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Metta Convention: Metta-lympics- playing the games of loving kindness
October 1, 2023
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Metta Convention: Metta-lympics- playing the games of loving kindness
Presenters: Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Ven Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Ven Thubten Chodron, Chao Khun Keng, Ven Sangye Khadro, Ajahn Sona, Bhante Sujato, Ajahn Brahmali, Ajahn Nissarano, Ven Dr Pannavati Bhikkhuni, Ven BomHyon Sunim, Ven Juefang, Ven Dr Juewei, Bhante Joe Atulo, Ayya Karunika, Ven Bhikshuni Pema Deki (Emma Slade), Ven Brother Tenzin, Bhante Sanathavihari Bhikkhu, Ven Tashi Choedup, Dr Pema Düddul, Rod Lee
Sat 30 Sep | 9:00am-5.00pm AEST
Sun 1 Oct | 9:00am-5.00pm AEDT
Note: Beginning Sun 1 Oct, the Daylight Savings Time change may impact when you join. Please adjust accordingly.
Location: In person at Western Sydney University, Bankstown City Campus, Auditorium or Online (https://uws.zoom.us/j/83250422128)
Cost: Free
Join us for a transformative weekend of meditation, teachings and discussions with renowned Buddhist teachers from around the world! The Metta Convention brings together leading Buddhist teachers from different traditions who will explore topics relevant to modern living and deepening our spiritual practice. Featured presenters include Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Ven Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Ven Thubten Chodron, and Ajahn Sona. This event is open to Buddhist and meditation practitioners of all levels who are seeking to enrich their practice and engage with like-minded individuals in a supportive and inspiring environment. This is a unique opportunity to connect with teachers from around the world and deepen your spiritual practice.
Program
Sat 30 Sep
9.00-9.15am: Opening ceremony led by Ven Dr Juewei (In person)
Venerable Dr Juewei has been an ordained monastic and a Buddhist Studies scholar for over 20 years. Prior to her ordination, Juewei applied research in artificial intelligence and business process re-engineering in the Singapore government for over 10 years. Juewei is now Head of Program for Applied Buddhist Studies and Humanistic Buddhism, as well as Director of the Humanistic Buddhism Centre, at the Nan Tien Institute, Australia. She is co-editor of a Special Issue for the Journal of Global Buddhism and Studies on Humanistic Buddhism series. Juewei has created community projects, webinar series and podcasts, as well as apps and tools. Juewei co-organised the 8th International Symposium on Humanistic Buddhism in November 2021 where she first introduced the idea of the MettāVerses.
9.15 – 10.00am: The Practice of Non-Practice: overcoming our hindrances through the power of lightheartedness with Ven Dr Pannavati Bhikkhuni (Joining online for North Carolina, USA)
Each and everyone of us is bound to come up against difficulties in life. There are unpleasant realities that we will all have to face. Inspired by Buddhist teachings, we might strive to overcome these difficulties on a path of personal growth. However, our enthusiasm to practise rigorously can sometimes backfire and become an obstacle itself, leading to frustration and temptation to give up. There can be a fine line between being too slack and being overly vigorous in our practice. Applying Right Effort (Samma Vayama) can help us transform adversity in life into great opportunities for growth. Can we approach our practice with lightheartedness, patience (Khanthi), and joyful effort to maintain the right balance in pursuit of happiness? In this talk, Ven Dr Pannavati Bhikkhuni will share her insight and guidance on navigating the challenges of spiritual practice.
Venerable Dr Pannavati Bhikkhuni is founder of Heartwood Refuge, an intentional spiritual community and abbot of Embracing Simplicity Hermitage, a 21st century trans-lineage Buddhist Order. Ordained in Theravada and Mahayana with Vajrayana empowerments, she currently serves as a VP for the US for the Global Buddhist Bhikkhuni Association and propagates the teachings of her final Master, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III through Correct Cultivation Learning from Buddha Academy as her final work.
Ven. Pannavati is a former Christian pastor, co-founder and co-Abbot of Embracing-Simplicity Hermitage in Hendersonville, NC. A black, female Buddhist monk ordained in the Theravada and Mahayana traditions with Vajrayana empowerments and transmission from Roshi Bernie Glassman of Zen Peacemakers, she is both contemplative and empowered for compassionate service. An international teacher, she advocates on behalf of disempowered women and youth globally, and insists on equality and respect in Buddhist life for both female monastics and lay sangha. She is committed to advocacy for the homeless, sick and disenfranchised, those who are marginalised, abused, neglected and unloved. She loves the Dhamma, lives the Dhamma and teaches the Dhamma internationally. More info can be found here.
