Buddhist Ordination: The Novice takes the Ten Precepts:

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Novice Ordination Dec 2008 to Jan 2009 Phra Mangkone, in his compassion for the youth here in Sydney, joined us once again from Massachusetts, U.S.A, to lead the N ovice Ordination Program in December 2008.

The intention of the ordination program is to give the novices access into cal ming and training their hearts and mi nds to develop peace not only for the period of time they are in the monaster y

And that when they know what is going on, suffering does not exist. This is the Buddhist path. We rejoice with all those that benefited from the auspicious experience.

1 Novice Ordination Dec 2008 to Jan 2009 Phra Mangkone, in his compassion for the youth here in Sydney, joined us once again from Massachusetts, U.S.A, to lead the N ovice Ordination Program in December Seven young people took the wholly task of living life under the Buddha s discipline and training. The intention of the ordination program is to give the novices access into cal ming and training their hearts and mi nds to develop peace not only for the period of time they are in the monaster y but also for when they leave to the cities and families they live in. Phra Mangkone taught them that deep enquiry into themsel ves allows them to understand more about the world. And that when they know what is going on, suffering does not exist. This is the Buddhist path. We rejoice with all those that benefited from the auspicious experience. The novices learn how to chant in Pali as during their training. In Theravada countries, it is the custom for each young boy to spend a certain amount of ti me, ranging from one week to several months, in a monaster y. In their initiation as a monk, the boys followed the Buddha s life by renouncing things of this world, shaving their heads and donning the robes of a monk. This ser ved to i nculcate Buddhist values in these young boys and ensure tight relations between the monks and the community. The young boys l earn the Fi ve Precepts: to abstain from harming living beings, taking things not freel y given (not stealing), sexual misconduct, false speech (or telling lies) and abstai n from intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness. They learn discipline in their eating, sleeping, wal king, tal king habits. They are trai ned about the wandering mind and how to have inner calmness through simple daily meditation. They learn to cope without the TV, DVD, Ipod, music, games and all distraction of the modern world. It is a ti me when young peopl e learn the value of si mple listeni ng. It is precious one week training for they learn to be more sensitive, more caring, more considerate to those around them. The people who feel most blessed are the parents who sit with them daily and attend to their dana. The young novice learn about Bindabadt Alms-round the way to go about with an empty bowl begging for food and most of all to eliminate any arrogance from one s body and mind-the Buddha s way in showing us how to live with humility in every moment. Buddhist Ordination: This tradition has been handed down from generation to generation. It is beneficial for those young men, to learn and practice Buddhism and the Vinaya. It is believed that they choose to become Buddhist monks as dedication to their parents or grandparents, whether alive or have passed away, to show their gratitude to them. Some ordain prior to their marriage. The word ordination (Pabbajja in Pali) means giving up the world or adopting the ascetic life. Giving up the world means to give up evil doing and not to live the life of the layperson. Pabbajja is Goi ng forth from home to the homeless life. Each year in December, Wat Phrayortkeo has been able to follow a program for young boys to learn a week or a month of the Dhamma. We are blessed to have each year, the presence of Phra Ajahn Mangkhone Dhammadharo who gives the boys traini ng on the Dhamma; stories of life of the Lord Buddha, his teachings; Modern Science and Buddhism; Sutta study; Meditation-Samatha (calm) & Jhana; Vi passana (insight meditation); Understanding the mind. Ajahn Mangkhone usuall y come to Australia during the Christmas holiday break for this program. The Novice takes the Ten Precepts: 1. To abstain from killing 2. To abstain from stealing 3. To abstain from sexual misconduct and/or acti vity. 4. To abstain from false speech 5. To abstain from taki ng intoxicants (drugs and alcohol) 6. To abstain from eating at the i mproper time (after noon) 7. To abstain from dancing, singing, music or other entertainment. 8. To abstain from using perfumes and beautifying the body with cosmetics. 9. To abstain from l ying on a high or luxurious sleeping place. 10. To abstain from dealing with money. 11

Message from Honorary Senior Advisor: Together we have achieved so much. As Lao Australians we have learned many lessons from our settling in Australia.

