Posted by webmaster on February 4th, 2010
Thai – South African Newsletter Volume 25
The Thai community in South Africa has its own means of communication. The Thai – South African Newsletter has been serving this purpose for 3 years. Inside this bilingual issue, there are many key columns that inform the readers of co-operation, assistance, business and culture. The highlights in this issue are:
• Picture Gallery of the National Day of Thailand 2009
• Picture Gallery of the famous Loy Krathong (Water Lantern Festival) 2009
• Picture Gallery of the Novice Monks Ordination and Training 2009
• (Hot!) The founding of the Thai Association for Culture & Trade Johannesburg (T.A.C.T.)
• Restaurant Visit in Springs: Pingo Fast Food (Special Interview)
• Life, Meditation & Inner Peace — Meditation Journal of Dana Conradie (Cape Town)
• Gossips!!! & lots, lots more…
Download your electronic copy here (6MB):
Thai-South African Newsletter Volume 25
Download all 24 previous issues here:
http://www.peaceforafrica.org/newsletter/
Posted by webmaster on January 19th, 2010
“The Middle Way Basic”
Meditation Retreat #10
14th – 18th March 2010 at the Johannesburg Meditation Centre
info @ peaceforafrica.org
Schedule (Tentative)
Sunday 14th
16.00-18.00 Check-in at the Meditation Centre
18.30-19.00 Light Supper
19.30-20.30 First Orientation
Read More… Click HERE.
Posted by webmaster on January 18th, 2010
On 18th January 2010, the Johannesburg Meditation Centre was honoured by the visit of H.E. High Commissioner Mr. D. Wijesinghe and his wife. The H.E. High Commissioner of Sri Lanka just started his post in Pretoria in December 2009.
The guests were received in the meditation room, followed by the temple tour.
The Sri Lanka’s National Day falls on the 4th of February when the staff from the Johannesburg Meditation Centre will pay a courtesy visit. The H.E. High Commissioner gave a long-term commitment of our mutual relationship.
Posted by webmaster on January 17th, 2010
The 4th World Peace Ethics Contest (World-PEC)
Worldwide, Sunday 17th January 2010
Based on the must-have book called “Family Day By Day,” this 4th annual exam benefits participants from all over the world. A single family does not consist of only dad, mom & kids. We have parents, relatives, teachers, spouses, friends, workers and even our priests.
This little book will show us how each party mentioned above influences our peace and happiness in each family unit. Reading the book gives us the knowledge, sitting the exam rushes us to finish the book in due time. This Sunday 17th January 2010 will see peoples of the world enjoy 13-language examination for a better understanding of life and greater wisdom from the teachings of Lord Buddha.
Exam venue on 17th January
at the Johannesburg Meditation Centre (JMC).
The most nature-friendly and coziest contest in the world.
Cape Town exam venue
Witnessed all walks of life participating in the World-PEC Contest.
Exam venue in Kampala
The first World-PEC ever in Uganda
The Johannesburg Meditation Centre, Cape Town Meditation Centre & a group of youngsters in Uganda have participated in the exam in the afternoon of the Sunday. It is a good start to create peace from individuals, families, community and to the Africa Continent respectively.
More details at below link:
www.worldpec.org
Posted by webmaster on December 12th, 2009
Novice Monk Ordination & Training
12-22 December 2009
7 young boys joined the novice monk training for the first time. During their school holiday, the boys and their parents entered a cultural challenge. We witnessed a combination of Black, White and Oriental participants.
“Samanen” or the Novice Monk practice 10 rules of conducts. Under the Order, all are equal. When Samanen practice meditation, they experience bright sun inside the centre of the body, and that was the moment when “differences” did not exist. As one closes one’s eye, one can attain the shared similarity.
Besides practicing meditation, all Samanen have learned to take responsibility in their own daily life e.g. their cloth and dish washing, making their own bed, cleaning their sleeping quarters, etc. They learned to be on-time while keeping relaxed daily schedule.
Photographs will be posted soon.
Posted by webmaster on December 3rd, 2009
On 3rd December 2009, H.E. Royal Thai Ambassador Mr. Tarit Charungvat presided over the Thai National Day Celebration amid hundreds of attendants. Witnessed by high-rank officials from the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs and entertained by the military live band, all distinguised consular guests enjoy short and precise speeches that strengthened the good relationship between the two nations in the areas of trade, culture and defense.
H.E. Mr. Tarit Charungvat led Thai people address the blessings for our beloved H.M. King Bhumibhol Adulyadej who has been dedicating his works for the well-being of all Thais throughout his life. We wished H.M. the King a better health condition.
Thailand’s National Day falls on 5th December each year — the birthday of His Majesty.
