Turning Inwards and Seeing into the Nature of the Mind – Ven. Dr. Vimokkha Medhino

Ven. Dr. Vimokkha Medhino (Phra Preeyong Arphonsuwan) shows how to go inwards in the practice of Samatha and Vipassana to develop a clear knowing mind through pragmatic approach.

Through simple explanation using right techniques in the practice, one can develop seeing into the nature of mind in daily life activities.

Ajahn Vimokkha is the Abbot of Wat Pippaliwanaram in Rayong. He obtained an M.A. (Buddhist Studies) and Ph.D.(Buddhist Studies) from Mahachulalongkorn University (MCU).

He has vast experience in insight meditation gained from his practicing under various renown meditation masters and from his own astute and intuitive exploration. He has been engaged by numerous organizations both in Thailand including Dhammasathan Chulalongkorn university and abroad such as Buddhist associations in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore.

His style of teaching meditation is as approachable, candid and experiential.

Bringing the Dhamma Home – Venerable Kudagala Kovida

The Buddha’s teachings has its place in our outer homes and our inner homes. Venerable Kudagala Kovida, the Spiritual Director of the Australian Buddhist Vihara in Katoomba, Blue Mountains, gave a public talk on how to bring Buddhism into our daily lives, into our world, into our relationships with others, and into ourselves.

Venerable Kovida is a senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, but also an inspiring teacher, a meditation coach, and the chief monk of the Australian Buddhist Vihara, the oldest Buddhist temple in Australia.

 

Dependant Origination by Tsadong Rinpoche Ngawang Tenzin

Tsadong Rinpoche Ngawang Tenzin gives a talk about Conditional Origination.

Teachings are given in Mandarin, and translated into English.

Tsadong Rinpoche comes from Kham, Eastern Tibet, and has been a monk since he was 8 years of age. Ngawang Tenzin was formally recognised as the “13th Tsadong Rinpoche” and left Tibet to go to India to study further at Drepung Monastery in South India.

Rinpoche spent six years in Taiwan, where he studied Mandarin, in order to teach Buddha Dharma to the Chinese speaking students there.

Rinpoche Ngawang Tenzin is now residing in Melbourne at the Medicine Buddha Centre with Lama Tendar and Buddhist nun, Ani Sonam and has regular teaching programs through the Shantideva Buddhist Foundation Ltd, of which Lama Tendar is the Spiritual Director.

Commentary on the Heart Sutra by Tsadong Rinpoche Ngawang Tenzin

Tsadong Rinpoche Ngawang Tenzin gave a two-part series on the Heart Sutra from the perspective of the Two Truths from the Prasangika Madhyamaka school of thought.

Teachings were given in Mandarin, and translated into English.

Tsadong Rinpoche comes from Kham, Eastern Tibet, and has been a monk since he was 8 years of age. Ngawang Tenzin was formally recognised as the “13th Tsadong Rinpoche” and left Tibet to go to India to study further at Drepung Monastery in South India.

Rinpoche spent six years in Taiwan, where he studied Mandarin, in order to teach Buddha Dharma to the Chinese speaking students there.

Rinpoche Ngawang Tenzin is now residing in Melbourne at the Medicine Buddha Centre with Lama Tendar and Buddhist nun, Ani Sonam and has regular teaching programs through the Shantideva Buddhist Foundation Ltd, of which Lama Tendar is the Spiritual Director.

Mindfulness and Sacred Balance Expanding beyond the boundaries of self to embrace all life by Bom Hyon Sunim

Korean Zen teacher, Venerable Bom Hyon Sunim, exploring mindfulness as a grace, a kind of synergy that happens when we allow ourselves to be embraced in the web of life, in the flows of energy and intelligence that far exceeds our own. Looking deeply into life we touch “suchness”, the ultimate reality.
Venerable Bom Hyon Sunim is from the Korean Zen tradition and is currently residing at Santi Forest Monastery, Bundanoon, for the Rains Retreat. Until recently living in Victoria, she was the resident teacher at Bodhi Ahm Buddhist Centre, founded the Healthcare Chaplaincy Service for the Buddhist Council, and is the Senior Buddhist chaplain for the Australian Defence Forces.

Sunim conducts regular teachings and retreats and is active in interfaith activities with others who are spiritually and ecologically motivated to live in right relationship to the planet and all beings.

A Wisdom Practice Session on Vipassana (Insight) Meditation With Sayalay Dipankara

Sayalay Dipankara is an experienced teacher, having been trained under the guidance of Venerable Pa-Auk Sayadaw in Samatha and Vipassana practice. Sayalay spends her time giving teachings, conducting courses and intensive meditation retreats in various countries such as America, Canada, Taiwan, England, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.

This practice session is suitable to both beginners and advanced meditators. Instructions will be provided; we will have time to practice together and Sayalay would be available to answer any questions regarding the Dhamma and the practice.

Holding loss in our palms: using the Buddha’s teachings to understand and overcome loss | Michael Dash

We may experience loss in many ways. It may be loss of a loved one, a relationship, one’s health, wealth, or even a dream that no longer will be. We may also respond to such loss in many ways, and sometimes unskillful responses could cause us more harm in the long run.

This is a practice session led by Buddhist meditation teacher, Michael Dash, to understand loss and develop the skills to overcome it, not by denying or ridding it with aversion, but holding it with compassion and mindfulness.

Michael has been a Buddhist meditation practitioner for over 20 years. He has studied in Australia, Thailand and Burma, where he practised satipatthana vipassana in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition. Michael works as a counsellor in his private practice in Sydney and works as a bereavement counsellor in the Public Health System. He teaches Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and has taught courses and retreats in Melbourne and Sydney, including courses at the Buddhist Library, Wat Buddha Dhamma and the Blue Mountains Insight Meditation Centre.

 

No Thinking – Smarter than your average genius

The first obstacle for most people with meditation is putting aside the endless thinking. What is the result of this? A sharpening of the wits, heightened emotional intelligence, and transformative wisdom. Discover a way to use your mind that goes beyond the ceaseless chatter of the thinking mind.

Venerable Pandit used the skilful method to breakdown something that is profound and heavy into easy-to-understand points using stories that are both humorous and mind blowing.