10.00 – 10.45am: MettāVerses: Building Communities of Kindness with Ven Dr Juewei (In person)
The massive disruptions caused by climate disasters, the Covid-19 pandemic, wars, and ever-rising inequalities have presented the world with challenges across policy and politics, social and economic spheres, health and education, as well as community life. Using a Buddhist perspective, the root cause of humanity’s current state is identified as confusion about the interconnected nature of reality, leading to self-centeredness on personal and collective levels. The concept of ‘MettāVerses’ as communities of unconditional loving kindness for all is proposed as an antidote. The audience will also be invited to co-create possible responses by harnessing the power of communities to address vulnerabilities.
Venerable Dr Juewei has been an ordained monastic and a Buddhist Studies scholar for over 20 years. Prior to her ordination, Juewei applied research in artificial intelligence and business process re-engineering in the Singapore government for over 10 years. Juewei is now Head of Program for Applied Buddhist Studies and Humanistic Buddhism, as well as Director of the Humanistic Buddhism Centre, at the Nan Tien Institute, Australia. She is co-editor of a Special Issue for the Journal of Global Buddhism and Studies on Humanistic Buddhism series. Juewei has created community projects, webinar series and podcasts, as well as apps and tools. Juewei co-organised the 8th International Symposium on Humanistic Buddhism in November 2021 where she first introduced the idea of the MettāVerses.
12.00 – 1.15pm: Panel- Who’s Responsible for Our Misery?: Exploring Personal Responsibility and the Cultivation of Pure Qualities of the Mind with Ajahn Nissarano (Joining online from Newbury, VIC), Ayya Karunika (In person), and Bhante Sanathavihari Bhikkhu (Joining online from Los Angeles, USA),
In this panel, three respected monastics will discuss the question of responsibility for our own happiness and suffering to shed light on the causes of misery. The panellists will examine how our own thoughts,speech and actions can shape our experience of the world and influence our well-being.
One encompassing method of purifying the mind to overcome the causes of misery is through the cultivation of the Brahma Viharas, namely loving kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), joyful appreciation (mudita), and equanimity (upekkha), known as the Four Sublime Abodes. However, these wholesome mental states are widely misinterpreted and misused to justify unwholesome actions and thoughts, often under the disguise of spirituality by way of spiritual bypassing. Such misunderstandings may potentially lead to harmful consequences. This panel will discuss how to identify the causes of these misconceptions and explore ways to truly nurture and grow the pure four immeasurable qualities of the mind for the benefit of oneself and others.
Ajahn Nissarano was born in 1952 in Perth, Western Australia. In 1997, he was ordained by Ajahn Brahm as a novice monk and a year later took full ordination. This year was his 26th Rain’s Retreat, Vassa. He lived in Sri Lanka
from 2006 to 2019, for a total of 13 and half years. During that time, he lived for 8 years in a cave on the side of a mountain, surrounded by forest and going for alms round to the village below. He returned to Australia regularly to teach, primarily at the Buddhist Society of Victoria. In January 2021 he became the Senior Monk at Newbury Buddhist Monastery, outside Melbourne, which is run by the Buddhist Society of Victoria.
Bhikkhuni Ayya Kārunikā is currently the senior resident monastic at Santi Forest Monastery and has been in monastic life for over 12 years. She received her full ordination as a bhikkhunī in 2014 at Dhammasara Nuns monastery in Western Australia where she lived and trained for over a decade with Ajahn Hāsapaññā. She is also a student of Ajahn Brahm and Ajahn Brahmali. Ayya Kārunikā is able to articulate the Buddhist teachings in a way that is practical and comprehensible to people of all ages and has experience in conducting day retreats for both adults and youth. While she has a PhD in Microbiology and worked as a scientist, she has also been the building project manager for the construction of Dhammasara main monastery complex and has worked with many volunteers over the years. Ayya Kārunikā was born in Sri Lanka but has been living and working in Australia for over 2 decades. She has a passion to share her experience and knowledge and loves working with people and also doing creative projects.