2 Message from Honorary Senior Advisor: Together we have achieved so much. As Lao Australians we have learned many lessons from our settling in Australia. We have witnessed that the democratic system here is one of the best in the world. In enjoying this democracy and freedom, we are all tr ying our best to compl y with and live by the rule of Australian law. We have also witnessed that many ordinar y citizens have contributed to the democratic system in their special way. I was personall y impressed by the commitment of the couple who lost their son in a fatal car accident. Apparently a lot more accidents, often fatal, were made along that dangerous countr y road. The parents fought for safer roads, asking for community support until the Council agreed to place a warni ng sign to exercise caution and to slow down. Since then there was a dramatic drop i n accidents i n the area. This couple were committed to safeguarding and warning others not to suffer the same consequence. We could also learn from this and together redress mistakes and share our experiences of what we have endured; so as to help others in our community, to not suffer the same hardships. Our community would benefit if we heed the warnings. We have achieved so much so far because we have changed our attitude and have not only understood Buddhism but also put it into practice. As a Honorary Advisor to the Management Committee of the Lao Buddhist Society of NSW, I onl y have words of appreciati on and salutations for what has been achieved at Wat Phrayortkeo. There is true advancement and i ntegrity thanks to our respected Sangha, our Management Committee and volunteers. As a Lao Australian, I also commend the efforts initiated by many other associations and organizations for their contributions and sacrifices for the wonderful achievements in our community. As many have the ability and strength to do the good and right thi