On the weekend of 8–9 November, the Tibetan Buddhist Society in Australia held their annual spring festival at the Peaceful Land of Joy Meditation Centre in Yuroke, one hour north of Melbourne. The society has held the festival annually for over 20 years.
The Peaceful Land of Joy Meditation Centre in Yuroke. From www.tibetanbuddhistsociety.org
The theme of this year’s festival was “Mindfulness, Meditation and Well-being,” to help promote the cultivation of mindfulness through meditation for peace and good health. The event presented attendees with a myriad of opportunities to unwind, relax, and enjoy the color and vibrancy of the center’s beautiful gardens, market stalls, craft activities, interesting displays, and temple and garden tours. In the traditional Tibetan temple, teachers from a variety of Buddhist traditions led meditations and gave talks on practical ways to develop calmness and resilience in our busy environments.
On the subject of mindfulness and well-being, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said: “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not a mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.” According to Anthony Joseph, a regular teacher on mindfulness and meditation at the society, mindful awareness can help reduce stress and emotional discomfort, enabling greater clarity and joy. “Through techniques like regular meditation we recognize that the prerequisites for happiness are already present in our lives,” he explained. Anthony led a meditation session on the Sunday afternoon.
Interior of the Peaceful Land of Joy Meditation Centre. From www.tibetanbuddhistsociety.org
Wendy Maher, who attended the festival on Saturday with her 18-year-old daughter Jane, commented, “We have attended this event a few times now and it never disappoints. It's such a peaceful and inspiring place to visit even on such a busy occasion. We've particularly enjoyed the meditations, the Dharma talks, and the market stalls.”
With this vibrant festival offering something for everyone, more than 1,000 people attended over the two days. Among the many activities, visitors had the chance to drop by the “Hume Council’s Environment and Sustainable Living” display to chat with “Enviro Champions” from the Craigieburn Community Food Project and local group “HumeUs,” to learn about water-efficient garden plots and other environmentally friendly methods to develop and maintain their own vegetable gardens.
The festival also offered children’s storytelling and meditation sessions and family arts and crafts lessons. Some visitors preferred just to rest and relax in the tranquility and beauty of the peaceful gardens or to enjoy a vegetarian meal and cup of tea at the courtyard cafe.
The Tibetan Buddhist Society in Australia was founded by the great Tibetan master, scholar, and author Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden in 1979. After more than 30 years of dedication and devotion to the society’s development, he passed away in 2011 at the age of 88. The society has centers in Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth as well as the Peaceful Land of Joy center in Melbourne.
From www.tibetanbuddhistsociety.org
The Peaceful Land of Joy center was completed in 2000 and blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2002. It is situated in a beautiful and tranquil 10-acre haven, with 2,300 rose bushes in 400 varieties, 2,500 trees, floral courtyards, and a lake.
Regular activities at the society include six classes and discussion groups a week, retreats for concentrated periods of meditation and study, the publishing of Geshe Loden’s books through Tushita Publications, and community fundraising programs for people facing homelessness and disadvantage and to help alleviate suffering resulting from natural disaster and personal tragedy.