Issue No.35 March 2014

Nurturing the Body and Nature pristine as the sky. However, the winds of ignorance, unwholesome karma, and stress can create rough waves. So in our cultivation, we need to direct the water of nature into the right channels in order to calm the waves and avert flooding.

We nurture our bodies for health reasons, and we nurture our nature to perfect our character. However, nurturing the body is not for the purpose of acquiring a strong physique so that we can overcome others in fights; likewise, nurturing our minds is not for the purpose of shutting ourselves off from the rest of the world and ignoring the Chinese scholars place a great deal of emphasis welfare of our community. Those who do not on nurturing both the body and our true nature. cultivate vows, courage, strength, and reasoning In nurturing our bodies, we may want to take when nurturing themselves will surely deviate vitamins, go on vacations, travel, engage in from the right path. recreational activities, and eventually retire from our careers. We need to exercise, take up physical Throughout history, many scholars have used chores, watch our diet, and be one with nature. education to nurture their bodies and their true nature, and many religious leaders have employed also speaks about nurturing the body. self-control and expanded their love for humanity We should work and rest at the right times and to deepen the cultivation of their nature. Venerable control our diet. Our minds should have right Master Huiyuan remained on Mt. Lu for thirty years views and right thoughts. We should reduce our and was highly respected for his cultivation. Chan cravings and carry less greed, anger, jealousy, and Patriarch meditated for nine years worry. We may also worship, meditate by sitting facing the wall of a cave, solely for the purpose of or walking, garden, or do other chores. These are nurturing his nature. Upon becoming monastics, all ways to nurture the body. disciples of the Buddha cultivated in the woods, by the water, or in caves. Chan practitioners in China, In addition to nurturing the body, we also need to such as Chan Master Xuedou, remained for many nurture our minds and inner nature. Our nature years in a monastery with the hope of perfecting is our foundation. Without nurturing the nature their cultivation so that when the time was ripe, of wholesomeness and benevolence, we do not these dragons of the emerged to benefit have a foundation. Confucianism teaches, “We all sentient beings of heaven and earth. should cultivate the spirit of wholesomeness.” In Buddhism, we nurture our bodies and minds, but In nurturing our bodies we maintain our form, it is more important to realize our true nature. and in nurturing our nature we perfect our minds. With both a healthy body and mind, we will have Before we can realize our true nature, our minds no fear of not living a good life. need to be gentle, open, calm, and at peace. If the mind is closed, rigid, attached and deluded, it will (adapted from Tending Life’s Garden, between Ignorance and be difficult for us to see our true nature. Our nature Enlightenment VI, published by Buddha’s Light Publishing) is like water, which should be clear as a mirror and 1 Clean Up Day

There was more to ‘Clean-Up Australia Day’ at the Later, we watched a wonderful video about Venerable than picking up rubbish, says Kevin Cheng….. Master , before concluding a packed ‘Clean- Up Australia Day’ program with afternoon tea, and a At 8:40 on Sunday morning, March 2nd, about a hundred discussion about Buddhism’s future in Australia. volunteers gathered at the temple’s Dining Hall to take part in this year’s ‘Clean-Up Australia Day.’

After a warm welcome from the Venerables and BLIA President, Francis Wong, we had morning tea, put on sunscreen and headed to the Lotus Pond for a group photograph. We then moved closer to the Pilgrim Lodge for another photo.

Everyone was ready as the equipment, including tongs to pick up rubbish, was handed out. We split into three groups. I was in the one responsible BLIA members cleaning the streets for cleaning up Nolan Street. Light rain was falling and, as we proceeded, the group was further split into two - one to tidy up around the Nan Tien Institute area, and another on the street itself.

We picked up loads of rubbish - from Unanderra Motor Registry, all the way to the railway line and and back again!

By the time we met the group at the institute worksite, we had already collected five full bags of garbage and four of recyclables! Dharma sharing after clean up led by Ven. Jue Wei. The bags were really heavy, and we were exhausted from carrying them all the way to the front shrine. There were many more bags there, and everyone felt pleased.

Next, we packed up the lanterns that had been hanging at the temple since Christmas.

Lunch was followed by the BLIA committee lecture. The Abbess, Venerable Man Ko, facilitated a discussion and reading session. Everyone read an article called ‘Reflections from 100 Years of Buddhist Affinities’, by Professor Charles Kao. Nan Tien Friends clean up in action.