ngs, we conti nue to support you. Together we can make a difference. I wish ever yone the best, Tianethone Chantharasy October 29,2009 ² À»ö¾Ä É»ñ öì Àëñ µè¾ ¾ ¾ À²¾½Ä É»È õ ñ ² À»ö¾ ¾ ì¾ ºº Àªëì¼ Ä É»ñ ö»¼ ¹ì¾ µè¾ ª ÁªÈÄ É²¾ ñ ¾ª ««¾ µøè ½Àê ºº ÀªëÀìñ¼ Ä ÉÀ ñ øé»øé øéà¹ñ Áì½ À ñ ² ¾ Ã ë½ º ¾ ö º Á À ëó ½ ¾êò ½Äª ê ½ªò ñ µøè ½Àê š «õ È¾À ñ ë½ º ¾ ö º Îˆ ê óàìó Ã Âì. Ã ë½¹ È¾ ê Ä É»ñ ¾ ²ðºö ²ðÃ ¾ ½ ¾êò ½Äª Áì½ À ëó²¾ È¾ ² À»ö¾ ðä É²¾ ñ ² ¾ ¾ ó Ã ¾ À ó ó ò ²¾ ÃªÉ ö Ï¾ ºº Àªëì¼ ñ Ä É ¾ È¾²öìÀ»õº ºº Àªëì¼ êñ ½ ¾ ðäû É ó È ½ ñ ø ë½ º ¾ ö º óšµè¾ ²òÀ. É¾²½À í¾àº ½êñ Ã Ã ¾ ¾ º ¾ ó²ñì ¾ øèîˆ ê Ä ÉÀ ñ¼ìø ¾ Ã º ½ªòÀ¹ ëö É µøè ö «ö Â É Á¹È ˆ Ã ö ½ ö ¾ ö È¾ ó º ½ªòÀ¹ ¹ì¾ ¾ Èº ÁìÉ µøè Èº ¼ ñ. øéà ñ ²ÒÀ ñ Á È ²¾ ñ ªÒ øé À²ˆºÃ¹û ö êñ Í¾ ¾ºøÉ ø ½ ñ ø Ã À óã¹éê¾ Àê ¾ ªò É¾ ªñ Àªõº øé ñ ëö Ã¹É ó ¾ ëº º ë½ ñ ë½ ñ Áì½ Ã¹É ñ ëö É¾Åìö. ª ÁªÈ ¾ º ½ªòÀ¹ Á š ð ÒÀ ó œ ºó Ã À øè ö À ñ ñ ²¾ ñ ª Ã Òì½Ã ¾ ¾ ²½ ¾ ¾ ÒÃ¹É øéºˆ Ä É»ñ À ¾½»É¾ ÀÏõº ªö Ã º¾ ¾ ö. À ¼ ñ ² À»ö¾ ð ¾ ¾ Á É ê ò ²¾ È ªñ Àªõº ñ È¼ ñ º ½ªòÀ¹ ê Ä É«õ ¾ÁìÉ À²ô ÒÃ¹É øéºˆ Ä É»ñ ¾ À õº»éº Áì½ êðë½ ¾ ªÒÄ. ñ ö À»ö¾ ö ½Ä É»ñ öì ó, öì êñ «É¾À»ö¾¹¾ Àºö¾Ã Ä È»ñ ³ñ ªñ Àªõº Áì½ Ò ½ ¾. ² À»ö¾êñ Í¾ Ä É²¾ ñ ½ªò ñ ¹ì¾ µè¾ ê ó ¾À«ó ñ š ðà²¾½ä É²¾ ñ ¼ú êè¾êó ¼ú òëò ¾ êè¾ê¾ ú¼ ¾ ¾ ªö Ã¹É«õ Áì½ À¹ ¾½ ö. º «É¾ ú¾ À«ó ² ê ¾ ¾ÁìÉ ÒÁ È ÁªÈÀ»ö¾À í¾ã À ˆºÃ º ² ê ¾ ¾ š² À»ö¾ ñ Àºö¾ ¾ ½ªò ñ µè¾ ÁêÉ ò. Ã ¾ ê ô ¾ òªò ½ ñ º ² ê ½ ¾ ö ì¾ Á¹È ëñ«. ñ¾²½à í¾ óáªè È¾ ½Á ¾ ²ðºö ²ðÃ Áì½ ñì À ó Ã ê Ä É ½ªò ñ ¾ µøèã ñ ²ë½ º Á É. µøè ñ š À¹ñ È¾ ó ¾ É¾ Îû¾ Áì½ ó ¾ ˆ ñ Ï ö ¾ ö œ ¾ÁêÉÅ ðà²¾½ Éº ²ë½ ö Ìºö ÌÀ í¾ ê º¾ ê ºö Ì ê ² À»ö¾ Éº ñ «õ ²Éº ñ ½ ¾ ðëò¹¾ë Áì½ ñ ¾ øéº¾ ¾ ½ ñ êñ Í¾. Ã ¾ ²öìÀ õº ì¾ Œºº Àªëì¼ øéîˆ É¾²½À í¾ ð«õâº ¾ š ö œ ¾ ö À ó Ã ¾ À ñ¼ ½ì½ ¾ ¾ ½ ¾ º ½ ¾ ö Áì½ ºö ¾ ñ ª ªÈ¾ Å ê Ä É ó È ºñ ñ Ã öì ó öì ê Ä É ½ ö œ ¾ š. À²ˆº ñ ¾ øéê ó²ìñ ó ¾ ¾ ¾ ó ½ªò ñ ¾ê Ä ÉÀ»ñ êúó ó Áì½ «õ ªÉº ¾ ² À»ö¾ ðºøé ø ² À² êñ Í¾ ªÒÅÄ. ðºè ²º Ã¹É ê ÅêÈ¾ ó ¾ ¾ ½Àëó Áì½ É¾ Îû¾ªÒÅÄ É Àêûó. ñ êèº ñ ê½ë¾ ó 29 ª ì¾ ª- ì¾

