Buddhist way of life kindles
curiosity
Bendigo Your Guide, November 20,
2006
Bendigo, Australia -- More than 1000 people took
the opportunity to explore the Atisha Centre yesterday and learn
more about the Buddhist way of life.
BLESSED: Geshe Konchok Tsering and Venerable Paldron pray
during the open day.
As part of the centre's annual open day, visitors toured the Great
Stupa site, the Relics Exhibition Centre and Thubten Shedrup Ling
Monastery.
Hundreds gathered in the Atisha Gompa to take part in a spiritual
program, with sessions including an introduction to Buddhist
meditation and a public talk on `The essence of the Buddhist
path'.
Children enjoyed Buddhist stories, rock painting, sand pictures and
drawing, while older visitors browsed book, jewellery and craft
stalls.
Atisha Centre director Ian Green estimated about 1500 people had
visited to attended the open day.
"A lot of people are really interested in what's going on here," he
said.nts They hear about the Stupa and so forth," he said.
"They're just curious to see what's here - that's the main thing.
"To see what Buddhists believe in and what they don't believe
in.
Mr Green said many of the people who attended an open day would
come back the following year.
"Whether they're interested in Buddhism or spiritualism, it doesn't
really matter. "Often they're just interested in what's happening
in Bendigo.
"It's quite a special thing that's happening."Mr Green said public
feedback had been fantastic, with many interested to see the
initialnte development on the Great Stupa site, which is scheduled
for completion by 2010.
"With the steel works going up - people have been really impressed
by the size of it," he said.
Many visitors also inquired about the Dalai Lama's upcoming visit.
"Most people know that he's coming now and want to know what he's
going to be doing here," Mr Green said.
During his June, 2007, visit the Dalai Lama will bless the Great
Stupa site and consecrate the giant statue of Guru Renpoche outside
the Relics Exhibition Centre.
