Monthly Archive for March, 2007

Chenrezig Institute Buddhist Meditation Centre

Published
by
karuna
on March 25, 2007
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. 1 Comment

Chenrezig Institute is a centre for Buddhist study, meditation and retreat, nestled in the forested hills of the Sunshine Coast hinterland in South East Queensland, Australia. It is a flourishing community of nuns, monks and lay people.

Chenrezig is the name of the Buddha of Compassion who embodies the compassionate wisdom of all the Buddhas. The goal of Chenrezig Institute is to benefit as many people as possible, helping them to transform their lives so they can benefit others and realise ultimate happiness.

Our Vision: Through wisdom and compassion, to influence people’s lives for the better.

www.chenrezig.com.au

Palliative Care Queensland

Published
by
karuna
on March 24, 2007
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. 0 Comments

About Palliative Care

Palliative care is the management of the physical and the emotional symptoms and the provision of social and spiritual support for both a patient and the family, during the course of a progressive illness for which in the light of present medical knowledge, cure or remission is no longer possible; and bereavement support for the families after the patients death.Palliative care includes the care given during the terminal phase of the illness which may be measured in weeks or months.

Palliative Care Queensland Mission Statement

It is our mission to promote palliative care to the community and professional health organisations and to support palliative care providers in achieving excellence of care for all people involved with a progressive illness for which in the light of present medical knowledge, cure or remission is no longer possible.

www.pallcareqld.com

Kindness Week

Published
by
karuna
on March 24, 2007
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Kindness week is a Karuna Hospice Services community project designed to nurture the spirit of kindness and enhance our lives. Simple kindness adopted on a daily basis creates a happier and safer environment for all of us: at school, at work, at home and in all aspects of life.

Kindness Week 2007 activities will reflect the inspiration and simplicity of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Australian Tour theme - Open Arms, Embracing Kindness.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is visiting Brisbane on June 13 2007. He is known internationally as an ambassador for kindness, understanding and peace, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

www.kindnessweek.org.au

Mandala Books, Online Buddhist Books

Published
by
karuna
on March 23, 2007
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Mandala Books was established over twenty five years ago and is Australia’s specialist supplier of Buddhist books, cards, posters, DVDs, CDs and tapes, calendars and other products. We have over five hundred titles in stock at any time and access to many more. We have a particular interest in Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism, especially books by and about His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Mandala Books is now based in Brisbane Queensland at Karuna Hospice Services in Windsor. Mandala Books is a subsidiary of Karuna and all profits support the work of the Hospice. Karuna was founded to help prevent the physical, emotional and spiritual suffering that people may experience in relation to life threatening illness, dying and bereavement. In serving the community Karuna strives to follow the inspirational ideals and examples set by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Mandala Books is open from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4.30 pm and supplies bookshops and centres on a wholesale basis, individual retail customers and has a fast and efficient mail order service to anywhere in Australia, New Zealand, and other countries in our region.

www.mandalabooks.com.au

FPMT & FPMTA

Published
by
karuna
on March 23, 2007
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. 0 Comments

The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition is an international, non-profit organization, founded in 1975 by Lama Thubten Yeshe (1935-84), a Tibetan Buddhist monk. The Foundation is devoted to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation, and community service.

We provide integrated education through which people’s minds and hearts can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility. We are committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founder Lama Thubten Yeshe and spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

www.fpmt.org
www.fpmta.org.au

The Dalai Lama 2007 Australia Tour

Published
by
karuna
on March 23, 2007
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A website containing all the latest information about The Dalai Lama 2007 Australia Tour, updated on a regular basis. It also provides information and links to further information on Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhism in general.

If you are as excited about the visit of one of the world’s most recognised and revered people as we are, you will want to know all there is to know about what His Holiness will be speaking about, where he will be speaking, and how you can attend one or more of the talks.

You may also wish to know more about the history of Tibet, the people of Tibet, the situation Tibet is in at this point in time, and more. On the subject of Buddhism this website will provide an overview of Tibetan Buddhism, and then supply links to sites which go into more detail.

www.dalailama.org.au

Palliative Care Information Service

Published
by
karuna
on March 22, 2007
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. 0 Comments

PCIS is a Queensland wide telephone service that provides information and emotional support to individuals affected by life-limiting or terminal illness, their family, friends carers and health professionals.By contacting PCIS on freecall 1800 772 273, Queenslanders can speak with an experienced nurse or counsellor, who can provide information about palliative care, including the contact details for local services and support organizations that can provide palliative care, or a palliative approach to end of life care.

PCIS also provides a specialist telephone information and support service to health professionals in Queensland, and can connect doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to specialist medical or nursing consultants.

This free telephone service is funded by Queensland Health and operates from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

www.pcis.org.au

Karuna’s Stupa Consecration Flyer

Published
by
karuna
on March 21, 2007
in Downloads
. 1 Comment

 Download full pdf

In commemoration of the consecration of the Stupa at Karuna House, 17 June 2006.

A stupa embodies the power to purify the environment, perfect the mind and live a long life

Transcending architecture and archaeology, the stupa is the living embodiment of Buddhist teachings - a harmonising of the physical with the spiritual. It represents the ultimate qualities of an enlightened being and is therefore considered a very precious and holy object.

