Australia grants land to build a Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Canberra which will be the first in the Australian city Canberra. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government has granted a block of land in the city for Stupa Temple of Peace (STOP) and the initiating ground breaking ceremony was carried out yesterday to start its construction works.
“In June 2017 the ACT Government granted the Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra a direct land grant of a block in Kambah, adjacent to the Sri Lankan and Laotian Buddhist temples.” said the news report in The Canberra Times. This is the first Tibetan Buddhist Temple to receive a grant of land in recognition of its valid contribution to the Australian society.
In front of a colourful Tibetan tent, the Society hosted the ground breaking ceremony for the project at 10.00am on Wednesday in Canberra. At the soil turning ceremony, the Hon. ACT Chief Minister, Mr. Andrew Barr spoke on the role of the centre and acknowledged the centre’s valid contribution to Australian Society. Along with various dignitaries, Buddhist monks, Lamas, leaders of Religious and Tibetan community and members of the Society, the Dalai Lama’s Representative, Mr. Lhakpa Tsoko, offered traditional scarf (khata) to the Chief Minister on behalf of all present. After the ceremony, the crowd of 120 were served traditional sweet rice and cookies. It was then followed by an elaborate traditional Fire Ritual performed by Tibetan lamas and Buddhist monks of various traditions to bless and tame the land.
“A ceremony was held on Wednesday at the temple’s future site at Kambah which was officiated by Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra leader Lama Choedak Rinpoche and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.” the report said in the beginning.
Lama Choedak Rinpoche and Sakya Losal Choe Dzong’s Tibetan Buddhist Society says that the construction of a temple is a rare occurrence and is said to bring special blessings to all connected with it. The Canberra community and beyond will benefit from the spread of the universal Buddhist message of respect, kindness, generosity and social harmony.
The Tibetan Buddhist Temple is scheduled to open in November 2018 at a cost of $2.9 million and fundraising efforts have already begun. Being part of a Buddhist temple project is very meritorious and it can only come to fruition with your involvement. We respectively ask for your generosity and contribution in this unique undertaking.
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