Vimutti Buddhist Monastery

Much has arisen and passed away since our last newsletter, with much coming, going and standing still. Ultimately nothing moved, but there has certainly been a noticeable illusory perception of activity. At the beginning of December we were visited by Ajahn Amaro, co-abbot of Abhayagiri Monastery in California. On sunday 6th December, Ajahn and the Resident Sangha of Vimutti were invited to join the Dalai Lama on stage during the recent teachings in Auckland.

On December 5-7, Vimutti Buddhist Monastery, the Auckland Theravada Buddhist Assoc., The Auckland University Buddhist Society, Richman Wee and the Buddhist Fellowship from Singapore combined their strengths to sponsor the first major Buddhist conference in New Zealand.

Buddhist leaders from 32 nations around the globe joined hands in an extraordinary gathering to lend their support to world peace, participate in a global conference and commemorate the opening of a new Japanese temple complex of gigantic proportions. Ajahn Tiradhammo was joined by Ajahn Chandako and two members of the Wellington Theravada Buddhist Association to represent New Zealand. In this article Ajahn Chandako recollects some of his enduring perceptions of the summit.