His Holiness' Visit to Melbourne - June 1997

We began His Holiness' visit to Melbourne with a visit to the new Kagyu retreat centre in country Healesville. About 60 enthusiastic Buddhists lined the road up the mountain holding flowers and incense and bowing low. Traleg Rinpoche was extremely pleased to have this auspicious visit and after a blessing ceremony, a short teaching and lunch, we went on to our next appointment. This was with the platypus, koalas, kangaroos and wombats of Healesville sanctuary. All the entourage had an amusing time, posing for photos with wallabies, handling pythons and being chased by an emu on heat, and some miraculous power kept the rain at bay until we left.

Then it was on to the public talk at the Camberwell Civic Centre. About 500 people filled the auditorium while His Holiness gave a succinct speech on 'The Buddhist Path to Freedom'. The next day, Saturday, was the big day of the visit, with 250 people attending the initiations of Manjushri and Medicine Buddha. I can say that I have attended many teachings and initiations in this lifetime, but possibly never before were any given so clearly and comprehensively. His Holiness was incredibly inspiring, the feeling of the initiations was, as a friend said, 'like having rockets in your brain'. We were given clear instructions about how to do the mudras and the sadhana practice. No excuses can now be given for not practising - the right teacher was present and the right practice and the right explanation have all been given.

My fortunate position was one of organiser, which allowed a lot of contact. While I have met His Holiness periodically since 1986, never before had I fully appreciated his great qualities. More interestingly, even people who saw him for the first time - and there were many in Melbourne - were equally amazed and inspired.

On Saturday night we went to the Vietnamese Quang Minh temple where His Holiness gave the initiation of 21 Taras. The Vietnamese hosts had explained earlier that they were Mahayanists, not tantrists, and did not know what an initiation was. However, they were enthusiastic about receiving it and immediately demonstrated great faith.

On Sunday we moved to a smaller venue at the Richmond Town Hall - a beautifully restored art deco room. About 100 people heard the teaching on the Lam Dre lineage masters, and a very summarised version of the Triple Vision. At the end of the day 25 people took refuge, received a new name and a small piece of hair was cut. There were approximately twice as many women as men taking refuge. His Holiness looked at the list and, noticing that there were more women than men asked me this question. "You know the (text) 37 Practices of the Bodhisattvas?" "Yes". "Well, that talks about sons of the Buddha, doesn't it. Why do you think they do that?" "Cultural convention." "That is a mistranslation. It should be children of the Buddha." I am sure all who attended felt indeed that they were the children of the Buddha.

(The Melbourne Visit Committee members were Kim Green, Riz Zyznikow, Di Cousens, Zarna Somaia, Lyn Lehman and Michael and Dorothy Welton)