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Buddha House fete and open day, Magill, South Australia, Australia, January 2021. Photo by Kaya Migalka.
Buddha House, the FPMT center in Magill, South Australia, Australia, held their first free-entry fete and open day on Saturday, January 30, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center. Hundreds of visitors browsed the outdoor stalls, visited the gift shop, saw the holy objects in the gompa, experienced a meditation or short talk by Gen Thubten Dondrub, and enjoyed Malaysian street food in the student lounge. Funds raised will help the Adelaide-area center keep up with ongoing expenses and maintenance needs. Income generation is one of FPMT’s Five Pillars of Service. Carole Migalka, fete coordinator, shares the story.
Inspired by the stories in Big Love: The Life and Teachings of Lama Yeshe of festivals held at Manjushri Institute and Sandhurst Town and Lama Yeshe’s encouragement to bring people together in an informal setting, our center decided to revive the pioneer student’s spirit with a community fete and open day.
Buddha House office volunteer Shez Malone running a craft stall at the Buddha House fete and open day, Magill, South Australia, Australia, January 2021. Photo by Kaya Migalka.
The idea was simple: welcome neighbors, friends, and community members with food, drinks, and market stalls; show them around the center; and let them sample the Buddha House program. “Come and try meditation” sessions were offered, as well as a short Dharma talk, “What does it mean to be a Buddhist?” with FPMT resident teacher Gen Thubten Dondrub*—himself one of the early Western sangha.
When the Facebook event was shared and tagged widely, the committee knew we had generated some interest, but we could not have anticipated the wonderful support received. Well over 500 people visited on a perfect mild, summer day.
Buddha House Dharma Kids Club (DKC) coordinator Sascha Holyoak with DKC member David at a face painting stall at the Buddha House fete and open day, Magill, South Australia, Australia, January 2021. Photo by Kaya Migalka.
Delicious homemade food was offered by the Malaysian community; volunteers baked cakes, potted plants, and donated goods; and then all pitched in on the day of the fete to work on the stalls. The atmosphere was one of joyous effort offered by over thirty volunteers.
The community responded with joy, sharing with us, “I had always wanted to visit, but wasn’t sure when to come;” “I had driven past many times but didn’t know what it was;” and “We had no idea there was such a diverse program.”
The primary motivation for the day was to bring people to the Dharma, but it also resulted in a successful fundraiser with much-appreciated income going toward maintenance of the beautiful heritage chapel that is home to the Buddha House gompa.
With such a wonderful time had by all, this could become an annual tradition. Who knows we might even bring back Lama Yeshe’s favorite, the gumboot throwing event.
Malaysian food stall volunteer Eunice serving food donated by the Malaysian community at the Buddha House fete and open day, Magill, South Australia, Australia, January 2021. Photo by Kaya Migalka.
* In 2019 Gen Thubten Dondrub requested Buddha House students formally refer to him as “Gen Thubten Dondrub.” He shared, “Usually monks and nuns of the FPMT are referred to as ‘Venerable.’ I have always found this term uncomfortable as it is a very exalted term and is used in the Catholic Church to refer to someone who is in line to be canonized as a saint. When I was in Taiwan I learned that every monk and nun was addressed as ‘Fa Shr’ from the moment they were ordained. The term means ‘Dharma teacher.’ The closest Tibetan equivalent is ‘ge.gen,’ often abbreviated to ‘Gen’ or ‘Gen-la.’ It is polite and friendly. So when people ask how to address me, I suggest using that term. It seems much more appropriate than ‘Venerable.'”
For more information about Buddha House, visit their website:
http://buddhahouse.org
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