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We are pleased to announced that free maths class will be offered to NSW Year 8,9 and 10 students who need to brush up on your maths skills and has some difficulties with that. This 2-hour class will be running from 2-4pm every Saturday at Panditarama Sydney Meditation Centre.

For Year 11 and 12 students, if you have some difficulties in physics, we like to hear from you too.

Please bring your textbook and handouts along with you.

If you'd like to get more information, please feel free to contact us on 02 9729 2343.

Sayadaw U Punnathami has quoted in dhamma talk during the last day of 10 days meditation retreat below:

Depend on yourself, not anyone nor anything else
Depend on Dhamma, not anyone nor anything else
The Dhamma, you need to depend on,
is the four foundation of mindfulness.

1. Mindfulness on the body
2. Mindfulness on the consciousness
3. Mindfulness on the feeling and
4. Mindfulness on the Dhamma.

Yogis who have been practising diligently during the retreat and listen to the Dhamma Talk, would understand about mind and matter, cause and effect. However, the true deep understanding shall come from personal experience in meditation practice and not from reading or book itself.

The insight knowledge from Vipassana Meditation arises from observation from your clear and pure mind. It is not something to search for, but something that you need to experience at your own. The noting mind and the noting object are discussed in the teaching. Sayadaw has personally demonstrated both sitting meditation and walking meditation to ensure Yogis have proper practice and understanding. 

There were an average of 25 Yogis attended the daily meditation. One of the Yogis who spent the 10-days full retreat had quoted in the interview session that “this is the best holidays I have ever spent”. It was not easy to give up shopping spree and party celebration during the December festive season. “But, if you realize the benefits and you would enjoy doing it- and you will do it again!”

Isolate yourself from others during meditation practice, restrain yourself from talking, keeping precepts, stay silence for 10 days and watch your thought of daily activity seems “boring” to some people. Thus, it is not easy for repeating the same activity, sit for one hour and walk for another one hour for a duration of 15 hours daily starting from 4.30am to 9.00pm. It takes a lot of courage, self motivation, effort and “heroic act” to overcome pain during one hour of sitting meditation. However, Yogis managed to put their full effort, overcome it with mental energy and physical energy.

We are very thankful to the Dhamma friends and donors in terms of food, requisites to the Sangha, and volunteering job throughout the retreat. Without their help and support, the 10-days retreat could never be so successful. SADHU! SADHU! SADHU!

During the last day of retreat on 28-Dec, Sayadaw had called upon some Yogis, devotees and committee members such as Dr Lwin Lwin, U Lu Aye, Mr Jason , Mr Masdi, Daw Winnie,  U Sein Win, U Ye Win, Daw Pyone, Ma Ohnmar, Daw Khin San Win, Ms Yong, Ms Katherine,  to deliver their speeches. The feedbacks were positive and points were taken up for future improvement.

We hope the Yogis will carry on their mindfulness in meditation practice from time to time. We welcome new and old Yogis in future retreat in 2010. Again, we share our gratitude to our Dhamma friends for the great support to the centre throughout the year. As Buddha said, “The one who holds and carries the Dhamma, always being protected by the Dhamma”.

The PSMC committee would take this opportunity to wish all the members and Dhamma friends of the centre- HAPPY NEW YEAR and fruitful year in 2010!

Sayadaw came back from teaching dhamma Duta trip to America yesterday. The retreat was successful. Yogis were happy and practised diligently. About 36 Yogis were practising everyday.  Head over to see the photos taken during this trip

Also retreat here is staring today and about 25 yogis are practising.

Every devotee appreciates the opportunity of offering robes during Kathina or robe-offering ceremony. As stated by Sayadaw U Pannathami during the Dhamma talk on 9th October 2009, devotees can only perform robe-offering to the Sangha or community of monks once a year. Thus, one should not choose which monk to offer the robe to because the Sangha will decide who shall own the Kathina robe based first on the needs and secondly by seniority.

We would like to thank our Kathina Main sponsors 2009 for their generosity.
1.    Mdm. Saw Poh Choo and Dhamma friends from Mahindarama Buddhist Temple, Penang, Malaysia
2.    U Than Htwe and Daw Nwe Ni

It was a big gathering of Dhamma friends during Kathina Day. The Dhamma hall was so crowded it could not accommodate the number of  devotees and visitors. We apologise that some of our Dhamma friends had to stand and stay at the dining hall to hear the chanting of monks and Dhamma talk from a place which is not in the hall.