For The Love of Tomorrow Our Children Bonnyrigg Town Centre Park: It all started in the early days of 2002, when we (LBS) took part in meeting with the Fairfield City Council (FCC) concerning the

It is estimated that Bonnyrigg has a significant proportion of Buddhists in the area. Bonny rigg is filled with vitality, wealth of creativ ity, cultural activities and expression.

These include the Phuoc Hue Temple, the Phap Bao Pagoda, the Cambodian Temple, the Parkside Baptist Church, the Turkish Mosque, the Chinese Presbyterian Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic

Bonnyrigg is filled with places of worship and worshippers come from all over Sy dney to attend religious functions and holy f estivals.

Theref ore, it is an area of great significance concerning the heart of mankind. Anita Winter, Lesley Uns worth from FCC with Ajanh Thongsavanh at thetemple.

At that time, the Sunday Dhamma School was our prime concern. We wished to have a place in the park for peace and quiet.

3 For The Love of Tomorrow Our Children Bonnyrigg Town Centre Park: It all started in the early days of 2002, when we (LBS) took part in meeting with the Fairfield City Council (FCC) concerning the land behind the temple. We were asked to take part in Bonnyrigg Town Centre Workshops to voice our ideas and v isions f or the park. It is estimated that Bonnyrigg has a significant proportion of Buddhists in the area. Bonny rigg is filled with vitality, wealth of creativ ity, cultural activities and expression. It is a central area which host cultural related festivals and events. The Lao temple is surrounded with impressive religious centers. These include the Phuoc Hue Temple, the Phap Bao Pagoda, the Cambodian Temple, the Parkside Baptist Church, the Turkish Mosque, the Chinese Presbyterian Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, the Vietnamese Ev angelical Church and St. John Anglican Church. That is just to name a few. Bonnyrigg is filled with places of worship and worshippers come from all over Sy dney to attend religious functions and holy f estivals. Apart f rom tourists, v isitors from schools, art gallery, colleges and univ ersities come in their tour buses to seek for religious education and experiences. Theref ore, it is an area of great significance concerning the heart of mankind. Anita Winter, Lesley Uns worth from FCC with Ajanh Thongsavanh at thetemple. Our True Vision: When we went to the workshop, we as representatives from the LBS were thinking on behalf of our f uture generation- what did we want to see as our vision for the park? At that time, the Sunday Dhamma School was our prime concern. We wished to have a place in the park for peace and quiet. A place where we can let the children sit around a tree and just contemplate from this world. When we had to do a sketch, we drew simply a tree. Deep within, we wanted a Bodhi Tree. For this tree is the most sacred tree for all Buddhists who understood the signif icance of how the Lord Buddha sat meditating under the tree until he found the Path and the answer out of suffering f rom this world. On the November 7, 2003, Paul Graham (FCC) f rom Bonnyrigg Development Control Plan (DCP) was interested to know about the monks and their activ ities in our community. He said What do the monks do when they take the walk? What s this walk? We gav e him a brief ing of the signif icance of the walk through the park which in the Theravada tradition practice alms giving or alms round. It is a practice of collecting alms offerings f rom locals which the Sangha practice daily in Buddhist countries Laos, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. The Sangha has an opportunity to learn and practice humility by this noble begging. In return, it gives the lay people a chance to give even though they have very little-an offering on a daily basis, an act of generosity. With this simple vision f or our community, it is actually a wish come true and the simple tree that we wished f or has brought nothing but univ ersal abundance. The Bodhi tree has brought the Fairf ield City Council and the Lao Buddhist Society together working as a team. It is making a vision come true together. 13 Our vision is to have a tree at the Park for our children and grand-children to sit and contemplate following the foot step of Siddhartha.

Anita Winter (FCC) offering the Bodhi tree to Ajahn Thongsavanh. This is the best spot for the Bodhi Tree!

The Offering of a Bodhi Tree 9 Nov ember 2008 As practitioners of Buddha Dhamma, we all pay respect to the Bodhi tree.

ago. The Bodhi tree, which shaded the Buddha over the days and nights which helped him with his bhavana or mental

The President Mr Champa Baramy with his Management Committee try ing to help the Council find the best location for

Now it has flourished and looked very healthy. Our tree deva Anita Winter who came with the Bodhi tree offering.

The Deva beings in a lower heav en birth, sometimes called tree spirits, are often associated with many other types

It was one about a month before Boon That Luang that Ms Lesley Unsworth (Fairfield City Council) gave us a call and

4 Anita Winter (FCC) offering the Bodhi tree to Ajahn Thongsavanh. This is the best spot for the Bodhi Tree! exclaimed Ajahn Thongsavanh. The Offering of a Bodhi Tree 9 Nov ember 2008 As practitioners of Buddha Dhamma, we all pay respect to the Bodhi tree. This tree was cultivated from seeds taken from the original Bodhi tree under which the Buddha awoke over 2,500 y ears ago. The Bodhi tree, which shaded the Buddha over the days and nights which helped him with his bhavana or mental cultivation. The President Mr Champa Baramy with his Management Committee try ing to help the Council find the best location for the Logo launch. Anita said the f irst time she got it- it was just a stick. Now it has flourished and looked very healthy. Our tree deva Anita Winter who came with the Bodhi tree offering. They said there are devas or heav enly beings associated with the Bodhi tree. The Deva beings in a lower heav en birth, sometimes called tree spirits, are often associated with many other types of trees. It was one about a month before Boon That Luang that Ms Lesley Unsworth (Fairfield City Council) gave us a call and said that what we wished for has come true. She has managed to get a Bodhi tree f or us. On the 9th November, Ms Anita Winter (FCC) came with the tiny Bodhi tree to the temple. When people were offering f ood to the Sangha, she wanted to offer the Bodhi tree to Ajanh Thongsavanh. We felt that she was like a Deva of the tree (see below). She could not figure why our Sangha, our elderly and all the worshippers there were so excited. She offered the tree to the Sangha and asked our temple to be the Guardians of the tree. 14

Uncle Greg Simms (Darug Elder) Uncle GrUeg SimmUn Mayor of

architectural styles in one continuous line.

