Manjushri Buddhist Centre, Milton

Visit by Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe
​2-4 August 2019

Khenpo-la arrived in Milton on the South Coast of NSW on a very crisp and chilly Friday evening, yet he was so warmly received by over 30 people at the local CWA Hall. To start off the weekend of teachings at the Manjushri Buddhist Centre, Khenpo-la offered a Public Talk on “How to Welcome Change in our Lives”. Khenpo-la paid respect to the Indigenous people of the land past, present and future, then proceeded to talk of the different aspects of the mind that we all have as in the Anger Mind, the Jealous Mind etc. The negative mind has the strong habitual tendencies to blame others for our unhappiness and getting what we want. We all perceive the world externally in different ways, this is due to our own deluded mind, that within the truth of nature and a positive mind there are no differences, and this can create true lasting happiness. Changing our own mind from negative to positive has the power to affect millions of people and the world. It is a choice to be negative as in blaming others, yet the basic problem is within ourselves. Having a clear and positive mind can bring happiness, joy and peace. We all know what good and bad is innately, although externally there is so much distraction, we need constant reminding of this simple aspect. The Renunciation Mind is accepting that our delusional mind is what gives us so much trouble, and to renounce that is what we need to aim for, not to renounce our family, wealth, and fame... This is what the Buddha did and taught. 

The weekend teachings were exquisitely full of grace, humour and wisdom from Khenpo-la. Saturday was jam packed with three different sessions: Firstly “Nurturing the Bodhicitta Mind”, for which Khenpo-la spoke in great depth in a limited amount of three hours on the meaning of Bodhicitta, which is exclusive to Mahayana Buddhism of the View, Meditation and the Buddhist way of life. The benefit of the Greatest Compassion is that it brings joy to oneself by giving to others. The second session was a Teaching on Mind Training – Lojong: The main point of this teaching is Conventional Truth, with meditations on loving-kindness and compassion, where the object is all sentient beings. Tonglen is based on the exchanging of breath with all beings, demolishing the root cause of all suffering, our self-cherishing mind, so that misfortune turns into enlightenment. Lastly, Khenpo la sat with an intimate group of children and their families and spoke of how we can be compassionate towards others that are suffering but to take good care of ourselves too. He expressed strongly to limit time on phones, laptops and any type of social media, to be outside as much as possible in the fresh air to exercise and to be happy. 
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Sunday was a most wonderful day once more with teachings on The Heart Sutra – Prajnaparamita. Emptiness makes everything changeable, that awareness does not exist in the Absolute State, there is no cause, it is unborn, un-dwelling, no cessation... That we must accept Conventional Perception, mere awareness is created by the Four Aspects where Absolute Truth is beyond mind, beyond word, emptiness is beyond thought likened to the limitless vastness of the clear blue sky, space beyond directions no east, south, west or north, etc... Once more our deepest of gratitude for your spiritual friendship and guidance Khenpo-la and in sharing your knowledge and deep wisdom of the dharma with us here in Milton at the Manjushri Buddhist Centre. We thank you for your continual turning the wheel of dharma and visiting our small country village.