Edit AU Buddhist Organizations Input: Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara & Buddhist Vihara Victora

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==[[Sakyamuni]] Sambuddha [[Vihara]] & [[Buddhist]] [[Vihara]] Victora== [[File:Shakyamuni-temple-01.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The Temple]] [[Shakyamuni]] Sambuddha [[Vihara]] was first established in 2002. [[Venerable]] Soma Thero's notion [[aspiration]] was, that one day the [[Vihara]] should become a center for [[Buddhist Education]], Research, [[Information]] & {{Wiki|Culture}}. It was his [[vision]] that this would not just be a [[temple]] for [[Sri Lankan]] [[Buddhists]] but, be a central point for all who wished to learn more about teachings of the [[Lord Buddha]]. Today, the [[Vihara]] is equipped with an international library containing a wide range of [[books]] about [[Buddhist philosophy]], {{Wiki|culture}} and other [[religions]]. [[Shakyamuni]] Sambuddha [[Vihara]] is also affiliated with to the [[Buddhist University]] of [[Sri Lanka]]. ==The [[Temple]]== In 2002, when the [[temple]] was first established, there was one building that was the [[monks]]' residence which was used for all [[activities]] such as daily {{Wiki|worship}}, special {{Wiki|festivals}} & the [[Sunday]] School. The Chief Sanganayake of the Amarapura [[Shri]] [[Dharma]] Rakshitha [[Chapter]] in [[Australia]] the most [[Venerable]] {{Wiki|Royal}} Pandith Digamadulle Wimalananda [[Thero]] is the chief incumbent of the [[Shakyamuni]] Sambuddha [[Vihara]]. It was the chief incumbent most [[Venerable]] Wimalananda Thero's [[humble]] [[determination]] to one day bring [[Venerable]] Soma Thero's [[vision]] to [[reality]]. Today, under many financial constraints, our Most [[Venerable]] Wimalananda [[Thero]] has succeeded in achieving his [[dream]] pious [[aspiration]] with the construction of a Dharmashalawa, [[Stupa]] and many other facilities in [[Shakyamuni]] Sambuddha [[Vihara]]. ==Soma [[Thero]]== [[File:Somathero.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Soma Thero]] [[Venerable]] Gangodawila [[Soma Thera]] was born in Gangodawila, a semi-urban locality in the outskirts of the {{Wiki|capital city}} of {{Wiki|Colombo}}. [[Soma Thera]] was [[ordained]] as {{Wiki|novice}} in 1974 when he was 26 years of age under the tutelage of two of the most revered [[monks]] in [[Sri Lanka]] – Most [[Reverend]] [[Venerable]] Madihe Pannasiha [[Maha]] Nayake [[Thera]] and [[Venerable]] Ampitiye [[Rahula]] [[Maha Thera]]. He received {{Wiki|training}} at the [[Bhikkhu]] Training Centre, Maharagama – an institution established by the [[monks]] mentioned above. Having obtained his [[higher ordination]] in 1976, [[Soma Thera]] continued to study the [[Buddhist texts]] in [[Pali]], their original [[language]], according to [[Theravada tradition]]. He was particularly [[interested]] in doing research into the [[teachings of the Buddha]] and has written several [[books]] on the [[subject]]. He saw his [[mission]] to mould the younger generation to live according to the [[Dhamma]]. He rallied round him a youth organisation called Tharunu Saviya ("Strength of the Youth"). A keen [[student]] of [[meditation]], he took time off to be in [[solitude]] in distant, lonely locations. His [[interest]] in [[meditating]] on the qualities of the [[Buddha]] made him work on an exhaustive study on the [[subject]]. His published work Buddhastupa is a useful guide to those [[interested]] in such [[meditation]]. Soma [[Thera's]] links with Victoria ([[Australia]]) dates back to 1986, when he was invited by some [[Sri Lankans]] to spend time preaching the [[Dhamma]]. After six months he returned to [[Sri Lanka]]. When he came back in 1989, the groundwork had been done to set up the [[Buddhist]] [[Vihara]] Victoria ([[Shakyamuni]] Sambuddha [[Vihara]]). Prior to being [[ordained]], [[Venerable]] Soma had been engaged in business, but had worked closely with the Siri Vajiragnana Dharmayathanaya as a [[student]] leader and lay preacher. Educated at Isipathana {{Wiki|College}}, {{Wiki|Colombo}}, formerly Greenlands {{Wiki|College}}, [[Venerable]] Soma, in lay [[life]] known as Somaratna played Rugby for the school. [[Venerable]] Soma