TIENLIGHTENEDMES Planting a Bodhi Tree, Cultivating a Bodhi Mind by Ven Munissara The Bodhi Tree planted at Dhammasara Nun's Monastery, Western Australia It was a joyous and momentous occasion, when The scene was rich in symbolism, heralding the Now a sapling from that historical tree has been on November 25, 2012, a sapling taken from the establishment of Buddhism, and particularly planted in a monastery of modern-day ancient Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree of the Bhikkhuni Sangha, in Australia. Since the Bhikkhunis whose ordination lineage traces Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka was planted in Buddha's lifetime, the Bodhi tree has back to Sanghamitta, and indeed back to the Australian soil at Dhammasara Nuns Monastery traditionally been used to represent the Buddha Buddha himself. before a huge gathering of almost thirty monks and his enlightenment, which he attained while and nuns and nearly two thousand well-wishing sitting under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya. Last year, Dhammasara had been selected from laypeople. hundreds of applicants worldwide to receive the In 236 BCE, the southern branch of that sapling sprouted from the very rare seeds The tender sapling was implanted in the original Bodhi tree was taken by the produced by the ancient tree in recognition of beautiful circular enclosure specially built to enlightened Bhikkhuni Sanghamitta Theri to Dhammasara's contributions to furthering the house it. If one looks up, one could see it Anuradhapura when she traveled to Sri Lanka Buddhasasana and the Bhikkhuni Sangha in surrounded by towering Eucalyptus trees – so to establish the Bhikkhuni Sangha there, from Australia, particularly in establishing and quintessentially Australian – in what seemed where it subsequently spread to the rest of the maintaining an independent forest monastery like a gentle and welcoming embrace. world. Cont overleaf S P R I N G 2 0 1 2 / S U M M E R 2 0 1 3 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE BUDDHIST SOCIETY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA fashion, punctuated by the joyous cries of “Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!” which came especially enthusiastically from the little ones. Who said going to a monastery was boring! After the procession had reached the Bodhi tree enclosure site, the sapling was ceremonially planted by the Venerable Nayaka Mahathero and Ajahn Brahm, and then watered by all the Dhammasara nuns. The monks and nuns then did some paritta chanting, especially rousing given the large number of sangha present. Speeches were also given by the senior monks and nuns. Overall everything went quite smoothly, a testament to the hard work and goodwill of a great many people. While the event itself lasted only a few hours, it had actually involved many months of planning and preparation, which had given people a wonderful opportunity to come together for a wholesome cause and meet like- minded people. Many lay volunteers (some not even Buddhist!) had given very generously of their time, effort, and resources, working many late nights and weekends. for Theravada Buddhist nuns, which is rare to find anywhere in the world. All the costs of the event had been entirely funded by private donors from the multi-ethnic In November 2011, the co-abbots of Buddhist community, including generous Dhammasara Monastery, Venerable Nirodha donations of fresh flowers, drinking water, and Bhikkhuni and Venerable Hasapanna sweets for the many children who came for the Bhikkhuni, together with Samaneri Karunika big day. Young ones had even come to the and Ber Sun traveled to Sri Lanka to bring the monastery prior to the event to clean up the site sapling safely back to Australia. At and pitch in with other preparations. Anuradhapura, they were graciously received by A special thank you is also due to the team that Venerable Dr. Pallegama Sirinivasa managed the parking of over 400 cars – a Atamasthanadhipathi Nayaka Maha Thero, a challenging task to say the least. The growing very senior monk in Sri Lanka who serves as but still relatively small monastic community at guardian of the country's 8 holy Buddhist sites, Dhammasara had also pulled together and including the Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura. worked hard to put on the large-scale event. A year later, it was a great honor to have the Amidst all the fanfare of the ceremony, in his talk opportunity to welcome the Venerable Nayaka Ajahn Brahm offered a gentle reminder of the Maha Thero to Dhammasara, along with deeper meaning it contained. He said, one Venerable Kallanchiye Rathanasiri Maha Thero should not only do the “easy worship” of offering and Venerable Kirinde Nyanadharshana and a flowers, candles, and incense to the Buddha. supporters of Dhammasara. Around a thousand delegation of lay supporters who had