Stupa is a Sanskrit word that means ‘to heap’ or ‘to pile up’ and relates to the mound-like shape of the earliest stupas.

It is said that wherever a stupa is built, all the beings who live in that area will receive numerous benefits.They will enjoy a peaceful environment, harmony and happiness.

A stupa is a symbolic representation of the enlightened mind and of the path leading to that state of perfection.

Karuna’s stupa has been built according to principles laid out in ancient Sanskrit texts detailing the intricate rituals of raising and consecrating these sacred monuments. It is filled with sacred objects such as mantras, spiritual texts, images of Buddha, relics of holy beings and wealth vases.

Just seeing a stupa accumulates positive imprints for future lives and cleanses lifetimes of negative imprints from the mind stream.

Respectfully walking around (circumambulating) a stupa enhances positive qualities and purifies negative mental imprints including the karmic causes of illness.

Making an offering to a stupa, for example light, music, flowers or a contribution to its construction and maintenance, creates the cause for success in this and future lives.

The following are meditations that you can undertake while visiting the stupa.

Imagine light coming from the consecrated stupa, totally illuminating your body, purifying illness, disturbing emotions and negative karma.

You can use the above meditation for others. Simply imagine that they are present while you meditate.

Recite a mantra for example OM MANI PADME HUM, the mantra of the Buddha of Compassion, as you walk around the stupa.

Karuna & MindLife Flyer

Published
by
karuna
on March 19, 2007
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a community of compassionate care

‘At Home’ palliative care for individuals and families faced with life threatening illness

Karuna Hospice Services was founded to help prevent the physical, emotional and spiritual suffering that people may experience in relation to life threatening illness, dying and bereavement.

Karuna Hospice Services provides needs based support which allows people to find meaning and happiness at every stage of life.

Karuna is founded on the Buddhist values of the preciousness of life, respect, compassion, empowerment and equality. In serving the community Karuna strives to follow the inspirational ideals and example set by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His own life long mission is to serve others with universal compassion and kindness.

Karuna MindLife

The mind plays a vital role in how we experience the world. A better understanding of how it works gives each person powerful tools to make their life more positive and meaningful.

Karuna MindLife programs teach how to use relaxation, reflection and mind training techniques for all stages of life.

People become better equipped to deal with everyday stresses as well as important life issues, learning how to manage them more easily. Each person can achieve change andgrowth, generating a greater capacity for happiness and well-being in all circumstances.

The aim of the program is to enable people to be happy and feel content with a life well lived.

Programs include

  • Healing courses: techniques for developing
    emotional and spiritual strength
  • Mind Training courses in the workplace
  • Relaxation and reflection workshops
  • Group meditation and spiritual practice

Karuna Brocure 2006

For more information about the programs please call 07 3632 8300.

Garden of Enlightenment Newsletter

Published
by
karuna
on March 14, 2007
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A place of memorial and contemplation through holy objects based at Chenrezig Institute Buddhist centre

Garden of Enlightenment 33 Johnson’s Rd Eudlo QLD 4554
Mail address: 257 Old Palmwoods Rd, Palmwoods QLD 4555 ph. 54450425 email:Foulkes@powerup.com.au

NEWS & VIEWS FROM THE STUPA SITE

Over the last year, we spent several months making the mould of the “vase” for six of the seven smaller stupas on the roof. Once this was completed and decorated we made a mould so that we can continue to reproduce these complex sections. We are now waiting on further advice on different blends of concrete products which will enable us to make light-weight but very strong casts from the mould. We have also been busy with completing orders for stupas for the project and for private use.

Earlier in the year we helped with building a stupa for Karuna hospice in Brisbane. This took up quite a lot of time but it was really good to help out and a great learning curve! We now have a much better understanding about the best and most economical way of getting some of the component parts made for our own stupas and will most probably get the metal work done in Nepal by local artists: the savings on labour and materials easily justifying the cost of freight.

The Brisbane stupa was completed in time to be consecrated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche during his brief visit and what his words with regards to the benefits of stupas, particularly in relation to people with serious health problems, was very inspiring. There is now a plan to build another stupa in a public area of Brisbane.

Over this winter we have put up a “homemade’ scaffold on the big stupa and have almost finished the brickwork on the vase. Once this is rendered most of the difficult and messy work on the roof area will be behind us and we can concentrate on decoration and filling the stupas. There is little chance this will happen before next winter, however much of the work involving making moulds for the decorations as well as preparing ingredients can be done at home. Adrienne Strong, our main artist, is already hard at work and David, our mould maker, is preparing 15 moulds to go to America as well as looking after our own needs. Several patient volunteers have been rolling hundreds of thousands of mantras to go inside the stupas.

Landscaping has been progressing well. We now have a beautiful water feature made from a large cast-iron pot; water flows from this down through three ponds and is then pumped back up to the water feature. The area around the fish ponds has been finished with polished sandstone pebbles. Most of the terracing on the high side of the veranda area has been completed using dry-stone walls and cement blocks. This area can now be backfilled and landscaped. Now that we have put signs up directing people to the gardens we are receiving many visitors so by the end of the year we aim to have the whole site completely safe for visitors.

Continue reading ‘Garden of Enlightenment Newsletter’