Teachers and Visiting Lecturers - Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute, Melbourne, Australia

Venerable Tedjadhammo Bhikkhu

lectures held at

Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute
Melbourne, Australia

Contacts @ Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute
Office
673 Lygon Street (Between Pigdon and Park Streets),
Carlton North, Victoria, 3054.
Phone: 61-3-9387 0422
Fax: 9380 8296
email: e_vam@smartchat.net.au
Website: http://www.evaminstitute.org.au

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Contacts @ Maitripa Contemplative Centre
Suellen Fuller
528 Myers Creek Road,
Healesville Victoria, 37777.
Phone: 61-3-5962 6167

Biodata:

Venerable Tejadhammo Bhikku is a Buddhist monk who apart from the usual teachings and retreat activities, works with people who are seriously ill in various hospitals, hospices and their homes in and around Sydney. Bhante has studied and taught in Thai Universities and jails. He is resident teacher for the Association of Engaged Buddhists at Sangha Lodge. The Association aims to foster a more active engagement of followers of the Buddha within the local community. Bhante also teaches and conducts regular retreats and is a founding member of the Australian Monastic Encounter which seeks to promote inter-religious and inter monastic dialogue. Bhante considers the Dhamma to be larger than any particular school, tradition or sect, and although ordained in the Theravada tradition has also received teachings in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.