Venerable Bhante Sanathavihari Bhikkhu is a Mexican-American Theravāda monk at the Sarathchandra Buddhist Center in North Hollywood, a Sri Lankan center. He is a student of the late Dr. Bhante Punnaji, and the director of Casa De Bhavana – an outreach project to bring the Dhamma to the Spanish-speaking world. He is also the co-author of Buddhism in 10 Steps. He represents a new generation of Spanish-speaking monastics who are extensively employing digital communication methods and social media, which is turning out to be extremely effective for spreading the Dharma in Spanish. Bhante is a U.S. Air Force veteran and served in the army for 9 years. After three deployments to Afghanistan, he was ordained as a novice in the Theravada tradition, at the age of 30, in the lineage of the Amarapura Nikaya monastic fraternity. In 2015, he received higher ordination at the Sarathchandra Buddhist Center of the Maharagama Bhikkhu Training Center (Maharagama Dharmayathanaya) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Today, Bhante Sanathavihari is the leader of Casa de Bhavana, a Theravada organization devoted to spreading the Dharma and promoting the practice of meditation. Bhante Sanathavihari has a B.A. in Religion, and is a Mindfulness researcher at Mount St. Mary University, Los Angeles, and a Graduate Student in Counseling Psychology at Mount St. Mary University. More info can be found here.
1.30 – 2.30pm: Panel- Does Universal Love Oppose Self-improvement? With Ajahn Sona (Joining online from British Columbia, Canada), Bhante Sujato (In person) and Ven Tashi Choedup (Joining online from India)
Some have objected to unconditional love as indulgent towards correctable flaws. They say it allows people to persist in negative behaviour. Is this the case, or is there a lack of deeper understanding of the practice of Metta?
Venerable Ajahn Sona is a first-wave Western Theravada ordained monk and the Abbot of Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery (‘Birken’). With over thirty years in the robes, he is now referred to as ‘Luang Por’ (‘Venerable Father’) by his closest disciples – a traditional honorific for senior monks of the Thai Forest Tradition.
After several years of practice as a lay hermit, the young Bhikkhu Sona took full monastic ordination in 1989 with Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Mahathera at the first Theravada forest monastery in the United States (The Bhavana Society, West Virginia). He later switched to the Thai Forest Tradition and trained at Ajahn Chah’s monasteries in northeastern Thailand for several years. Ajahn Sona now draws on both the Sri Lankan and Thai scholastic and meditative traditions in his teachings, in addition to his modern western sensibilities. His pre-monastic education in philosophy, humanities, and classical Western music have aided him in understanding the Western psyche and in establishing paradigm bridges between East and West.
Ajahn Sona is also deeply interested in the ecological movements of this environmentally critical time, both at the practical and philosophical levels. The off-grid monastery, which he has carefully curated over the last two decades, employs the latest in green design technologies and principles.
More info can be found here and on Wikipedia.
Bhante Sujato is a former musician who became a monk in the ascetic Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah in 1994.After years of living in Thailand he returned to Australia and stayed at Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia before going on to found Santi Forest Monastery in 2003. Following Bhante Sujato’s wishes, Santi became a Bhikkhunī (Buddhist nuns’) monastery Vihara in 2012, and he returned to live in Bodhinyana.
Bhante Sujato co-founded the Buddhist website SuttaCentral in 2005 to provide access to early Buddhist texts in their original languages and make translations available in modern languages. From 2015-2018, he lived on the island of Chime, off the coast of Taiwan, undertaking the task of creating English translations of the four Nikāyas. These translations have since been published on SuttaCentral, and as free edition books. In 2019, he established Lokanta Vihara in Sydney to explore what it means to follow the Buddha’s teachings in an era of climate change, globalised consumerism, and political turmoil.
Bhante Sujato along with his teacher Ajahn Brahm were involved with Re-establishing Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Forest sangha of Ajahn Chah. More info can be found here and on Wikipedia.
