the past ten months, and has returned to the Wat.

2. New Caretaker: Zen, who has been visiting for several months off and on, has returned and has agreed to stay on for one year.

3. Several new Videos have been posted on our website:

• Quick Driving Tour of Wat Buddha Dhamma (MP4, ~631MB, ~6min, 720p, 60fps, ~1.9MB/sec, it’s recommended to completely download this file first before viewing)
• by Ajahn Tiradhammo: Kamma and Attitude Mar 5, 2015 (MP4, ~1GB, ~45min)
• Ajahn Dtun’s visit, 2013 (MP4, ~923MB, ~1hr, 14 min)
• Kathina Celebration, 2014 (MP4, ~1.26GB, ~40min)
• Thai Aussie Day, 2014, with Tan Chao Khun Samai (MP4, ~1.28GB, ~45min)
• Robe Offering Ceremony, 2013 (MP4, ~1.48GB, ~52min)

Tip: If any video displays in your web browser with any stuttering or pauses, try saving the video file locally first, then open it using a video app such as VLC.  For example, in Firefox, to save these video files locally on your computer, right click a video, then choose “Save Link As…” or “Save Video As…”.

3. Several New Audio Dhamma Talks have been posted on our website:

• Luang Por Liem in Sydney, recorded Mar 2, 1026
• Ajahn Khemavaro’s Saturday Night Dhamma Talks

4. We’re experimenting with recording our own videos to post on our website.  We are hoping to have LP Sumedho and Ajahn Dtun teachings on website soon.  We’re grateful to Lincoln Mitchell for his expertise and generous assistance in this respect.

 Public Talks by Ajahn Dtun

• at Wat Buddha Dhamma (Any queries, please call the office 02-4323-3193 or 0409-389-887):
  • Saturday 12^th March:
    • Dana         10:00 am
    • Q & A        11:30 -1:00 pm
  • Sunday 13^th March:
    • Dana         10:00 am
    • Q & A        11:30-1:00 pm

• at Buddhist Library Saturday 19^th March (90-92 Church St. Camperdown, for directions, please call 02-9519-6054):
  • Dana         10:00 am  (Please arrive at 9:30 am for dana offering at 10)
  • Q & A        11:30-1:00 pm
  • Talk            7-9 pm

Publics Talks by LP Sumedho

•  at Buddhist Library, Friday 22^nd April (90-92 Church St. Camperdown, for directions, please call 02-9519-6054)
  • Dhamma Talk   6-8 pm

• at Wat Buddha Dhamma:
  • Sunday 24^th April:
    • Dana         10:00 am
    • Q & A        11:30-1:00 pm
    • Talk            7-9 pm
  • Monday 25^th April:
    • Dana         10:00 am
    • Q & A        11:30-1:00 pm
  • Tuesday 26^th April:
    • Dana         10:00 am
    • Q & A        11:30-1:00 pm
    • Talk            7-9 pm

Note: The above schedule is subject to last minute changes depending on LP Sumedho’s health and energy level. Please plan to arrive by 9:30 am for dana at 10. Any queries, please call the office at 02-4323-3193 or 0409-389-887

Vesak Celebration

Sunday 22^nd May, 10 – 3 pm

Activities include:

• Shared Meal
• Auspicious Chanting
• Dhamma Talk

Entrance to the Rains Ceremony

Sunday 17^th July, 10 – 3 pm

Activities include:

• Shared Meal
• Auspicious Chanting
• Dhamma Talk

Rains Retreat 2016

20^th July to 16^th October

You are cordially invited to spend the Rains Retreat at the Wat, to serve and to deepen your practice.

Minimum stay of one month and priority will be given to those who can commit themselves for the entire three months.

Kathina Ceremony

Sunday 23^rd October, 10 – 3 pm

Activities include:

• Shared Meal
• Auspicious Chanting
• Dhamma Talk

The Sound of Silence

One can believe that the sound of silence is ‘something’ or that it is an attainment, but it is not a matter of having attained anything but of wisely reflecting on what you experience. The way to reflect is that anything that comes goes; and the practice is one of knowing things as they are. No kind of identity is involved—there is nothing to attach to.

Excerpt from “Direct Realization”, Volume 3 of the “Ajahn Sumedho, The Anthology” box set

To register for upcoming retreats, please register online here. For further enquiries, please email or call the office at 0409-389-887 between 8 – 12 noon.

Self-service email Newsletter subscription now available

All our News postings will now be sent to all our Mailing list Subscribers using a free service called “MailChimp”.  (Note: If you are reading this by email, then you are already “subscribed” to our “Friends of Wat” mailing list there.)  Subscribing/unsubscribing can now be done easily here:
https://wbd.org.au/mailing-list/

Visiting Monk: Venerable Pasannamano

Venerable Pasanamanno (his Thai nickname is Oo, pronounced like the “oo” in “food”, with a rising tone) is visiting our monastery, he plans to stay until Feb. 5th.  This makes six monks currently in residence.  He is a temporarily-ordained Bhikkhu (and his preceptor is Ven. Maha Samai).  Before ordaining, he used to work as a chef at the restaurant Thai Tables (in Hornsby).

Unusually high rain

We just had several days of rain, and we are happy that all our rainwater collection tanks are now full.  Our largest culvert (under our main road to the Sala) barely held out, as flowing rainwater almost exceeded its capacity.  Much gratitude is expressed to all the lay supporters who recently helped to maintain the road during our recent 5-day New Years retreat.  These efforts very substantially helped our road stay in good condition during all the rainfall.

Ajahn Khemavaro’s Sat. Night Dhamma Talks to be recorded and posted online

Watch for new Saturday evening Dhamma Talks by Ajahn Khemavaro, appearing here (hopefully posted by the following Tuesday or Wednesday):
https://wbd.org.au/audio/ajahn-khemavaro/