Posted by webmaster on November 21st, 2009
Meditation Retreat at Uganda Buddhist Centre
21-22 November 2009
The Buddhist population in Uganda is fewer than 100. However, the number does not represent the number of interested people in the practice of meditation and the Buddhist teachings. Quite a number of expats and youths in Uganda are in search of inner peace and wisdom of the Dhamma.
Founded by Ven. Bhante Buddharakkhitta Thero, an African monk, this is the only Buddhist centre in the country. (Visit www.ugandabuddhistcentre.org). There is a small library where several Dhamma books were donated. Every Sunday, many visitors enjoy their quiet time in meditation and reading variety of Dhamma books from many corners of the world.
The meditation retreat course took place in this Buddhist Centre. There contained a group of young Ugandans under the “Peace Revolution” jacket, a group of expatriates, a couple of Sri Lankan businessmen and a teaching monk, Ven. Somsak, from the Johannesburg Meditation Centre under the “Peace for Africa” umbrella. Here the retreat took place in this rural setting of Entebbe.
Peace belongs to all beings. As one practices meditation, the mind comes back home to the centre of the body. The tiny spot of peace inside will deliver such volume of peace into the mind. Many participants experience a still mind and some felt the expansion and some even made a journey along the middle path at the centre of the body.
Posted by webmaster on September 27th, 2009
Nanhua Temple is a branch of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple in Taiwan. It is situated in Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa.
Nanhua Temple and the Johannesburg Meditation Centre (Wat Buddha Johannesburg) made courtesy visits to each other in 2008.
The Festival of Light & Peace is Nanhua Temple’s annual famous festival. All representatives from all religions are invited to express their view in light of their respective teachings towards peace.
The teaching monk from Johannesburg Meditation Centre had a chance to give meditation guidance for the audience to create inner peace. After individuals gain inner peace inside themselves, then outer peace becomes possible.
Nanhua’s headquarters in Taiwan and JMC’s headquarters in Thailand have been “brother temples” since 1994.
Visit: www.nanhua.co.za
Posted by admin on February 14th, 2009
The Valentine’s Day is the day of giving love. But the Valentine’s of 2009 in South Africa would be different because it is projected as the Day of Universal Love.
Universal Love is the pure love for humankind, one-way as it signifies, unconditional. The Johannesburg Meditation Centre, located in the Cradle of Humankind, is proposing the Valentine’s as for the Universal Love as part of their Peace for Africa movement initiated and supported by Abbot Dhammajayo of Dhammakaya Foundation, Thailand. He has been teaching inner peace through meditation for over 40 years as he believes world peace is possible through the inner peace of all individuals.
The Buddhist monks take the role of peace. Morning alms-round as early as dawn is the symbol of giving. Laypeople get up to start their perpetual givings. This tradition of giving has been continual every a single day for as far as 2,500 years! This is the world’s classical model of giving, and they do so with respect. South Africans will witness a parade of some 20 Buddhist monks from Thailand walking in their neat and peaceful alms-round. This is the culture of peace — giving. The Johannesburg Meditation Centre is preparing their landscape with thousands of sunflowers. Sunflowers represent nothing else but sunshine.
The official logo is of a sunflower, the centre of which imprints the map of Africa. Through the radiation of the inner light from Africa, the world will share the peace from Africa through the petals of shining sunflower. On top is the theme of the Valentine’s: Universal Love. The underlying hand mudra is the endorsement of Inner Peace and the Universal Love by means of the Meditation. Simple enough.
The day is celebrated by giving and charity. Don’t expect a plain charity day like ever. The Meditation Centre gives with style. They make a prominent difference. Besides food bags and the like, they share the inner peace with all participants through the joyous moment of meditation. Join the Peace for Africa movement at the Meditation Centre in the Cradle of Humankind. Bring back the old days to see humankind give more than take. Witness the 2,500-year-old graceful way of giving and the culture of peace. Africa shares the Universal Love to the world. From 2009 onwards, the Valentine’s will never be the same.
Valentine’s Day: Photo & Media Gallery
The Johannesburg Meditation Centre put the Valentine’s Day as the Day of Universal Love. Over 400 participants embraced their beautiful hearts with the inner peace through the practice of meditation guided by the Buddhist monk. Amazed by the 3-metre tall sunflowers in the heart shape, attendants started their alms offering in a traditional 2,600-year-old way of giving. The charity was given to:
1. The Malawian Community of Broederstroom
2. The Jabulani New Life Ministry
3. The Oasis Haven of Love Foundation
We appreciated the philanthropic donations from the following organizations:
1. The Thai Community
2. The Sri Lankan Community
3. The Touch of Asia
4. Tiger Rice
5. Dhammakaya Foundation, Thailand