However, we should also treat this as a good sign to the centre that our devotees, Dhamma friends and members have increased. We understand how important the Kathina or robe-offering ceremony is to the centre and also to our Sangha.

We greatly appreciate your contribution such as dana, your voluntary help in the preparation of  Kathina Day and cleaning up after the event. The ceremony was a success because of your participation and support.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

The 20 days meditation retreat in PSMC was successfully conducted from 7th September to 16th September  and 23th September to 2nd October. Throughout the retreat, there were 15 to 20 Yogis participated in the retreat. Some Yogis had in fact extended their meditation practice for a month after the retreat.

Sayadaw was pleased to announce that, it was a special retreat of the year where we received participation of two foreign Yogis, one from Malaysia and another Yogis from Singapore with their one-month meditation in PSMC. There were 4 Yogis who extended and continued their one-month diligent meditation practice during and after this retreat in the centre.

The centre has tried to accommodate and support Yogis who wish to practice meditation from time to time. Though, the centre may face the constraint of helpers and volunteer, the centre would always perform the best we could with the hope that Yogis could benefit from the meditation practices.

If you have missed this retreat due to the work commitment or short of holidays, you may schedule your next retreat in December. So, let’s plan your time and do not postpone your meditation.

May you be well, happy and peace. May you be able to practice meditation diligently and attain enlightenment and Nibbana.

12 days Dhamma Trip to Australia (4th to 15th October 2009)

Panditarama Sydney Meditation Centre (PSMC) had received warm visit from Malaysian Dhamma friends on the 4th of October 2009 with six days' trip in Sydney and the next six days’ trip (10th to 15th October 2009) to Panditarama Melbourne Meditation Centre, Australia. The group consisted of seven yogis, 4 male yogis and 3 female yogis including Sayalay Candawati for their 12 days Dhamma Trip visit to Australia.

The Malaysian group of Dhamma friends who came from Penang, Malaysia were representatives from Malaysian Buddhist Meditation Centre (MBMC) Friday Yogis and Mahindarama Monday Yogis with Brother Tay Chong Seng as the group leader. The centre was pleased to welcome the group and grateful for receiving the Kathina dana of RM30,754 (estimated AUD9,710) as a token of support to the Buddha Sasana (Dispensation) in Australia, especially for the Sydney centre. Madam Saw Poh Choo and Dhamma friends of MBMC were one of the main sponsors of 2009 Kathina in PSMC.

This Dhamma trip was indeed very meaningful that gave opportunities to the committee members of the centre to exchange ideas about Vipassana meditation and practices of the different centres within the network of Panditarama. We were surprised that one of our Malaysian Dhamma friends could communicate in Burmese. In fact, one of the Malaysian Yogis arrived early and participated the meditation retreat and had his one month meditation practice in the centre.

We wish our Malaysian Group of Dhamma friends had gain good experience in Australia, by participating in this Kathina ceremony, listening to Dhamma talks, practicing meditation in the retreat and site-seeing in Sydney.

It was a great honour to meet them. We received Kathina robes and allowable requisites together with CDs regarding "Discourses on Vipassana Meditation" conducted by Sayadaw U Pannathami. We look forward to have more of the same visits in future. We apologise for any shortcoming or inconvenience caused during their stay in the centre. May their support of ideas and dana contribution boost the growth of the Buddha Sasana in Australia.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

The ceremony of (1) Fruit Offering, (2) Thousand Candle Lights and (3) Pay Respect to the Eldest-

We have practiced elder respect for generations. Sometimes, we may neglect such age-old practice due to busy daily schedule, work commitment and other responsibilities. Let’s consider this- “What makes the Eldest the respectful person?” It is the life experience and sharing they have.  What we need to do is to live simply, speak kindly, care deeply and love generously -show our respects to the eldest around us.

PSMC had invited 14 eldest people at age range 85 to 100 years old for the paying respect ceremony. The Dhamma Hall was crowded but big enough to accommodate the flood of young ones who interested to listen to advice and sharing from the eldest. The ceremony started in the afternoon with Dhamma Talk and followed by paying respect ceremony. PSMC had presented gifts to the eldest and arranged cakes and dessert serving to the eldest and Dhamma friends. It was a simple tradition but meaningful day.