Ven Tashi Choedup (They/She) is a trans-feminine Buddhist monastic (Nunk) with more than a decade of experience in human rights and community work. They are a member of the Telangana State Government’s Welfare Board for Transgender Persons. They work for Queer-Trans Wellness and Support Center at Yugantar, Hyderabad. They are currently the National Coordinator (India) at the Foundation for Preservation of Mahayana Tradition. They are an executive committee member at the Anveshi Research Centre for Women’s Studies and a core group member of the National Ecumenical Forum For Gender and Sexual Minorities (NEFGSM) at the National Council of Churches of India. They also engage with queer folks as a peer counsellor. They are a fellow at Salzburg Global LGBT* Forum. They are one of the founding members of Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti and Queer Swabhimana Yatra. They are a student of Buddhist philosophy and psychology. Their primary areas of interest are community building, faith, religion, mental health, and queer rights.
2.30 – 3.00pm: Stabilising and Transforming the Mind with Compassion with Ven Bhikshuni Pema Deki (Emma Slade) (Joining online from the UK)
In our day-to-day lives, we can often find ourselves preoccupied with negative thoughts and afflictions. The constant need to navigate problems and obstacles can often lead to anxiety, sadness and fear. Ven Bhikshuni Pema Deki will show how the healing power of meditative practice and cultivation of pure compassion using mantras such as the Chenrezig (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) recitation can stabilise and transform the mind. One can move from negative tendencies to a state of joy, clear awareness, acceptance, and luminosity. Realise how, by transforming ourselves, we can transform the world around us.
Ven Bhikshuni Pema Deki (Emma Slade) was born in England and was educated at universities in Cambridge and London. She left a high-powered financial career to explore the traditions of yoga and meditation and this road led her eventually to the Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan.
Here, with the help of her Lama, she became the first Western woman to be ordained as a Getsulma in Bhutan in the Drukpa Kagyu lineage in 2014 – after having lived under novice vows for two years.
Under her Lama’s guidance she completed her 440,000 preliminary practices and continues on with both her Buddhist philosophical studies and practices of meditation. Her main teacher is now His Eminence the Dorji Lopen of Bhutan from whom she receives personal instruction. She was ordained as a Gelongma or Bhikshuni in the historic event which took place in Bhutan in June 2022. She has studied various key shedra texts under instruction from her teachers in Bhutan.
In response to her deep interest in the nature and practices of compassion, in 2015, she founded the registered UK charity ‘Opening Your Heart to Bhutan’ to help children in Bhutan. To date this charity has helped hundreds of children in Bhutan gain access to education and medicine. In 2017 she was given the Point of Light award by the UK Prime Minister in recognition of her exceptional charity work in Bhutan.
Her first book, Set Free, detailing her inspirational personal story was published in April 2017 and has been translated into a number of other languages. Proceeds from the UK book are donated to the charity.
She divides her time between Bhutan and elsewhere!
See www.openingyourhearttobhutan.com, www.emmaslade.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Slade, and https://youtu.be/mMXqZt-9TnU
3.30 – 4.30pm: Special Q&A with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo (Joining online from India)
Metta Centre is deeply grateful to world renowned teacher and senior Bhiksuni, Jetsunma (The Most Venerable) Tenzin Palmo for accepting our invitation for a special dialogue with us, despite being retired from formal teachings. Please join us for a live Q and A (question and answer) session which will dissect the Buddha’s teaching through inquiry, questioning, and investigation. Jetsunma will directly address between 12 and 15 questions about Buddhism and its application to our lives. Send your questions to contact@mettacentre.com. Due to the anticipated high volume of questions, a selection of questions will be chosen from those received to be presented to Jetsunma. There is no guarantee that all questions will be answered.
The Most Venerable (Jetsunma) Tenzin Palmo ordained in 1964 when she was 21 years old, and became one of the first Westerners to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monastic. In 1976, Jetsunma in seeking more seclusion and better conditions for practice, found a cave a couple of hours hike from Tayul, at 13,200 feet above sea level. The cave was enhanced by building enclosing walls, creating a living space around 6 feet (1.8 metres) square. In the summer months supplies were delivered from Keylong and she grew turnips and potatoes nearby. She stockpiled for winter, when the cave was snowbound. She slept and meditated upright in a meditation box. Despite many hardships and life-threatening experiences, Tenzin Palmo thrived in her solitary spiritual practice and lived in the cave for 12 years, from the ages of 33 to 45. For the first 9 years she occasionally had visitors or took trips away from the cave, while the last 3 years were spent in strict retreat. Her retreat ended in summer 1988 and after 24 years in India, she returned to Europe to stay with friends in Assisi, Italy. There she rediscovered her western roots and started to accept requests to teach.