2 Faiths in Harmony at the Temple

An ‘Interfaith Festival of Music and Dance for Social Harmony’ was held in the main shrine of Nan Tien Temple on Sunday, February 9th.

Around 150 people, including the Governor of , Her Excellency Marie Bashir; Lady Mayoress, Pilar Bradbury; and George Bartolo of the Multicultural Communities Council were in attendance.

The event, part of ‘Harmony Day’, began with a ‘Welcome to Country’ by Noel Butler and Trish Roberts - who contributed their beautiful art work, ‘The Carved Tree’, to the temple last year.

A chanting service by the temple Venerables was followed by speeches from a number of distinguished guests.

There were readings from the Koran and the Bible accompanied by harp music, a Hindu dance, a song by the Baha’i children, and a Jewish solo song. The Buddha’s Light International Association’s youth group performed hand gestures to the tune ‘Harmonize’.

Following the service, sixty people attended an interfaith seminar in the conference room. Interfaith Dialogue

Leaders and interfaith representatives light of hope to contribute all that is good.

3 ‘Ethics and Social Harmony: A Dialogue’ “Interfaith harmony can be achieved through featured eight presenters from different faiths continued exchanges and the common pursuit who spoke on a range of topics including co- of peace. Social harmony comes from such existence, compassion, humility, justice and beginnings.” equality. Assistant Professor Dr Anja Zalta, from the Department of Sociology, University The festival was jointly organised by the ‘Buddha’s of Ljubljana, Slovenia facilitated the seminar. Light International Association’ and Nan Tien Institute. According to Venerable Master Hsing Yun,

4 Riddles Light up Chinese New Year!

‘Riddle Fun’, part of the Nan Tien Lantern Festival, This year, 134 riddles were created - in Chinese was held at the temple on Saturday morning, and English - encompassing word-guessing, February 15th. parables, geography, people and items.

Solving riddles and lantern festivals both originated To raise funds for Nan Tien Institute, a raffle was during the Song Dynasty, when educated citizens conducted; while a stall outside the Dining Hall placed riddles on lanterns, for everyone to solve. offered glutinous rice balls in a sweet soup. Over time, solving riddles became an annual custom during the lantern festival - on the 15th Around a hundred happy contestants took part day of the first lunar month. in this year’s ‘Riddle Fun’, bringing Chinese New Year celebrations to an eventful close.

5 Plans for ‘Buddha’s Birthday’ well advanced Twenty volunteers gathered in the Gandha Hall be produced. on Saturday, February 15th, for the third ‘Buddha’s Birthday Education Project’ (BBEP) planning meeting. After much effort by Po Chang, ‘BBEP’ is now an Android APP - available as a free download. , or ‘Buddha’s Birthday’, is one of the oldest and most important of Buddhist festivals. An educational For more information visit: www. and marketing event which aims to connect east paradeofthebuddhas.org with west, it has been celebrated at Nan Tien - and our satellite - for the past 19 years. And, if you’re interested in volunteering, contact: [email protected] Following a brief session, Venerable Jue Wei reviewed the current status of work groups, and their plans.

Venues and dates for the this year’s events were then confirmed as - • Perth: April 12 - 13. • Nan Tien Temple: April18 - 21. • Federation Square, Mebourne: April 26 - 27. • Brisbane: May 2 - 4. • Darling Harbour, : May 10 - 11.

This year’s ‘Children’s Party’ will only be held at Nan Tien Temple and Darling Harbour; and ‘Dharma Cards’ - featuring the wisdom of Master Hsing Yun - will also

6

Nan Tien Temple Apr ~ May 2014 Upcoming Events

Date Time Activities Venue

15/3~15/5 9am~5pm Chen Yangchun Watercolour Painting Exhibition Hai Hui Hall

4pm~5pm Class Term 1 (Continuation and Refinement)* 7/3~11/4 Fri Nan Tien Temple 5:30pm~6:30pm Tai Chi Class Term 1 (Introduction to Tai Chi)*

Meditation and Buddhism Class (Beginners)* 12/3~16/04 Wed 6:50pm~9pm Nan Tien Temple 7:30pm~9pm Meditation (Intermediate)*

