Workaway at Kadampa Buddhist Centre
After being so spoilt by having the most wonderful workaway experience at Swan Cove – Raymond Island it was time for something new. Heavy-hearted I said “Goodbye” to Dave who dropped me off at the Bairnsdale train station so I could catch a train to my next destination: Belgrave Station, and finally the Kadampa Buddhist Centre, situated in Monbulk in the Dandenong Ranges. https://www.meditateinmelbourne.org
Public transport is still free till the end of this month – which feels like luxury to me! Unfortunately, there was some disruptions due to improvement work on the Belgrave – Melbourne line, so I had to switch from train to the bus and back to train services again. I missed my pick-up in Belgrave, but the lovely people at the Kadampa Buddhist Centre kindly offered to pick me up from the nearby bus station instead.
I soon met my fellow Workawayers – Meg and Eva – a lovely couple from California and Boston who had just arrived as well, along with Yun from Taiwan and Jacob from the UK who were already been volunteering for a week. During my last week Lucy from Brasil would join us. The setting and the view were stunning, the temple very different from what I am used too, and the dorm spacious, clean and warm.
Volunteering
Our chores at the Kadampa Buddhist Centre varied depending on the weather conditions, but there was also a certain routine. Mondays and Fridays were “cleaning days”. We were resposible for cleaning the public areas such as the dining and lounge room, the bathrooms, the kitchen area and sometimes the dorms. There was also washing and laundry, refilling soap dispencers and topping up supplies. Another task was cooking and helping in the kitchen.
There was a lot of “outdoor” work for us to do. We spent hours weeding and raking, and although I love gardening and being outdoors, six hours in a row definitely felt hard on the body by the end of the day. The property consists of approx. 10 hectares of lush forest, colourful gardens and serene spaces for meditation. On my last day we were setting up nine tents for an upcoming silent retreat.
Meditations and Prayers
As volunteers we were welcomed to attend to some of the meditation or prayer sessions. During an evening lecture given by resident teacher Gen Kelsang Rabten, I learned more about different forms of Love, such as “Affectionate” Love, “Cherishing” Love and “Wishing” Love. It was an interesting session with a witty touch of typical “English Humour”.
I also joined several Prayer-sessions including “The Jewel of the Heart”, learned the “Liberation Prayer” and read sections from books written by their master Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. I discovered that Kadampa is a modern Buddhist meditation practice developed for contemporary society.
We were also invited to participate in a Meditation Workshop “Gratitude & Contentment in Daily Life” by Kate Mathews at a recently opened meditation centre in Brunswick, Melbourne. It was interesting to learn new meditations – or perhaps mindfulness – practices, some of which felt surprisingly familiar.
Olinda
On our day off – it was a very rainy one – Kate offered to take us to Olinda, one of the villages in the Mt. Dandenong area. Jacob decided to stay in, whereas Meg, Eva, and I agreed to go and explore this quaint little town. It turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to stroll through the cute little handicraft shops, most of them designed for tourists. Each of us found a lovely treasure to take home.
Ranges at Olinda
After our shopping trip, we fancied a tasty cup of coffee in café Ranges. An entertaining waiter convinced us to treat ourselves to a volcano chocolate cake to share. I ordered a cappuccino, while Meg and Eva shared a milkshake. To our surprise, we were also offered one free café latte as someones order had gone wrong. How lucky we were!
Back at the Kadampa Buddist centre we spent the afternoon in the dining room, playing games, chatting, writing in our diaries and working on scrapbooks. Rainy afternoons are great, when shared in the company of lovely people!
Expectations vs. Experiences
Expectations
Before my arrival, I had certain ideas about what it would be to stay at a Buddhist centre. I expected to gain deeper insight into Buddhism, share meals while discussing meaningful topics, and take part in routines such as morning and evening prayers.
I didn’t quite find what I had expected. The residents of the centre were all friendly and kind, but I missed the strong sense of “community” I had experienced in my other Workaway place, Swan Cove. There was less interaction than I had hoped for.
Experiences
It’s interesting to reflect on your own expectations. I shared my thoughts with my fellow workawayers, and most uf us felt alike. Together we created our own “reflection sessions” and moments of “community” over a cuppa or while sharing dinner in the dining room.
It was wonderful to realise how people can create certain experiences simply because they DESIRE them. Expectations can slowly tranform into real experiences. I am grateful to have met such beautiful people once again.
This time, Kindness was connected to a more conscious and spiritual level.