Tenzin Palmo has been instrumental in supporting female monastics and practitioners. She is the Founding Director of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, and also took on the President’s role of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women. She is the Founding Director of the Alliance of Non Himalayan Nuns; Honorary Advisor to the International Network of Engaged Buddhists and Founding Member of the Committee for Bhiksuni Ordination. To find out more about Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s life and teachings, see: https://tenzinpalmo.com
4.30 – 5.00pm: Healing Meditation and Closing with Rod Lee (In person)
Ultimately all illness comes from the mind. Buddha taught that unwholesome thinking and actions are the cause of all suffering, whether it is physical or emotional.
The healing meditation practice that will be presented is based on visualisation and is deeply relaxing for both body and mind. The contemplation involved in this meditation will lead us to a greater awareness of the interaction of our mind in assisting the healing of the body. Keeping a healthy body and mind is important not only for our own wellbeing but it also gives us the energy to be helpful for others.
Rod Lee is a director and teacher at the Tibetan Buddhist Society in Sydney. He became a student of the Venerable Acharya Thubten Loden in 1978 and has been teaching Buddhist meditation and philosophy since 1990. He has been an executive administrator for a medical rehabilitation centre and has designed and delivered programs in meditation, stress management, and resilience for over 35 years for both corporate and private clients. He is an instructor of Tai Chi and Chi Gong with 45 years’ experience. Rod has been a meditation teacher for Nature Care College of Natural Therapies, and he wrote and narrated the Qantas Airways’ and Malaysian Airlines’ in-flight meditation audio programs.
Sun 1 Oct – Note: Beginning Sun 1 Oct, the Daylight Savings Time change may impact when you join. Please adjust accordingly.
9.00-9.15am: Opening ceremony and short meditation with Bhante Sujato (In person)
Bhante Sujato is a former musician who became a monk in the ascetic Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah in 1994.After years of living in Thailand he returned to Australia and stayed at Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia before going on to found Santi Forest Monastery in 2003. Following Bhante Sujato’s wishes, Santi became a Bhikkhunī (Buddhist nuns’) monastery Vihara in 2012, and he returned to live in Bodhinyana.
Bhante Sujato co-founded the Buddhist website SuttaCentral in 2005 to provide access to early Buddhist texts in their original languages and make translations available in modern languages. From 2015-2018, he lived on the island of Chime, off the coast of Taiwan, undertaking the task of creating English translations of the four Nikāyas. These translations have since been published on SuttaCentral, and as free edition books. In 2019, he established Lokanta Vihara in Sydney to explore what it means to follow the Buddha’s teachings in an era of climate change, globalised consumerism, and political turmoil.
Bhante Sujato along with his teacher Ajahn Brahm were involved with Re-establishing Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Forest sangha of Ajahn Chah. More info can be found here and on Wikipedia.
9.15 – 10.00am: Open Heart, Clear Mind with Ven Thubten Chodron (Joining online from Washington State, USA)
Venerable Thubten Chodron offers practical advice on how we can apply Buddhist psychology to modern life in order to better understand ourselves and improve the quality of our lives.
Venerable Thubten Chodron is an author, teacher, and the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey, a pioneering Tibetan Buddhist training monastery for Western nuns and monks in the US. She graduated from UCLA and did graduate work in education at USC. Ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun in 1977, she has studied extensively with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkong Rinpoche, and other Tibetan lamas. She received full ordination as a bhikshuni in 1986.
Venerable Chodron teaches worldwide and is known for her warm, practical, and humorous explanations of how to apply Buddhist teachings in daily life. She is also involved in prison outreach and interfaith dialogue. She has published many books on Buddhist philosophy and meditation and is currently assisting His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the writing and publication of The Library of Wisdom and Compassion, a multi-volume series of teachings on the Buddhist path. Visit thubtenchodron.org for a media library of her teachings, and sravastiabbey.org to learn more about Sravasti Abbey.
10.00 – 10.45am: Love is But A Song We Sing with Ajahn Sona (Joining online from British Columbia, Canada)
“A single moment of metta, a profound solidarity with all beings, has the power to change one’s life. The Buddha described in detail, love’s many benefits. Like a song that never grows old we shall recall this divine theme.”
