| ~1975 | I did the Transcendental Meditation course in Sydney. In the Buddhist system, this is called "samatha/shamata" or a calm form of meditation. |
| ~1980+ | I studied Yoga, Judo [with Zen meditation at the end of class] and Tai Chi. These are also "samatha/shamata" or calm forms of meditation according to the Buddhist system. | 19861102 | Took ordination at Wat Thai Nakorn Melborne, Victoria Australia, as a Thai Theravadin Buddhist Monk, Dhammaanusara.no Bhikkhu, Sara.no Bhikkhu for short. As far as I can determine, this was the first full ordination of a Buddhist monk in the state of Victoria and Australia. This was confirmed in 2009 by Ven Pannyavaro of Buddhanet.net, as the first Theravada ordination in Australia. Until then Ven Pannyavaro thought the temporary ordinations in Canberra in 1989 were the first.
During this time I did the Sammaa-arahang samatha practice with a monk who had studied in Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, Bangkok. This is also considered a samatha practice. Wat Dhammakay teachers were students from this temple. |
| Early 1987 | Moved to Brisbane to help establish and develop Wat Thai Buddharam. Led meditation at the local prison and assisted prisoners in the study of the Buddha's teaching. Invited to speak at various High Schools. |
| ~1988 | Short retreat at Bodhiyana Monastery in Serpentine WA with Sumedho Bhikkhu and Jagaro Bhikkhu [the former abbot, now disrobed]. The ABC filmed a documentary during the retreat. |
| 1988 | Buddhist Pilgrimage in Northern India. |
| 1988-1991 | Went to Thailand, Myanmar [Burma] and Sri Lanka for 3 years of intensive Mahasi Vipassana meditation. |
| 1990 | Intensive Mahasi Vipassana meditation retreat with U Pandita in Penang. Shared a room with Ven Bodhidhamma of the Satipanya Buddhist Retreat Centre. |
| 1993 | Met Buddhadaasa Bhikkhu in the south of Thailand and His Holiness the Daila Lama in Brisbane. |
| 19930323 | Disrobed in Brisbane. |
| 1993-1999 | Did various studies at tertiary level and gave public talks to from 1 to 200 people. Also wrote articles on the Buddha's teaching for various magazines. |
| 2000-2004 | Completed a Bachelor of Arts [see details of my studies via this link] with The University of Queensland, majoring in Chinese and Studies in Religion focussing on Buddhism, including Pali, Buddhist Chinese and Sanskrit language studies, Linguistics and Psychology of Religion. |
| 2004 | Stayed two months with the Most Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh in Plum Village, Bordeau, France, including New Years Day 2005. Then went to La Borrie Noble a Gandhian intentional community in the mountains in the south of France for two weeks. |
| 200502 | Published "The Gift of the Buddha - A Happy Life" with an excellent foreword from the Dalai Lama. See this page. |
| 20080712 | Took ordination in Thailand as the Thai Theravadin Buddhist Monk, Dhammadaasa Bhikkhu. See my diary/news. |
| 200808 | Guest lecturer at Mahachulalongkorn University, Kanchanaburi Campus. These are the notes I prepared, short notice, for these lectures in English, with only the internet and personal experience as a resource:
Buddhadhamma Buddhism in Asia History of Buddhism |
| 20081015 | Nine-day meditation retreat at Wat Bhaddanta Asabharam, between the end of the monk's Rains Retreat and the Kathina Ceremony at Wat Tai [25th of October]. Visited the Three Pagoda Pass. |
| 200911+ | Lessons in Thai Language. Visited Wat Umong [Tunnel Temple] in Chiang Mai. English proof reader for Tan Chao Khun Sithawatchmethi Dhammadhajo, Principal of Wat Ratchaburana School and Director of International Master of Arts Program, Mahachulalongkorn University. Some proof-read items are:
- The Rector's opening speech for the conference "Buddhism in the Age of Consumerism" on 1 December, 2008 at Mahidol University, Phuttamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. |
| 20100129 | 5 week Mahasi Vipassana meditation retreat at Soonpatipattam Tammoli, Nakorn Ratchasima [Korat]. |
| 20100401 | Entered the International Master of Arts Program [IMAP] at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya [MCU]. |
| 20100627 | Entered the Rains at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen Bangkok. |
Back to: The Gift of the Buddha - A Happy Life.