Templehunt in Melb,Australia
Alhamdullilah!Hallelujah!Sadhu!ThankYou!Yay!Excellent!XieXie!Bravo!Grazias!
Smilies!!
Mr&MrsK brought me to a SriLankan temple(location:Dandenong) which,in short,it's like Nalanda/BGF concept.(Or Nalanda/BGF Concept is like their concept?Hmm..watever..)A housing area(2hses I think)made into a hall.As I pay respect to the resident monks,then the Buddha,and offered flowers,I can't help it but notice that all eyes were on me.I feel like a foreigner,but speaking the same language,prostrating and paying respect the same way they do.The attention was made even more obvious because I was wearing a pink shirt with black pants when all of them(except the two monks of course)...were wearing WHITE.(including those offering food )(Just imagine a group of Uncle Vijaya's around!hhahha!)
It was also during the dana session(offering food)when we went.So, I get to dana to practicing nuns/novitiates observing the 8 precepts.I was TOO HAPPY to see so many ladies/nuns observing for the day(almost all) when at home,they're ALL FOR GUYS/monks!!SADHU!!!
During dana,everyone was just rushing to dana!The papadam which I had on my plate,had little to offer because everyone just had it on their plate already!!It was stressful because I wanted SO much to at least give ONE to each of them,in the end,I realize,all you had to do is,just politely insist on putting it on their plate.No choice!
When I reflect now...during dana,since I was bit embarassed with my clothing and feeling-out-of-place and with all the attention,I even FORGOT to dana to the MONKS!gee?!They are the most important ppl...!!AGH!HAHA!!**slaps my forehead**
Finally!!!!I have found a theravadan novitiate program for ladies.Now,all I have to do is enrol in one and request the Dhamma talk to be in English and not Sinhalese.Don't worry,I'm just going to aim for a day retreat,observing the 8 precepts...with a group of females(theravadan style) AND WEAR WHITE(robes?)!!!
Mr&MrsK will bring me to another one,where Dhamma talks will be conducted in English(due to many'foreigners' like me).After that,I still have 2 temples to visit(a Mahayanese one I came across a few days ago-on behalf of my parents, and another one by Ajahn Kalyano my friend(ML's BF-HX) was telling me about)
Just wanted to share this!SADHU!! YIPPEE!! HEHEE....
Think about it: The Theravadan Buddhist practice which we are accustomed to now,has its 'cultural' values borrowed from another country-SriLanka.Our resident monks in M'sia have a rich culture in Sri Lanka brought to nurture and spread across our country.Chief Reverend(Dr.K.Sri Dhammananda)-you come from a very beautiful country and a gentle community.SADHU!SADHU!SADHU!