Venerable Ajahn Sona is a first-wave Western Theravada ordained monk and the Abbot of Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery (‘Birken’). With over thirty years in the robes, he is now referred to as ‘Luang Por’ (‘Venerable Father’) by his closest disciples – a traditional honorific for senior monks of the Thai Forest Tradition.
After several years of practice as a lay hermit, the young Bhikkhu Sona took full monastic ordination in 1989 with Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Mahathera at the first Theravada forest monastery in the United States (The Bhavana Society, West Virginia). He later switched to the Thai Forest Tradition and trained at Ajahn Chah’s monasteries in northeastern Thailand for several years. Ajahn Sona now draws on both the Sri Lankan and Thai scholastic and meditative traditions in his teachings, in addition to his modern western sensibilities. His pre-monastic education in philosophy, humanities, and classical Western music have aided him in understanding the Western psyche and in establishing paradigm bridges between East and West.
Ajahn Sona is also deeply interested in the ecological movements of this environmentally critical time, both at the practical and philosophical levels. The off-grid monastery, which he has carefully curated over the last two decades, employs the latest in green design technologies and principles.
More info can be found here and on Wikipedia.
11.00 – 11.45am: Compassion for oneself, compassion for others with Ven Sangye Khadro (Joining online from Washington State, USA)
Many religious traditions, including Buddhism, teach us to be loving and compassionate toward others. This is one of the most beautiful and universal aspects of spiritual teachings. But they don’t always talk about being loving and compassionate toward ourselves. This is important too—if we don’t feel love and compassion for ourselves, it will be difficult to fully love others. Sadly, many people nowadays feel hateful and critical towards themselves. In this talk, Ven. Khadro will explain how we can overcome such unskilful attitudes and learn to have self-compassion and be more kind and friendly towards ourselves, which will help us be more kind and friendly toward others.
Venerable Bhikshuni Sangye Khadro has taught several retreats and courses at Sravasti Abbey, including Dealing with Difficult Emotions in 2017, Meditative Concentration retreat in 2018, and Peaceful Living, Peaceful Dying courses in 2019 and 2020. California-born, Ven. Sangye Khadro ordained as a Buddhist nun at Kopan Monastery in 1974, and is a longtime friend and colleague of Abbey founder Ven. Thubten Chodron. Ven. Sangye Khadro took the full (bhikshuni) ordination in 1988. While studying at Nalanda Monastery in France in the 1980s, she helped to start the Dorje Pamo Nunnery, along with Ven. Chodron. Ven. Sangye Khadro has studied Buddhism with many great masters including Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, and Khensur Jampa Tegchok. She began teaching in 1979 and was a resident teacher at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore for 11 years. She followed the Masters Program at Lama Tsong Khapa Institute in Italy from 2008 – 2013, and was resident teacher at the FPMT center in Denmark from 2016-2017. Ven. Sangye Khadro has authored several books, including the best-selling, How to Meditate, now in its 17th printing, which has been translated into thirteen languages. More info can be found here.
1.00 – 2.30pm: Panel- The Weaponization of Love: Exploring the Dark Side of Manipulative Love and Finding Genuine Loving Kindness with Ven Karma Lekshe Tsomo (Joining online from Hawaii, USA), Bhante Sujato (In person) and Ajahn Brahmali (Joining online from Western Australia)
The idea of love and faux concern has been weaponized to drive toxic narratives of bigotry. At this point, the very idea of “religious” love is virtually a shorthand for manipulative performance masking deep and unmitigated cruelty. Such weaponization permeates traditional religions as well as New Age spirituality. We need to be aware, to not get sucked in, but also to not lose faith. There is a genuine love, and a spirit that inspires true religious devotion and spiritual living. How do we find that in ourselves? How do we express it? Can one love like a Buddha? How does true love manifest in a world where hate wins clicks? How can we weaponize love on the side of love? Additionally, our esteemed panel of three monastics will discuss how to use Metta (loving-kindness) to overcome obstacles and deal with challenging situations such as inequality, politics, and opposition in the workplace. Join us to delve deeper into the topic and explore “How to love like a Buddha” discovering the genuine and compassionate ways of embodying love that the Buddha taught.
