Melbourne Buddhist Centre
| Melbourne Buddhist Centre | |
|---|---|
 | |
Melbourne Buddhist Centre | |
| Information | |
| Main School | Non-Sectarian |
| Sub School | FWBO |
| Founded | Founded(when)::1967 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | BUORG-Names::Names::Ven. Sangharakshita |
| President(s) | BUORG-Names::Names::Lokeshvara |
| Contact Infotmation | |
| Address | 23 David Brunswick Victoria 3056 Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | service=google }} {{#geocode:23DavidBrunswickVictoriaAustralia|format=float|service=google}} service=google }}The "_geo" type of this property is invalid |
| Map | {{#display_map:{{#geocode:23DavidBrunswickVictoriaAustralia}}|height=250px|width=250px|zoom=18}} |
| Phone | Phone::(03) 9380 4303 |
| Website | Website::http://www.melbournebuddhistcentre.org.au/ "Website" has not been listed as valid URI scheme. |
| Email::office@melbournebuddhistcentre.orgURIs of the form "Email::office@melbournebuddhistcentre.org" are not allowed. | |
| Postal Address | PostalAddress::PO Box 157, PostalAddress::Brunswick, PostalAddress::3056 |
Melbourne Buddhist Centre
The Melbourne Buddhist Centre is run by the [https://thebuddhistcentre.com/ Triratna Buddhist Community), an international network dedicated to practising and teaching Buddhist ethics, meditation and wisdom in the contemporary world. Regular meditation courses and Buddhism courses are held at the Centre as well as introductory drop-in meditation classes. Public talks on Buddhism are offered by local and visiting speakers.
The Centre caters for visits from school groups, as well as providing speakers for schools and colleges. There is a well-stocked bookshop at the Centre and a DVD library of Buddhist films.
The Triratna Buddhist Community is an organisation whose charter is to make available the teachings of the Buddha to people of all cultures and backgrounds. We draw inspiration from all the great Buddhist schools to facilitate practice in a Western cultural context.
Background
Melbourne Buddhist Centre is run by the Triratna Buddhist Community formerly known as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO), an international network dedicated to communicating Buddhist truths appropriate to the modern world.
While the essence of Buddhism is timeless and universal, its forms adapt to context and culture. With the spread of Buddhism around the globe, the task is to develop Buddhist practices relevant to the 21st century. Over the past 40 years, the Triratna Buddhist Community has become one of the world's largest English-speaking Buddhist movements, with centres in over 50 locations across the globe. We present methods for living the Buddhist life in the context of our modern world. Teachings and practices of the Triratna Buddhist Community are derived from the whole of the Buddhist tradition, emphasising core principles which meet the spiritual needs of today's men and women.
Triratna Buddhist Order
The Triratna Buddhist Community is a relatively new Buddhist movement founded in the UK in 1967 by Ven. Sangharakshita. At the heart of the Triratna Community is the Triratna Buddhist Order whose members have dedicated their lives to the ideals enshrined in The Three Jewels of Buddhism - The Buddha (the ideal of human enlightenment), the Dharma (the path to enlightenment), and the Sangha (the spiritual fellowship of those who practice the Dharma). Order Members have made that commitment - traditionally known as Going for Refuge to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha - the central point of their lives. In particular, they have chosen to make the Triratna Buddhist Order the context in which they are trying to live ever more deeply imbued by Wisdom and Compassion.
Becoming a Mitra
Responding to the Inspiration to Follow the Buddhist Path
What is a mitra? Mitra is Sanskrit for friend. If you consider yourself a Buddhist and are developing a connection with the Triratna Buddhist Order, you may wish to ask to become a mitra of the Triratna Buddhist Community, out of your inspiration to follow this particular Buddhist path. This step is the opportunity to have your connection and commitment affirmed by the Triratna Buddhist Order, in the presence of your friends at the Centre. The request to become a mitra is usually considered once you have been attending Triratna Buddhist Community activities for at least 6 months so that you are familiar with the Triratna approach to the Dharma and have formed some friendships with the people involved at your local centre.
How do I know that I'm a Buddhist?
There are many ways to answer this question; one straightforward answer is that a Buddhist 'goes for refuge to the Three Jewels'. The act of Going for Refuge to the Three Jewels is considered fundamental within the Triratna Buddhist Order. Our teacher and founder, Sangharakshita, has frequently emphasised the importance of this over the past forty years. Going for Refuge is important in other Schools of Buddhism, but within the Triratna Buddhist Community it has received particular emphasis.
What are the Three Jewels and what is Going for Refuge?
The Three Jewels are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha; that is, the ideal of Enlightenment, the Buddha's teachings of the path to Enlightenment and the Spiritual community of committed Buddhists.
Going for Refuge is the desire to place these Three Jewels at the heart of one's life, or at least to live one's life in a way that reflects the increasing influence of the Three Jewels. Going for Refuge is not something done once. As Buddhists within the Triratna Buddhit Community we try to remain in contact with it all the time and re-commit ourselves to it time and time again. Sometimes we speak of deepening our Going for Refuge and this usually refers to bringing these Three Jewels closer to the centre of our lives.