In the Dhamma Hall, you will be amazed with the variety of fruits offered by the devotees to Buddha image. You could simply name from A-Z of any kind of fruit, in the mix of colour, size and variety. They were decorated in an attractive and creative way- it was wise to have snap shots of photos if you brought the camera along during the day.

In the late afternoon, it was the thousand candle lights ceremony. The meditation centre was well decorated with colourful and variety of shape of lights and lanterns. Children were having good time playing with candle lights. Dhamma friends were having good time for gathering during the full moon day. You could noticed the different activities around the centre cooking, serving, lightings candles which decorated on the floor in Burmese word, playing firework, chanting, dining etc. It was a happening nights in the centre that you would not want to miss.

So, if you have missed the ceremony this year, you may consider to plot the date in next year calendar and quote it as “MUST-ATTEND-FUNCTION”. The centre appreciates your participation and we hope to see you again!

The 3 days Metta Bhavana retreat was conducted from 7th to 9th August. An average of 14 Yogis spent their nights at the centre throughout the retreat. It was a great chance to radiant Metta (loving-kindness) to all beings in the universe through Metta Bahavana practice. It is a way of delivering pure love with no attachment.

Metta Bhavana is a type of Samatha Meditation and it is different from Vipassana Meditation as stated below:

• Metta Bhavana is Samatha Meditation that brings 11 benefits in the practice. It serves both as a means of self-protection against unwholesome mental states and as a subject of contemplation ('kammatthana'). One can develops up to the stage of a 'appana-samadhi', that is, the concentration which leads to Jhana, or mental absorption.The practice will involve radiant of metta/ loving kindness to all beings.
• Vipassana Meditation gives 7 benefits. Vipassana is a simple and practical way to achieve real and lasting peace of mind and happiness by seeing things as what they really are. One can be liberated from suffering and achieves enlightenment and nibanna through the diligent practice. During the practice, one shall note whatever appears at the six sense doors.

As advised by Sayadaw U Pannathami in the Dhamma talk session, Metta Bhavana meditation begins with the thought: "May I be well, happy and peaceful” The next stage is to apply it in exactly the same form to someone for whom one has naturally a feeling of friendship or respected one. “In doing so, two points must be observed: the object should be a living person, and should not be one of the opposite sex”.

During the last day of retreat, there was chanting ceremony to share Merits to the departed one, especially to 11 of our departed devotees who had been so committed and contributed to the success of the center. We shall not forget their past contributions.

We are thankful to all the breakfast and lunch donors during the retreats. We appreciate and welcome the participation of more Yogis in future retreats.

“May all beings in all universes are well, happy and peaceful. May all beings in ten directions are well, happy and peaceful.”

The day of Waso marks the day of the Buddha's first sermon and the start of a monsoon season retreat. The full moon day was actually fall on 7th July this year. A simple ceremony of chanting and Dhamma talk had been conducted on this date.

However, the actual celebration of Waso Day was conducted by PSMC on Saturday (11th July), so that more dhamma friends could join the ceremony together.  It is the second Vassa at Smithfield meditation centre.

There were 6 monks on Waso Day. The ceremony started with food offering at 11.00am. The generosity and compassion of donors can be witnessed from the varieties of food, the way they were prepared and served. Our dhamma friends took this good chance to have luncheon, sharing and gathering together.

The chanting ceremony started at 1.00pm. It was then followed by a session of Dhamma Talk from  Sayadaw U Pannathami with a message about the benefits of offering Vassa Robe.

The robe offering session started at 2.30pm and the devotees took this opportunity to do meritorious deeds. Besides robe offering, some devotees had also donated household product and food to monks.

PSMCI would like to thank all the volunteers and devotees for the participation.

SADHU! SADHU! SADHU!

15 Jul 2009, Tribune de Geneve

The Geneva-based International Coalition for the Advancement of Religious and Spirituality (ICARUS) has bestowed "The Best Religion In the World" award this year on the Buddhist Community.

This special award was voted on by an international round table of more than 200 religious leaders from every part of the spiritual spectrum. It was fascinating to note that many religious leaders voted for Buddhism rather than their own religion although Buddhists actually make up a tiny minority of ICARUS membership. Here are the comments by four voting members: