PAST EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN 2014

Summer Retreat

UNIBUDS Bi-Annually Retreat

Hello everyone! Summer will be here soon, which means that it is time for SUMMER RETREAT! This is an excellent opportunity for you to experience the monastic way of living as well as to learn a little more about yourself and Buddhism.

There will be a host of Dhamma enriching activities such as: Meditation, Chanting, Dhamma Talks, Dhamma Discussions and many more.... Delicious vegetarian food is provided too!

Places are limited (30 places only!) and are given on a first come first serve basis. However, priority may be given to UNIBUDS members if there are insufficient places.

Secure your place now! Please email your completed registration form to sr.unibuds@gmail.com before Sunday 23th of November. The registration form can be downloaded by clicking here.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any inqiries. We hope you can join us!

	Hwa Tsang Monastery (Homebush, NSW)
	Friday to Sunday, 28th - 30th November 2014
	Weekend Retreat
	Free (Donations are welcomed)
	William Steven Pei En

Feeling, Hearing, Smelling, Knowing, Understanding

UNIBUDS Quaterly Meditation Workshop

This last meditation workshop of the year will be a good opportunity for everyone to take a short break from our busy lives and let our guest teacher, John Barclay, guide us how to still our wandering minds and bring them back to the present moment and back to ourselves through mindfulness meditation in the Zen tradition.

To ensure that we can accommodate all attendees, please kindly RSVP by contacting our Meditation Coordinator. Thank you!

	The Lodge, Level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 1st November 2014
	10.00am - 1.00pm
	Free (Donations are welcomed)
	Pop Chirakijja

Cook of the Year 2014

UNIBUDS Annual Event

We will be having our annual Cook of the Year soon!! I hope everyone is excited, as we've prepared fantastic prizes for all the contestants.

For those who've never attended Cook of the Year before, here is a brief overview about this activity. Participants will be divided into teams, and each team will be preparing various dishes centered around a Dhamma theme of their choice. These dishes will then be judged by our panel of experienced judges who have a thorough understanding of the Dhamma as well as a great taste in food!!

Everyone is welcome to attend this activity, and please do contact us if you're interested.

	The Lodge, Level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 25th October 2014
	9.00am - 17.00pm
	Harry Louis

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

UNIBUDS Annual Event

Another one of UNIBUDS important events is coming up! This event shows the great milestones UNIBUDS has achieved. As we thank our 34th Executive Committee for their hard work and endless commitment to make UNIBUDS a lively society, it is time to pass our torch to the new faces of the 35th Executive Committee. Yes, it is time for the 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

We would like to invite you to this meaningful event and to show us your support to UNIBUDS. By trying to be part of the committee, you can help make UNIBUDS a better society for everyone to come together and learn Dhamma as a family. Everyone is welcome attend the AGM and cheer on those who will be nominated. You being there at the AGM are the greatest support you can give us. So, please come and join us!

There will be a nomination box available outside UNIBUDS Library for you to submit your nomination(s) from 9am - 6pm on weekdays. Please find the attached documents with this email for details of each Executive Committee position and the nomination form. The nomination forms will also be placed next to the nomination box for convenience.

Note:

1. If you wish to run for a key position - President, External Vice President, Internal Vice President, Honorary Secretary, or Honorary Treasurer, you must be an Ordinary member of UNIBUDS.
2. Nomination for key positions will not be accepted after the deadline on Wednesday, 1st October 2014.
3. Ordinary members are current students of UNSW, and are current members of UNIBUDS. 4. Nominations for the other positions are accepted before the AGM or may be called out on the day of the AGM.

	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 4th October 2014
	2.00pm to finish
	Tze Hao Den Neil

AGM Information Session

UNIBUDS Annual Event

If you're interested in being part of the 35th EXCO but are unsure of what the EXCO actually does or are unable to decide which position to run for, don't worry! We will be organizing two information sessions – this coming Saturday, 20th September 2014 (After Meditation Workshop) and the following Friday 26th September 2014 (Before English Dhamma Talk). This is your chance to have a chat with the 34th EXCO in a casual setting to know more about the responsibilities of the EXCO, both portfolio duties and beyond. We are more than happy to share our knowledge and give you encouragement to join the next EXCO team! So don't feel shy to approach us!

UNIBUDS EXCO Portfolio 2014 (Click to Download)

UNIBUDS AGM 2014 Nomination Form (Click to Download)

	Session 1
	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 20th September 2014
	1.00pm - 2.00pm (After Meditation Workshop)
	Tze Hao Den Neil

	Session 2
	To be Advised
	Friday, 26th September 2014
	5.00pm - 6.00pm (Before English Dhamma Talk)
	Tze Hao Den Neil

Bodhi Nite Thank You Dinner

UNIBUDS Activity

Bodhi Nite 2014 has been yet another great success! This wouldn't have been possible without all the amazing contribution from all of you! (Yes, audience included!) So, to thank everyone for their effort and time for Bodhi Nite, we will be having a Bodhi Nite Thank You Dinner on the 27th September.

The night will be filled with food, individual performance and, let's not forget Bodhi Nite 2014 DVD! The Thank You Dinner will be a potluck-style gathering, so feel free to bring a dish or drink to share with friends, or just come with a growling stomach and a wonderful smile! So don't hesitate to come along and join in the fun!

*Please kindly RSVP by Thursday 25th September so that we can cater sufficient food for everyone.

	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 27th September 2014
	6.00pm - 10.00pm
	Your empty stomach! (You are welcomed to bring and share a dish or two)
	Louis

Vipassana Meditation - Looking Inwards

UNIBUDS Quaterly Meditation Workshop
Grahame White

Vipassana means to "see clearly". In this workshop, we will be learning about Vipassana meditation in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition. Through this practice, we will be able to improve our awareness and attention by tuning into the sensations that we feel in our body and the reactions in our mind.

This meditation workshop is great for someone who wishes to deepen their meditation practice or anyone who is new to meditation. The workshop will include an introduction to Vipassana meditation, guided sessions and a Q&A session.

Kindly RSVP so we can confirm the number of attendees and accommodate all. Thank you!

Speaker's Profile:
Grahame has been involved in the Buddhist meditation practice for over 40 years. He began his study in England in 1969 before being ordained as a Buddhist monk for one year in BodhGaya, India in 1971. He took a primary role in the establishment of Vipassana meditation in the tradition of the Mahasi Sayadaw in Australia and co-founded the Blue Mountains Insight Meditation Centre outside Sydney. He also teaches in Illawarra & Sydney areas, Hawaii and in Sri Lanka. He has also helped pioneer a workshop format that enhances the transfer of mindfulness from the formal sitting practice into daily life. Grahame returns to Myanmar (Burma) regularly in order to deepen his own practice and study of the Dhamma. Grahame teaches a classical tradition of insight meditation with a relaxed and accessible style.

	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 20th September 2014
	10.00am - 1.00pm
	Free. Donations are welcomed.
	Emily

Thai Ancestor Day

UNIBUDS Activity

Wat Pa Buddharangsee Buddhist Forest Monastery will be organizing Thai Ancestors Day this coming Sunday, 21st September 2014! So instead of sports, we will be organizing a one day trip to Wat Pa. Thai Ancestors Day, also known as Sart Thai Day, is a day to remember the dead with prayers, rituals and merit making on their behalf. It is a meaningful day to show our gratitude to our ancestors by paying a special respect on the day.

This is a good opportunity to visit one of UNIBUDS' Patron, Venerable Chao Khun Samai at his monastery to help out and to make merits as well. I'm sure Wat Pa would need all the help they can get on the day! There will also be a lot of food stalls on the day, so you can savour your taste buds with great authentic Thai foods… yum yum…

If you are interested to come, please RSVP with me, Tze Hao by this Friday, 19th September 2014 so that I can arrange the necessary transport logistics. The current plan is to take the train from Central so that we would reach Wat Pa by 9am, which means that we need to leave Kingsford by 7am. If you have an Opal card, the cost would only be $2.50 for the whole trip.

	Wat Pa Buddharangsee Buddhist Forest Monastery, Leumeah NSW
	Sunday, 21st September 2014
	Event Time: 9.00am - 1.00pm Please contact organiser for meeting and transport arrangement
	Train Fare from Central to Leumeah - $2.50 with an Opal card
	Tze Hao

Bodhi Nite 2014:
I Grasp, I See, I Let Go
~A Loosened Bind, A Peaceful Mind~

UNIBUDS ANNUAL Event

As we quickly approach the second half of the year, UNIBUDS' spectacular, Bodhi Nite, is near!

Bodhi Nite is UNIBUDS' annual performance night showcasing the sublime teachings of the Buddha through fun and creative means such as stage play, singing and multimedia. This year, Bodhi Nite celebrates UNIBUDS 34th Birthday Anniversary and celebrates who we are as a Buddhist society.

I Grasp, I See, I Let Go

What things do you grasp in your hands? What things do you grasp in your mind? How can we clearly see what they are? How can we clearly see their impact on our minds? What is the Buddhist concept of Letting Go?

This year, UNIBUDS will take you on a journey to explore the theme of Attachment and Letting Go and how it can be used to benefit you and those around you. So, note down the date in your notebooks, diaries, phones and laptops! See you at Bodhi Nite 2014!

Date: 30th August 2014

Time: 6.00pm - 10.00pm
(6.00pm - 7.00pm - dinner served)
(7.00pm - 10.00pm - main event)

Venue: Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW

In order to make Bodhi Nite happen, we need lots of help from everyone. If you would like to be part of the night, make new friends, involve yourself with extracurricular activities or to add colour to your Uni life then feel free to join us on this wonderful journey! There are 12 different departments for you to choose from so you should be able to find one that interests you. We hope to hear from you soon!

Potluck

UNIBUDS Activity

It's that time of year again...time for FOOD!! Yay! Come join us for a night of good company, games and most importantly, delicious (but not always healthy hehe) dishes! Feel free to bring along a dish or some drinks and invite all your friends too. But don't worry if you're too busy to cook, just come along with an empty stomach and enjoy the wonderful food provided by our fellow Unibuddies!

We will be having interactive games to help get you moving and thinking after eating all that food. And there will also be a video showcasing our largest annual event, Bodhi Nite! So if you want to learn more about this special night or just want to enjoy meeting new friends or want to taste the amazing cuisines, then you definitely shouldn't miss this wonderful night!

	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 2nd August 2014
	6.00pm - 10.00pm
	Annabe

Winter Retreat

UNIBUDS Annual Event

Join us in UNIBUDS' Winter Retreat from the 11th Forest Monastery. Come experience an unforgettable experience of a forest monastic life and explore the fresh air and peacefulness away from a busy city!

What will we be doing?

With the guidance of Phra Mana Viriyarampo, the abbot of Sunnataram and the Buddhist Chaplain for the Sydney 2000 Olypmic and Paralympic games, we will be learning meditation, Tai Chi, listening to the Dhamma, and getting involved in a sketch program. If the weather permits, we will also be bushwalking and having a bonfire!

What if I'm not a student, UNIBUDS member or full-on Buddhist?

The retreat - and Sunnataram itself - is about opening the doors of Buddhism for you to explore,freely. All are welcome! However, due to the limited spaces available, UNIBUDS members are prioritised and a first-come-first-serve basis applies. Please register soon so you don't miss out!

As a sign of respect to the Monastery, participants must attend the full retreat for 3 days and 2 nights.

So what are you waiting for? Register yourself as soon as possible as the spot is very limited. Hope to see you there.

For more information on the Monastery, please visit: www.sunnataram.org.

Download the registration form here, complete and email it back to wr.unibuds@gmail.com. Please note that we will send you a confirmation email after your application has been processed.

	Destination: Sunnataram Forest Monastery, Bundanoon
	Weekend, 11th - 13th July 2013
	Complete information will be provided upon registration
	Food and accommodation is generously provided by the Monastery, donations to theMonastery are most welcome. The cost for a one way train ticket is approximately $8.00 (full) or $4.00 (concession).
	William Louis Weiwei

Loving-Kindness (Metta) Meditation

UNIBUDS Quaterly Meditation Workshop
Venerable Neng Rong

Love and smiles are universal symbols recognized all around the world. It represents joy, peace, and care for one another. Not only does it make us feel happy but also appreciated and grateful for all our experiences and friends.

This meditation workshop is great for everyone who just wanna share a little love to everyone around us and beyond. It is the radiation of loving-kindness allowing us to feel relaxed, blissful and happy for ourselves, our friends, our enemies and even those unknown to us.

The workshop will include an introduction to metta meditation, guided sessions and discussions about the meditation and how we can integrate it to our regular practice..

Kindly RSVP so we can confirm the number of attendees and accommodate all. Thank you!

Speaker's Profile:
Venerable Neng Rong has earned her Masters in Educational Administration at UNSW in 1993 and her Masters of Arts (Buddhist Studies) from the Taiwan Chung Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies in 1999. Venerable has done extensive work in teaching of scripture classes for both primary and high school students. She is also involved in teaching Buddhism to university student groups from UNSW, Sydney University, Macquarie University and University of Technology. Venerable helps with providing support, advice, and counseling for the university Buddhist community and any other members of the university community in general. She hopes to promote religious understanding, peace and spirituality on campus. Venerable Neng Rong is the current Buddhist Chaplain at UNSW.

	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 7th June 2014
	10.00am - 1.00pm
	Emily

Potluck

UNIBUDS Activity

What is Potluck?
Potluck is an event where all of us gather under a common reason, FOOD! :D It is also a good chance for us to catch up with each other, share experiences and meet new friends. It will definitely be a night with lots of fun and laughter!

Everyone is welcomed and feel free to share your special delicacies or culinary skills. We will also be having games and a brief presentation on an upcoming major event of UNIBUDS, which is Bodhi Nite.

What is Bodhi Nite?
Bodhi Nite is an annual performance night of UNIBUDS where we will try to portray teachings of the Buddha in a fun and interesting way. We will be having different performance for example singing, acting and dancing. Come along to find out more about this MUST-NOT-MISS event!

With good food, good company, games and the chance to find out more about Bodhi Nite, what else could you ask for? So, save the following date in your calendar and we'll see you all there!

	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 24th May 2014
	6.00pm - 10.00pm
	William Den Neil

Vesak Day Celebration

UNIBUDS Event

Vesak Day commemorates the three most important events in the Buddha's life, namely birth, enlightenment (Nibbana) and final passing (Parinibbana). It is one of the most significant days in Buddhism and is celebrated across the world, which of course means that UNIBUDS will be celebrating this auspicious day as well.

Come and join us in commemorating Vesak Day in the Theravada tradition this year. The session will consist of Theravada chanting, short Dhamma talks by our patrons as well as a Buddha bathing session.

	Room 203, level 2 of Squarehouse
	Sunday, 11th May 2014
	2.30pm - 6.00pm
	Allen Wei Wei

Buddhist Exhibition Thank You Dinner

UNIBUDS Social Activity

Buddhist Exhibition is finally over and it was a very successful event thanks to the helpers as well as the support from all of you guys. We cannot accomplish the exhibition amazingly to this extend without the impressive contribution from all of you guys!

To celebrate achievement and accomplishment of Buddhist Exhibition we will having Buddhist Exhibition Thank You Dinner on this Saturday 26th April from 6pm-9pm. We would like to invite all of you to came cause the Organizing Committee will prepare foods, drinks and refreshments to thank everyone for their continuous support. Also, apart from just having food, we will watch the footages related to Buddhist Exhibition by our videographers and photographers. Feel free to come and enjoy and have fun.

	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 26th April 2014
	6.00pm - 9.00pm
	Edo Allen

Nano-Nibbana

UNIBUDS One-Day Meditation Retreat

Attaining inner peace and tranquility allows oneself to experience physical and mental states of happiness, and keep us smiling. Meditation has been known and proven to aid in such experiences. However, have you ever wondered if there are any molecular transformations to the heart and mind as well? UNIBUDS welcomes you along to the One-day Meditation Retreat, themed Nano-Nibbana. This retreat will be held at Sunnataram Forest Monastery where Phra Mana, the abbott, will share his knowledge and experiences on meditation and its coupling with spiritual molecular transformations. Please read below for more details.

Everyone is welcomed to attend the retreat. Registration is important for this event as there are limited places and to organise transportation for everyone. Priority will be given to UNIBUDS members, if there are insufficient places. So register early to secure a spot! In order to minimize interruptions and gain the most of out this retreat, it is preferred that you stay for the full duration of the retreat.

Click here to download the One-Day Meditation Retreat Registration Form. Please complete it and return to meditation.unibuds@gmail.com by Monday 21st April. Feel free to contact either Emily or Triyana for any queries.

For those who are able to drive to the monastery, please contact Emily or Triyana if you are able to organize a carpool. Thank you!

	Sunnataram Forest Monastery (Bundanoon-NSW)
	Wednesday, 23rd April 2014
	Day Event
	Train Fare from Central to Bundanoon - Single Adult S8.60
	Emily Triyana

BUDDHIST EXHIBITION 2014

UNIBUDS Triennial Event

Buddhist Exhibition is a triennial non-profit event organised by UNIBUDS (The University of New South Wales Buddhist Society). Artworks and artefacts sourced from Buddhist Organisations in the Greater Sydney area will be displayed on the UNSW main campus.

Buddhist Exhibition 2014 - At the Intersection of Culture and Buddhism will take you on a journey of exploration into how different cultures have influenced Buddhism and how Buddhism has impacted particular societies.

This is a great opportunity to experience and understand more about world cultures and Buddhism. Don't miss out on a week of cultural exploration!

We need your help! Click here for information on the different organising-committee-departments where you can volunteer for!

	Gallery 1, The John Niland Scientia Building
	Sunday - Thursday, 13th - 17th April 2014
	10am - 5pm (Sunday to Wednesday) 10am - 3pm (Thursday)
	Kitiphume Louis

Breathing Meditation

UNIBUDS Quaterly Meditation Workshop
Venerable Thubten Chokyi

I'd like to be more patient! I just want everything now. I've tried to meditate, but it's really hard for me to stay still. I'd like to try to force myself to do it, because everybody says how wonderful meditation is for you, but I can't shut my mind up. So patience and learning is the key.

- Ellen DeGeneres -

Breathing in... Breathing out... Breathing in... Breathing out...

This simple action can bring us so many benefits and can be done just about anywhere. It allows us to develop serenity and stillness of the mind, and keep us on track with our daily activities. But how should we start meditation? Why is such a simple action so effective? What are the benefits of it?

This first workshop of the year is great for beginners and those who wish to integrate meditation into their daily practice. It will include an introduction to breathing meditation, guided sessions and discussions about meditation. The teacher for this workshop is an inspiring and encouraging example of how meditation has shaped one's lifestyle.

Kindly RSVP so we can confirm the number of attendees and accommodate all. Thank you!

Speaker's Profile:
Venerable Thubten Chokyi is a Tibetan Buddhist nun in the Gelugpa tradition and Spiritual Program Coordinator at the Vajrayana Institute (remove space) where she teaches introductory Buddhism courses and leads meditation classes. She is the Director of the Liberation Prison Project and a member of the Women's Interfaith Network.

	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 5th April 2014
	10.00am - 1.00pm
	Emily

Potluck

UNIBUDS Activity

There will be drinks and of course FOOD! So, if you interested in cooking, you can always try to exhibit your skill by bringing your own masterpiece food. Come with a dish or with an empty stomach are both fine! The night will be filled with not only food but also game of trivia! We will also be introducing to you our HUGE event, and by the end of the night you would be jumping up and down ready to sign up to be a part of something very special: Buddhist Exhibition!

	The Lodge, level 3 of Squarehouse
	Saturday, 22nd March 2014
	6.00pm - 9.00pm
	Wei Wei Louis

O-PICNIC

UNIBUDS Annual Activity

We hope you've had a good first week of Uni! To wrap up the week, we'd like to invite you to our first activity of the year, O-Picnic!

We'll be going to Coogee Beach where there'll be fun games and activities in store for you. You'll also have plenty of time to meet with fellow Unibuddies, make new friends and catch up with old ones. And of course you'll be able to enjoy plenty of free food!

Register now for a great beach picnic with great people!

We look forward to seeing you there

	Coogee Beach (BBQ pit opposite McDonalds) **
	Saturday, 8th March 2014
	10.00am - 2.00pm
	Just your busfare! Food & entertainment are provided!
	Allen Boon Jiun

If you are unsure of how to get to Coogee Beach, we'll have "Picnic Rangers" to lead you there by bus from uni on the day:

	Squarehouse (E4), Ground floor
	9.00am sharp!
	Emily

If you wish to go by yourself, we will see you at Coogee Beach!

As food will be provided, all you need to bring is some sun screen, shades, sunglasses, some money for busfare and of course yourself!

In order for us to better cater to everyone's needs, please register with the organisers your name, contact number, email address and whether you'll make your own way there or meet at Uni to get there.

2014 Session 1 - Week 1 Stall

UNIBUDS Bi-Annual Stall

Hello Unibuddies! Are you missing UNIBUDS activities yet?

Worry not, UNIBUDS has already prepared for you a line of activities and events throughout the year. So let us start by having an orientation stall during O-Week and Week 1!

If you want to join/renew your membership, or simply catch up with us, feel free to drop by our stall! If you have a bit of extra time on your hands, please feel free to join us in manning the stall. It will be a great opportunity to meet lots of different people! We would also greatly appreciate the extra help!

Where to find us in O-Week?

Please contact the people below to express your interest in helping. Thank you everyone! And I look forward to seeing you soon!

	O-Week: Mid Walkway corner of Webster Building on path leading towards Quad Week 1: Outside Main Library
	O-Week: Monday - Friday, 24th - 28th February 2014 Week 1: Monday - Friday, 3rd - 7th March
	9.00am - 4.00pm daily
	Annabel Nee Shuang William