first visited [[Australia]] in 1986, when he came on an invitation from the [[Buddhist temple]] at Richmond, where he stayed for a period of three months. [[Venerable]] Soma realised that [[Mahayana]] practices had a strong foothold in [[Australia]] and felt that there was a need for a [[Vihara]] where [[Theravada]] practices could be followed correctly. When he returned to [[Australia]] in 1989, [[Venerable]] Soma established the first [[Sinhala]] [[Vihara]] in {{Wiki|Melbourne}}. This was known as the {{Wiki|Melbourne}} [[Sri Lankan]] [[Buddhist]] [[Vihara]] and was situated at Regent Street in Springvale. In 1993, he moved away from the {{Wiki|Melbourne}} [[Sri Lankan]] [[Buddhist]] [[Vihara]] and established [[Buddhist]] [[Vihara]] Victoria at 21 Rich Street, [[Noble]] Park. Later, this [[Vihara]] was moved to Berwick and is called the [[Sakyamuni]] Sambuddha [[Vihara]]. It was established with the [[intention]] of becoming a [[Buddhist Education]], Research and [[Information]] Centre for [[scholars]] of the [[Dhamma]] and to cater to all those who were [[interested]] in the study and practice of the [[Dhamma]]. In 1996 he returned to [[Sri Lanka]] after seven years in [[Australia]]. This was intended to be a short stay to revitalise his [[spiritual]] [[development]] and to be at the side of his father who had [[suffered]] a stroke. The stay was extended as his father became more gravely ill and his presence was required to {{Wiki|comfort}} his mother who was also ailing. When [[Venerable]] Soma returned to [[Australia]] for a short visit, he launched a campaign to raise funds to reconstruct several tanks in these areas so that the villagers could engage in their [[traditional]] {{Wiki|occupation}} of {{Wiki|agriculture}} and be assured that they would not want for [[food]]. To support and sustain the villagers, he organised the local [[Buddhist monks]] at the village [[Viharas]] to move more closely with the [[people]] and help them in various ways. On his return to [[Sri Lanka]] he was also appalled to note that alcoholism was rife in the country. He immediately began a campaign to open the [[eyes]] of the {{Wiki|nation}}, especially the younger generation to the depravities of drink. He also helped in the establishment of the [[Sinhala]] School at Brunswick, which today boasts nearly 200 students. [[Venerable]] Gangodawila [[Soma Thera]] of the Vajiraramaya Maharagama [[died]] in {{Wiki|St. Petersburg}}, [[Russia]] on 12 December 2003 in his 56th year. He was in [[Russia]] to accept an {{Wiki|honorary}} {{Wiki|doctorate}} conferred by the {{Wiki|Russian}} Government. He was rushed to a hospital in {{Wiki|St Petersburg}} after a [[heart]] attack. He underwent two emergency operations. ==Our Daham Pasala== [[File:Shakyamuni-kids-01.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Our Daham Pasala]] Today, there are over 300 children attending [[Shakyamuni]] Sambuddha [[Vihara]] [[language]] & {{Wiki|cultural}} school which originated in [[Noble]] Park Victoria. The school accommodate children from Prep to level 8. Currently, the children who are in levels 9 & 10 are also included in level 8. As our {{Wiki|cultural}} heritage is rooted in [[Buddhism]], most importantly, the children are [[taught]] [[Sinhala]] [[language]] and valuable [[Buddhist]] [[Wikipedia:concept|concepts]] as part of our {{Wiki|culture}}. To accommodate the ever increasing number of children in the school, the building has been recently extended with a large hall. Daham Pasala is an accredited {{Wiki|community}} [[language]] school with the {{Wiki|Community}} [[Languages]] Schools (CLS) Program of the Victorian Government. Below is a glimpse of the various [[activities]] our students took part last year. You can also view the online version of the Katapath Pawura wall magazine which showcases the students creative talents. We expect to use this web [[space]] in {{Wiki|future}} to introduce online services related to [[student]] registration, parent/teacher logins and other {{Wiki|academic}} libraries etc. {{R}} [http://www.vihara.org.au/ Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara & Buddhist Vihara Victora]

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