Editorial
Dear Friends in the Dhamma,
Welcome to our second edition of the Buddha Dhyana Dana Review for 2006.
On 5th August 2006, we held the 26th Annual General Meeting. Our President’s Annual Report by Julian Bamford gives the blessings and the highlights of Buddha Dhamma Activities and Milestones during the year.
The beautiful cover photograph taken on Founder’s Day at our Centre on 9 September 2006 shows Members of the Sangha with our Members and friends. This year we also welcome our new President, Evelin C. Halls, BA and you can read her speech given on Founder’s Day in this issue.
We welcome our new Members who have already come and those who are yet to come. The article “Introduction to Buddhism” is however not just for beginners and we hope you enjoy it.
Our main project this year is the building of the new John D. Hughes Dhamma Cetiya Meditation Hall and Library. We have included here for you a paper on “Building for Buddha” and photographs of a blessing ceremony for the new building by the Venerable Sangha.
At our Centre it has been a long standing practice to record and preserve the Buddha Dhamma teachings. As we move into the 21st Century, we need to ensure that the valuable contributions to Buddhist Teachings are brought into the digital age. The article “Preserving Audio Taped Recordings of Buddha Dhamma Teachings through Digitisation” explains just how we do this.
For many years our Temple has raised funds for Dhamma friends overseas at the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery. We have included the most recent letter from Suddhananda Mahathero for you to read.
If you would like to come and learn the Dhamma or help at our Centre with any of the meritorious projects please call (03) 9754 3334. If you are unable to attend at present you may help us with the building of the new meditation hall and library by sponsoring one of the 1000 Buddha images to be placed in the new building.
May our Temple continue to be a place for persons to come and learn the Dhamma for over 500 years.
May the Buddha Dhamma teachings be digitised for preservation and dissemination for over 500 years.
May you be well and happy.
Pennie White
BA DipEd MA
Editor BDDR
Chan Academy Australia