Shattering the Dark: The Life and Liberation of Early Buddhist Women Buddhist Summer School January 2003 8 Tapes The historical Buddha Shakyamuni had many female disciples yet relatively little has survived of them in early Buddhist literature. However, like gems scattered throughout the early Pali recollections, are stories of great value which centre on women and their liberation from suffering; personal, social/cultural and religious. This course will look at some of the early Buddhist women, their life stories, songs, practice and teaching. We will attempt an understanding of their lives and experiences and in particular of their experience of enlightenment as found in various places within the Pali canon and in other sources beyond this. Since the practice and experience of meditation forms an essential part of their stories we will also investigate and practice some of the methods of meditation used by these early women. All textual material will be provided to participants. Please bring your own writing materials. Please note that this course is not a formal feminist critique of Buddhism or Buddhist practice but an attempt to free ourselves further by entering into the precious and beautiful experience and teaching of these enlightened women.
MAITREYA, THE MILLENNIUM, METTA AND MEDITATION (lectures) Buddhist Summer School 2000 January 15-20 8 tapes Maitreya is the one figure, apart from the historical Buddha Sakyamuni, who can be found in all schools of Buddhism from the earliest time. He has been the object of veneration, hope, expectation and anticipation throughout Buddhist history. His influence has been felt across cultures and has led to some interesting and sometimes disastrous millenarian movements within various Buddhist schools and communities. This course examines some of the teachings and stories surrounding the figure of Maitreya, the future Buddha, his relationship with millenarianism and the practice of Metta or loving-kindness. What is Metta meditation and how is it related to this important Bodhisattva? How can we practise and develop genuine Metta at the close of the millennium? What possible benefits might be expected from a deeper understanding of this Bodhisattva and the meditation practices surrounding this figure? When can we expect the arrival of Maitreya? These and many other questions are addressed in this course. Each session contains a practical component of instruction in meditation and an opportunity to actually engage in practice. No prior experience of meditation practice is needed.
MYTH, METAPHOR AND MEDITATION (lectures) Buddhist Summer School '99 - January 9-14 8 tapes Early Buddhism is rich in myth, mythic structures and metaphors which are often overlooked or poorly understood. This course presents some of the most significant myths surrounding the Buddha and attempts to show how they might be approached in a practical and profitable way for understanding and practice. Metaphor is a powerful teaching tool often employed by the Buddha but frequently misunderstood and sometimes literalized. Exploring and understanding these metaphors can open new doors to the path of practice. This course offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the teaching of the Buddha and to situate this understanding in the context of meditation practices.
THE MEANING OF SPIRITUALITY (lectures) June 13 1998 2 tapes "Half of the spiritual life consists of true friendship, true intimacy and real association". ANANDA "Not so Ananda". THE BUDDHA What is spiritual life? Is it still possible to have the spiritual life at the close of the millennium? What practical advice does the Buddha offer on the spiritual life, its goal and the way? This one-day seminar focuses on practical methods.
IS NIRVANA A PROCESS OR A STATE? (public lectures) June 12 1998 1 tape
THE FOUR BRAHMAVIHRAS (public lectures) June 10 1998 1 tape
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE NOBLE EIGHT-FOLD PATH? (public talk) May 16 1997 1 tape This talk raises various issues surrounding the central teaching of the Buddha on the path itself. Is right understanding really right and why is a full understanding of the intention of the Buddha so important to walking the path? There is something wrong with the Noble Eight-fold Path ... find out what it is and improve your life and practice as a result. The teaching on the path in the context of its first appearance in the early canonical material is examined. You may like to read the Dhammacakkapavattana sutta prior to listening to this talk.
THE BRAHMAVIHARAS: THE DIVINE ABIDINGS (public talk) May 15 1997 1 tape In numerous places in the teachings of the Buddha we find references to the Divine Abidings or Brahmaviharas. In a number of important teachings the Buddha emphasises the special place this practice has for those who wish to make real progress. What are these practices and what is their real purpose? Why are they given to the followers of the Buddha and how can we practice them and benefit from them today? Are they simply meditative states or do they contain far more than they appear to? Is it possible to follow the Buddhist path without an understanding and experience of their practice?
"FINDING YOUR WAY OUT" - MEDICATION PRACTICE AND DAILY LIFE (lecture) Buddhist Summer School '97 - January 11-16 1 tape The Buddha clearly recognised that while human beings share much in common there is nevertheless a wide range of personality types or characters among humans. In view of this he gave different methods of meditation to various individuals. These methods were taught, preserved, developed and added to, particularly in the first few centuries of the growth of Buddhism. Within the Theravada tradition these techniques or practices are some forty in number. These range from the construction and use of physical objects for meditation such as earth, fire, and water Kasinas to various Recollections, Mindfulness, Absorption states and the Spheres of Space, Consciousness, Nothingness and neither Perception nor Non-perception. This course aims to describe the psychological and spiritual purpose and underpinning of a representative group from the forty techniques and to guide students in their implementation and practise. No previous experience of meditation is needed.
MEDITATION: A PARADOXICAL PROCESS OF HEALING (workshop) Buddhist Summer School '96 January 13-18 7 tapes The Buddha, who referred to himself as the Great Physician, taught many skillful ways to overcome and understand dis-ease and sickness which afflicts all human beings. This workshop focuses on the practical ways in which meditation practice is able to help us move towards healing and wholeness. The emphasis is on practice itself with time and guided instruction in various forms of Buddhist meditation. We learn how to deal with disease within ourselves by listening to the body, heart and mind. We look at ways in which we can assist others who are ill or suffering through a well balanced meditative approach. This is a practical workshop, not for those whose only interest is in observing or theorising.
Buddhist and Christian Monasticism in Dialogue - Breaking the Silence. With Father David Ranson ocso Buddhist Summer School - January 1996 4 tapes Bringing together representatives from both the Buddhist and the Christian monastic traditions, this seminar will explore the role and value of the monastic way of life in contemporary Australian society. The dialogue will investigate similarities and differences in Christian and Buddhist approaches to monastic life, the purpose of the monastic rule, the Buddhist notion of homelessness and the ideal of 'Christian Community', meditation in the life of the monk/nun and its 'usefulness/ uselessness' to the lay community, and the methods of practice specific to both traditions. The seminar will provide a rare opportunity for these tow traditions to meet and to explore past mistakes and future promise and the contradictions and paradoxes facing monasticism in the 21 Century. David Ranson ocso is a Cistercian (Trappist) monk of Tarrawarra Abbey, Yarra Glen, Victoria. He was born in Launceston, Tasmania in 1959, travelled overseas and studied theology in Melbourne for several years prior to joining the Cistercian community in 1980, where he made his Solemn Profession in 1986. He was ordained a priest in 1992. Currently, he is involved in postgraduate studies, spiritual direction and seminar work in spirituality around Australia whilst working on the community's farm. He presently chairs Australian Monastic Encounter, a national interfaith association of monks and nuns.

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Last Updated: 10 April 2003