16/2~13/4 Sun 2pm~4pm Sunday Children Fun Program* Nan Tien Temple

5/4~8/6 9am~5pm Aboriginal Cultural Exhibition Museum

12/4 Sat 9am~4pm One Day Retreat* Nan Tien Temple

18~20/4 Fri~Mon 9am~5pm Buddha’s Birthday Cultural Festival Nan Tien Temple

25~27/4 Fri~Sun Weekend Meditation Retreat* Nan Tien Temple

Darling Harbour 10~11/5 Sat~Sun 9am~4pm Buddha's Birthday & Mother's Day Celebrations Sydney

21/5~21/7 9am~5pm “The Beauty of Nan Tien” Photography Exhibition Hai Hui Hall

*Requires registration, contact 4272-0600 for more information or to register online at www.nantien.org.au

7 The latest in holistic postgraduate education The road to an enlightened education grounded in Buddhist values and wisdom. NEW NTI President announced NEW Health and Social Wellbeing subjects NTI is pleased to announce the appointment of start this month – enrol now! Professor Grier Lin as President. The appointment Nan Tien Insitute (NTI) will launch its’ new Health and Social Wellbeing comes as part of NTI’s plans for growth in 2014 (HSW) subjects on 24 March, with the commencement of the core and throughout ‘The Asian Century’. subject of the program – ‘Mind-Body Wellness’. Other HSW subjects to Professor Lin brings with him a wealth of follow in Semester 1 are ‘Healing Traditions: Buddhism and Psycho- knowledge and experience. He has many years of therapy’, ‘Coaching and Counselling for Health and Wellbeing’ and industry, teaching and research experience in ‘Foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine’. Australia, the United States, UK, Singapore, These postgraduate courses prepare Graduates to promote health and Malaysia, Jordan, China and . He was a member of Parliament wellness in their own lives and in the lives of other individuals and in and the Senior Advisor of Foreign Technical Aid Projects in the the broader community. The knowledge, insights, and practical skills Government of Taiwan. He has extensive international university gained in these courses are highly relevant to community develop- experience and has held teaching positions at the University of New ment and the helping professions, and in corporate and not-for-pro t South Wales and the University of South Australia; and Visiting sectors. Professorships at Cornell University (USA), Cambridge University (UK), and the National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan). There are still places available in the new Health and Social Wellbeing subjects. See www.nantien.edu.au/study/lecture-timetable for subject Professor Lin’s extensive skills, quali cations and experience will play details and to register. a key role in NTI’s growth from a small, niche postgraduate institute, into a comprehensive University. Key upcoming dates

NEW Head of Health and 24 - 28 March NEW Mind-Body Wellness

Social Wellbeing program appointed 31 Mar - 4 Apr Selected Readings of Buddhist Literature

NTI is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr 28 Apr - 2 May Healing Traditions: Buddhism and Psychotherapy Andrew McClelland as Head of Program, Health and Social Wellbeing. 12 - 16 May NEW Coaching and Counselling Dr McClelland comes to NTI from a Lecturer and for Health and Wellbeing Course Director role at Deakin University. He has a 26 - 30 May Research Methods of Religious Studies PhD in Psychological Medicine, and a strong

academic background in Psychology and *Note: Nan Tien Institute’s Master of Arts (Health & Social Wellbeing), Graduate Diploma in Health and Education. His extensive experience in lecturing, Social Wellbeing and Graduate Certi cate in Health and Social Wellbeing courses have been accredited tutoring, research, and psychotherapy/counselling will give NTI’s by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act). The application for CRICOS registration to oer the courses to overseas students is under consideration. The commencement Health and Social Wellbeing program a unique and powerful edge. date for the courses will be con rmed when the conditions attached to the accreditation have been satis ed. Please check with the institute for information on the indicative dates for the subjects. Where will your learning journey take you in 2014?

Postgraduate | Masters | Diploma | Certi cate | Short Courses | Professional Development HEALTH AND SOCIAL APPLIED BUDDHIST WELLBEING STUDIES

The road to an enlightened education ENROL NOW www.nantien.edu.au

180 Berkeley Road, Berkeley (Wollongong), NSW Australia 2506 Tel +61 (2) 4272 0648 Email [email protected] CRICOS: 03233C ABN: 80 139 338 819 8