kindly The most profound way to pay respect to the joined in for the grand procession from the come all the way from Sri Lanka to participate in Buddha is by remembering and practicing his Nun's Cottage to the Bodhi tree enclosure the planting ceremony. teachings. Ajahn especially encouraged located near the site of Stupa 2. laypeople to keep the five precepts, and for all to What they experienced at Dhammasara on The colorful parade reflected well the multi- develop the Noble Eightfold Path of Sila- November 25 may not have been the most cultural nature of the Buddhist community in Samadhi-Panna (good actions, concentration representative of daily life at this normally quiet Perth. Headed up by traditional Sri Lankan and wisdom). forest monastery! In addition to the monks from drummers and little boys in costume as Sri Sri Lanka, the great assembly of Sangha present “Building a monastery is one thing, but the next Lankan kings, it also included Thai ladies included Ajahn Brahm and a large contingent of stage in Dhammasara's development is to build dressed in traditional costume as devas, multi- monks from Bodhinyana Monastery, Venerable enlightened nuns,” he continued. That's no ethnic representatives of the Buddhist Beruwala Sri Sobhitha Nayaka Mahathero from small order, Ajahn, but who knows? Perhaps one community holding traditional Sri Lankan the Sri Lankan Vihara in Kenwick, monks from day when the Bodhi sapling at Dhammasara has ceremonial banners, including one specially the Cambodian temple, Samaneri Visuddha grown into a beautiful tree, a nun sitting under it designed by one of the Dhammasara nuns, and from Armadale, and of course the entire will become enlightened…if not before! even an elephant (really two very patient ladies Dhammasara nuns' community. inside a remarkably realistic elephant costume)! Laypeople were also out in force, both young and Despite the very large number of people, the old, including a great many long-standing parade proceeded in a peaceful and harmonious 2 Celebrating the End of Vassa at Bodhinyana Monastery Sunday, Nov 4 2012, was a overcast day with periodic rain falling on the hills at Serpentine, Western Australia. However, the rain did not deter more than a thousand people who visited Jhana Grove Retreat Centre to celebrate the end of the rains retreat (Vassa). The crowd gathered early and the carpark was filled with cars by 9:30am. Thankfully, Prem and his army of volunteers deftly directed traffic to alternate parking areas, ensuring a smooth flow of traffic. The volunteers were a hive of activity, making sure that everything was prepared for the start of the official ceremony. Some of them helped to setup the dana hall and food for the pindapata while others arranged seating in the main hall for the ceremony. Before the ceremony, devotees were lining up to offer robes to the Sangha. Ajahn Brahm, as the Abbot, accepted the robes on behalf of the Sangha. He later told that offering robes to the entire Sangha is of higher merit than offering robes to a single member of the Sangha. To start the event, the Sangha led everyone in taking refuge and the five precepts. Ajahn Brahm gave a blessing to all who were present and a short talk. Everyone then moved outside to offer dana for the monks on pindapata. The line of lay people offering dana was very long, covering almost the whole of Jhana Grove. After lunch, the Thai Association, along with their mascot led a procession around the centre. The kids were captivated by the mascot and many people posed for photographs with the mascot. weather behaved itself. It only rained when everyone was in the Shrine Soon after lunch, everyone gathered in the Shrine hall for the offering of hall and stopped raining when the activities was outdoors, such as the the Royal Kathina Cloth from His Majesty the King of Thailand. After offering of dana. the Kathina ceremony, Ajahn Brahm explained that the Sangha practises democracy as the Sangha members choose among themselves BSWA would like to thank the many volunteers who helped setup Jhana whom to offer the Royal Kathina Cloth to for making the robe for that Grove, directed traffic and more importantly, cleaned up the place after year. The members of the Sangha unanimously chose Ajahn Brahmali everything was over. It was a big task but it was organised well. Having to be the recipient of the Royal Kathina Cloth this year. Ajahn Brahm the Kathina ceremony at Jhana Grove made it easier in terms of logistics also explained the history and meaning of Kathina. for such a large crowd. After the ceremony, volunteers offered to take people on a walk of the With the excellent Sangha and many lay supporters in Western new property bought by BSWA in Serpentine. Even though it was Australia, may the Buddha Sasana grow ever stronger for many, many raining, the weather did not impact the event. It was funny how the more years to come.