Venerable Bhikshuni Dr Karma Lekshe Tsomo is a Buddhist monastic and professor teaching at San Diego University. She began meditating in the Zen tradition in Japan in 1965, then studied with U.S.N. Goenka, H.H. Dalai Lama and other teachers in India from 1972. She received novice ordination in France in 1977 and full ordination in Korea in 1982. In 2000, she received a Ph.D. in Comparative Philosophy at the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa, where she is the 2023 Numata Professor of Buddhist Studies, and also serves as director of La’i Peace Center in Waialua, Hawai’i. Her publications include Women in Buddhist Traditions; Buddhist Feminisms and Femininities; and Into the Jaws of Yama: Buddhism, Bioethics, and Death.
In 1985 Karma Lekshe Tsomo founded the Jamyang Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works to improve the education of women and girls in the Himalayan region and currently runs several schools and study programmes in India and Bangladesh. At a gathering at Bodh Gaya in 1987 she became one of the founding members of the international organisation Sakydhita (Daughters of the Buddha), which campaigns for gender equality in Buddhism. She is currently working to create Lai’i Peace Center as a resource for peace education, Buddhist studies, and community service programs under the auspices of Sakyadhita Hawai’i. More info can be found here, on the San Diego University website, and on Wikipedia.
Bhante Sujato is a former musician who became a monk in the ascetic Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah in 1994. After years of living in Thailand he returned to Australia and stayed at Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia before going on to found Santi Forest Monastery in 2003. Following Bhante Sujato’s wishes, Santi became a Bhikkhunī (Buddhist nuns’) monastery Vihara in 2012, and he returned to live in Bodhinyana.
Bhante Sujato co-founded the Buddhist website SuttaCentral in 2005 to provide access to early Buddhist texts in their original languages and make translations available in modern languages. From 2015-2018, he lived on the island of Chime, off the coast of Taiwan, undertaking the task of creating English translations of the four Nikāyas. These translations have since been published on SuttaCentral, and as free edition books. In 2019, he established Lokanta Vihara in Sydney to explore what it means to follow the Buddha’s teachings in an era of climate change, globalised consumerism, and political turmoil.
Bhante Sujato along with his teacher Ajahn Brahm were involved with Re-establishing Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Forest sangha of Ajahn Chah. More info can be found here and on Wikipedia.
Ajahn Brahmali was born in Norway in 1964. His interest in Buddhism and meditation started after a visit to Japan. Having completed degrees in engineering and finance, he began his monastic training as an Anagarika in England at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries. Listening to the teachings of Ajahn Brahm, he decided to travel to Bodhinyana Monastery, located near Perth, and has been there since 1994. He later received higher ordination under Ajahn Brahm.
Ajahn Brahmali’s knowledge of the Pali language and the Suttas is excellent. He completed the only full English translation of the Vinaya Piṭaka (Monastic Law). It is available on the SuttaCentral website and will be published as a book in the next few years. Bhikkhu Bodhi, who translated most of the Pali Canon into English, called Ajahn Brahmali one of his major helpers for the recent translation of the “Numerical Discourses of the Buddha”. Ajahn Brahmali has also published a number of essays, including the book “The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Texts” in collaboration with Bhante Sujato. Most of his publications are available online at bswa.org.
Ajahn Brahmali’s clear and thoughtful talks make the teachings of the Buddha easily accessible to all. He travels extensively in Australia, Asia and Europe to share his knowledge and experience through teachings and retreats.
2.45 – 3.30pm: Cultivating Lasting Happiness: How Buddha’s teachings can help navigate life’s challenges with Ven Juefang (In person)
Welcome to “Heartfelt Metta: Embrace Inner Connection.” In our bustling lives, we often overlook the profound simplicity of nurturing our inner selves and connecting deeply with others. Join us on this journey to rediscover inner harmony and radiate boundless compassion. This is an opportunity for self-discovery and genuine connection, enriching your life and those around you. Let’s begin with open hearts and open minds.
Venerable Juefang is the director of International Relations at Nan Tien Institute and the General Manager of the Hsing Yun Education Foundation. She received her PhD in education studies from Peking University, China and her MA in Buddhist studies from Fo Guang University, Taiwan.
3.45 – 4.30pm: My Journey, Our Journey- the beauty of wandering with Bhante Joe Atulo (Joining online from Sri Lanka) and Ven Brother Tenzin (In person)
We have often seen Buddhist monastics going on alms round and wandering through towns and villages. Sometimes they embark on a long wandering journey across counties through forests. This wandering and mendicant tradition dates back to the time of the Buddha.
