Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre
| Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre | |
|---|---|
 | |
Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre | |
| Information | |
| Tradition/Linage | Pure Land, Chinese |
| Main School | Mahayana |
| People | |
| Teacher(s) | BUORG-Names::Names::Ven. WuLing |
| Contact Infotmation | |
| Address | PO Box 216 160 Greenwood Creek Road Nanango Queensland 4615 Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | service=google }} {{#geocode:PO Box 216 160 Greenwood Creek RoadNanangoQueenslandAustralia|format=float|service=google}} service=google }}The "_geo" type of this property is invalid |
| Map | {{#display_map:{{#geocode:PO Box 216 160 Greenwood Creek RoadNanangoQueenslandAustralia}}|height=250px|width=250px|zoom=18}} |
| Phone | Phone::(07) 4171 0421 |
| Fax | Fa(07) 4171 0413::(07) 4171 0413 |
| Website | Website::http://www.abrc.org.au/ "Website" has not been listed as valid URI scheme. |
| Email::abrc.information@gmail.comURIs of the form "Email::abrc.information@gmail.com" are not allowed. | |
| Postal Address | PostalAddress::PO Box 216 160 Greenwood Creek Road, PostalAddress::Nanango QLD 4615 |
Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre
The Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre is a place to learn about and to practice Pure Land Buddhism. The practice can also support and enhance other belief systems as it calms the mind and fosters mindfulness and stability.
On Sunday we have a group chanting meditation and either a recorded or live Dharma talk, followed by a vegetarian lunch. This Sunday session begins at 9 AM so we request visitors to please arrive at least ten minutes before we begin. Lunch begins about 12.15 PM. Visitors are welcome to join us for all or part of the morning and to stay for lunch. We do, however, ask that if you will be joining us for lunch, that you please let us know by Friday noon for catering purposes.
History
Located deep in the heart of southeastern Queensland, the serenity and beauty of the land provide a haven for those who seek the inward path. Nature has provided the perfect blending of songbirds, rolling hills, and brilliant blue skies as the backdrop for Buddhist practice and study. The centre was an unspoken dream of Celine and Charles Richardson who both imagined a place where people could come to learn more about themselves and their world. One day, Charles voiced his dream to Celine who happily replied that she shared the dream. Thus in 1994, Charles, at the age of 79, began the long and continuing work of transforming a large open metal shed on their property into a warm, inviting centre for spiritual awakening. In 1994, Celine happened to come across the image of a Buddha at an auction. It was only after she had bought it and hung it at the centre that she learned it was Amitabha Buddha. Then in 2000, Charles and Celine "happened" to meet Venerable Wuling and invited her to give a Dharma talk at their centre. Over the next two years as Dharma talks were held more often at the centre, it naturally transformed into a Buddhist centre. In 2002, it officially became the Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre with Venerable Wuling as its Teacher. Later in that year, a donated vintage Queenslander house was moved onto the property. Charles, who was just putting the finishing touches on the centre, began the work of renovating the house. In 2007, work was completed on the house, which now provides accommodation for eleven women. Other accommodations are available for men. The centre was officially opened on August 11, 2007.
VENERABLE WULING
Born in 1946, our Teacher, Venerable Wuling grew up north of New York City. Having previously studied Buddhism when young, she learned of the Pure Land school through the teachings of Venerable Master Chin Kung in 1994. She went to the Dallas Buddhist Association for further study and practice, and it was in Dallas that she became a nun. She received ordination in Taiwan in 1997. Venerable Wuling went to Singapore in 1998 and remained there for three years. During that time, she served as head of the translation group, Silent Voices, and as a lecturer. She moved to Australia in 2001 and became the Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre’s Teacher. In 2004, Venerable became Director of the Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre and was appointed Vice President of the Pure Land Learning College Association Inc. in Toowoomba, Australia. Since becoming a lecturer in 1999, Venerable has spoken abroad in Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States. In 2001, she spoke at the Premier of Queensland's Multi-faith Gathering to memorialize the 11th September attacks and was a guest speaker at the Premier's Multi-faith Gathering on Australia Day. From 2004 to 2008, Venerable was based in both Australia and the United States, and lectured in Australia, Asia, and North America. Since mid-2008 she has resided in Australia where in addition to her work on behalf of the centre, she also serves as the head of the Pure Land Translation Team, conducts online classes, and continues to write. Venerable Wuling’s books include How Will I Behave Today and the Rest of My Life?, Everything We do Matters, In One Lifetime: Pure Land Buddhism, Awaken to the Buddha Within, and path to peace. She also designed, edited, and contributed to Heart of a Buddha.