Bodhi tree, a nati ve of Asia, represent the emotional

The Council and the Bonnyrigg Town Centre developed the

identify the area and its s ervices s uch as the many

c entres. This is a ver y s pecial time for Bonnyrigg.

5 Uncle Greg Simms (Darug Elder) Uncle GrUeg SimmUn Mayor of Fairfield City Nick Lalich President of LBS: Mr Champa Baramy Mayor Nick The story behind the Bonnyrigg Logo Bonnyrigg was a place where Indigenous people traditionally came together. Bonnyrigg means Pretty Hill in Scotland. The new Bonnyrigg Town Centre logo represents a place where people from many c ultures c ome together to live in harmony. The skyline represents physical harmony-di verse architectural styles in one continuous line. The entwi ned leaves of the l ocal Eucal yptus and the Bodhi tree, a nati ve of Asia, represent the emotional bond formed by people from many lands living side by side. The Council and the Bonnyrigg Town Centre developed the logo with the hel p of the community to assist peopl e identify the area and its s ervices s uch as the many places of worship, shopping outlets, c ommunity and youth c entres. This is a ver y s pecial time for Bonnyrigg. I grew up in Bonnyrigg and have s een it develop i nto a thri ving, har moni ous community. You can walk down one street and see a mosque, church and temple existing side-by-side. You can t get that anywhere else in Australia! Bonnyrigg is really making its mar k and we want to s hare it with the rest of Sydney, said the Mayor of Fairfield. He added that he was happy with the support of the Lao Buddhist temple for the preparation of the logo launch. 15

been planning with Ms Lesley Unsworth (Place

(City Outcomes Dept & Event Co-ordinator)

Welcome to Country by Uncle Greg Simms and

Ceremony-later joined by crowd Lao Blessing

and Mayor, they all planted the Bodhi T ree.

Performances: Khmer Community dancers, Youth

Islander Singing Group and Just Dance by

00pm Pali Blessing Chanting Ceremony for the

Young Khmer danc er Uncle Wes Marne Blessing

Bollywood perfor maners Interfaith repres

6 Saturday 6 D ecember 2008: Logo Launch at the Park T he LBS Management Committee have been planning with Ms Lesley Unsworth (Place Manager of Bonnyrigg) and Ms Anita Winter (City Outcomes Dept & Event Co-ordinator) from FCC. Program for the day: 3.00pm Start of Parade from Lao laypeople bringing the Bodhi tree from temple. Welcome to Country by Uncle Greg Simms and Uncle Wes Marne (Darug Elders) Smoke Ceremony-later joined by crowd Lao Blessing Dance by Miss Natalie Official launch of Logo by Mayor Mr Nick Lalich President of LBS: Mr Champa Baramy Interfaith Representatives: Buddhist: Ajahn T hongsavanh Chanthathirath from Wat Phrayortkeo Christian: Reverend Mathew Kuruvilla from Parkside BaptistChurch Muslim: Mr Sayed Khandil from Fairfield Police Community T ogether with Darug Elders and Mayor, they all planted the Bodhi T ree. T hree faiths joined to give blessings Performances: Khmer Community dancers, Youth from Parkside Baptist Church, the BP Islander Singing Group and Just Dance by Bollywood Group. 5.00pm Pali Blessing Chanting Ceremony for the Bodhi T ree led by the Guardians of the tree Wat Phrayortkeo. Sangha and crowd Reverend Mathew Kuruvilla Young Khmer danc er Uncle Wes Marne Blessing Dance by Natalie. Bollywood perfor maners Interfaith repres entatives taking in the planting of the tree. Classical dance from Khmer group A thank you note from Lesley for the Lao temple for our support. Parade of the Bodhi T ree Mr and Mrs Sayed Khandil Activities provided by FCC 16

Lao New Year Festival 2009

Lao New Year Festival 2009 Lao New Year Alms-Giving 2009 The Lao New Year day of offering Dana is a major occasion. It is an opportunity to express one s generosity. It is a Buddhist custom when a meal