In this talk, Bhante Joe plans to discuss the importance of the Theravada wandering tradition, combining the theory of the wandering life with his experience wandering in Sri Lanka.
Having a pre-monastic background in forest ecology, Venerable Brother Tenzin will also share his personal monastic journey and how his nature wandering involvement with www.Yatra.org.au, has allowed for a spiritual transformation, creating space for mindfulness, meditation, and nature connection on country in beautiful wild places. Together, they will share how this beautiful ancient practice can have a profound impact on personal growth, and lead to deepening understanding of the interdependent nature of life.
Venerable Bhante Joe was born in 1983, in London, Ontario, and was initially interested in business and computers. A spiritual vocation seemed extremely unlikely. However, in high school, he was given a book as a joke, which contained teachings from an assortment of religions. Browsing through it, he came to a description of the Four Noble Truths, and was converted. In high school and university, Bhante attended the Toronto Zen Buddhist Temple. He eventually moved in and started training part-time to become a priest. In 2006, he took up full-time training at the temple. However, an attraction to Theravada Buddhism pulled him towards the Thai Forest Tradition. He attended a day-long retreat with Ajahn Viradhammo in 2007. At the retreat, he learned about the newly-established Tisaraṇa Buddhist Monastery. He found his way to Tisaraṇa and was ordained as an anagārika in 2008. In 2010, Bhante Joe was ordained as a bhikkhu with Ajahn Viradhammo as his preceptor. Bhante trained at Tisaraṇa until 2015, with one year in Thailand. In 2015, his teacher released him from dependence. He spent six months at a monastery in California and before returning to Toronto, Canada between 2016 and 2019. In Toronto, he associated with the Toronto Mahavihara and the West End Buddhist Temple. In November 2019, he moved to Sri Lanka, where he currently resides. More info can be found here.
Venerable Brother Tenzin (Dr. Alex Anderson) began with an ecologist’s understanding of interdependence, but the rainforest soon led him to Buddhist meditation. Now ordained as a monk in the Sakya Tibetan tradition, he has also studied and practiced meditation under Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village in France, at Mountain Spring Monastery in The Blue Mountains Near Sydney, and at Pa Auk Tawya in the Burmese Forest tradition. Guided by his main teacher Bhante Dhammadipa (https://www.dhammadipa.cz/en/) his approach is informed by Theravadin, Zen, and Vajrayana methods of meditation and mindfulness, as well as Hatha Yoga, Deep Ecology, and his deep love of wild places. He can be found working with https://www.yatra.org.au to create opportunities for the practice of sacred journeying, and lives on Gumbayngirr country on the Dorrigo Plateau, where he has a project to co-create community space for meditation and nature connection: http://www.gaiaforest.org.
4.30 – 5.00pm Meditation and Closing with Bhante Sujato (In person)
Bhante Sujato is a former musician who became a monk in the ascetic Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah in 1994.After years of living in Thailand he returned to Australia and stayed at Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia before going on to found Santi Forest Monastery in 2003. Following Bhante Sujato’s wishes, Santi became a Bhikkhunī (Buddhist nuns’) monastery Vihara in 2012, and he returned to live in Bodhinyana.
Bhante Sujato co-founded the Buddhist website SuttaCentral in 2005 to provide access to early Buddhist texts in their original languages and make translations available in modern languages. From 2015-2018, he lived on the island of Chime, off the coast of Taiwan, undertaking the task of creating English translations of the four Nikāyas. These translations have since been published on SuttaCentral, and as free edition books. In 2019, he established Lokanta Vihara in Sydney to explore what it means to follow the Buddha’s teachings in an era of climate change, globalised consumerism, and political turmoil.
Bhante Sujato along with his teacher Ajahn Brahm were involved with Re-establishing Bhikkhuni Ordination in the Forest sangha of Ajahn Chah. More info can be found here and on Wikipedia.
Hybrid event: Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive session in person at the Western Sydney University, Bankstown or online by clicking on this link to access the session: https://uws.zoom.us/j/83250422128 Alternatively, you can dial in from your telephone (call charges apply): One tap mobile – +61731853730,,83250422128# Australia | +61861193900,,83250422128# Australia | Meeting ID: 832 5042 2128