Becoming a mitra is an act that expresses our growing confidence in our spiritual practice. It embodies the desire to Go for Refuge to the Three Jewels. Part of this is the practice of the five ethical precepts. When we begin to follow the Buddha's teachings, we try to lead a more ethical life, and the five precepts provide a very practical guide. Everyone begins this practice at a different place, of course. It is not so much a matter of where we are by the time we consider ourselves a Buddhist, but more how aware we are of our ethical behaviour and our wish to refine it.
Becoming a mitra is also a public commitment or statement that one is a friend of the Triratna Buddhist Order. This does not prevent one from having other spiritual connections of course, but it does mean that, after due consideration, you have decided to base your spiritual practice in the context of the Triratna Buddhist Community. You could see it as a way of saying that the Melbourne Buddhist Centre is your principal spiritual home.
Friendship also implies other things. We don't become a friend and then take no further interest. We seek out our friend to spend time together and to help them when we are able. Being a mitra involves being prepared to help out at the Centre, looking after the place and supporting events.
What does being a mitra express?
Becoming a mitra is an expression of the wish to participate regularly in at least some of the Centre's activities, to help the Centre as one is able and to develop friendships with those actively involved in the Centre, particularly Order Members and other mitras.
How do I ask to become a Mitra?
When one of our friends wants to become a mitra, we usually ask that they put this request in writing; to tell us about their practice and engagement with the spiritual life and the Triratna Community in general or at their local centre. The mitra convenor distributes this request amongst the local Order Members. This enables them to learn a little more about the friend and his or her desire to formalise their relationship to theTriratna Buddhist Community in a mitra ceremony.
Usually the mitra ceremony takes place in the context of the Sevenfold Puja at one of the main festival days that we celebrate during the year. The Chairperson or mitra convenor of the Centre traditionally conducts it. The brief ceremony is a simple affair but deeply meaningful.
Is there a relationship between becoming a mitra and asking for ordination? Becoming a mitra is usually the first step someone takes towards strengthening his or her connection with the Triratna Buddhist Community. As one's practice and friendships deepen over time, the desire to ask for ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order may arise. However, it is not essential to be a mitra first and ask for ordination later.
What happens if I no longer want to be involved or be a mitra?
It happens from time to time that someone, who has previously committed to be a mitra, may decide that this is no longer for him or her. In this case, for the sake of clarity, it is a good idea to be clear and explicit, and we expect a formal resignation, again in writing to the mitra convenor of your centre.
Vision and Mission
Vision
to make Sangharakshita's approach to the Buddha Dharma available to the people of Melbourne
Mission
within the context of spiritual friendship, to use the talents of our sangha to provide Dharma activities that will lead to ever deepening commitment to the Three Jewels
Pathway to Commitment
View this flow chart that describes the pathway to deeper commitment within the Trirata Buddhist Community
Activities
Meditation
Learn the Triratna Buddhist Community's two central meditation practices - the Mindfulness of Breathing and the Metta Bhavana (Development of Loving Kindness). Discover how to make Buddhist meditation part of your life.
Our courses are taught by ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, assisted by those training for ordination. They are experienced practitioners, who teach in a friendly, relaxed way, communicating from their own experience.
Buddhism
The basic message of Buddhism is simple:
- we can't depend on anything to be permanent
- our actions have consequences
- we can change for the better
- Buddhism speaks to all kinds of people regardless of their gender, race, sexuality or nationality.
We present a range of classes for beginners and experienced practitioners alike, offering the opportunity to expand your understanding of Buddhism, its principles and practices.
Aspects of Buddhism Courses
This series of courses introduces the history, principles, and practices of Buddhism, with an emphasis on the relevance and application to our daily lives.
These four or six-week courses are suitable for beginners, as well as for more experienced practitioners who wish to deepen and enrich their practice. Each course is unique, with a different leader and different content.
Retreats
What is a Retreat?
Our retreats are suitable for those who are familiar with our meditation practices. If you haven't been on a retreat with us before, we encourage you to attend a meditation course or our drop-in classes until you are familiar with our meditations.
A Buddhist retreat provides a chance to put aside the concerns and demands of normal routine. Leaving behind the noise and clutter of everyday life enables us to begin to relax and deepen our awareness. Many people who go on a Buddhist retreat increase their sense of grounding, calm, and contact with themselves. Eventually, many find these qualities transfer to everyday life, leading to increased expression of our human potential. Attending a retreat provides an opportunity to share time and inspiration with people from all walks of life who are keen to learn about and practise Buddhism.
A retreat is not a holiday. Because it offers a time to deepen awareness of ourselves, of others, and of the world around us, as well as space to clarify the essentials in life, a retreat may be challenging and even life-changing.
Retreat activities may vary, but are likely to include meditation, some periods of silence, talks, workshops, and discussions. Also included will be short work activities such as washing-up or helping with meal preparation, as well as some free time. Meals are vegetarian.
All you need to bring are sleeping bag and pillow, clothes, and toiletries.
