About Lotus Speech Australia (Vic) Inc.
In 2006, Lotus Speech Australia (Vic) Inc was incorporated in the state of Victoria as a not for profit organisation (No. A0049300H), ABN 77 121 520 615.
Lotus Speech Australia is the Australian national chapter of Lotus Speech International, an organisation set up by Ven Changling Tulku Rinpoche, with chapters in Canada and the USA.
Lotus Speech Australia (Vic) Inc. is run on a volunteer basis and doesn't not employ any staff.
Membership
Annual Membership of Lotus Speech Australia (Vic) Inc. helps support the running costs of the organisation. In return members receive 20% discount to Lotus Speech Australia (Vic) Inc teachings and events. Please note that this applies only to activities within Victoria, and there is no discount for concession membership, as that is already full discounted. Download a membership form here (PDF 103KB)
Preamble
Lotus Speech Australia (Vic) is a Buddhist organisation following the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, which has an unbroken lineage of sutrayana and mantrayana teachings tracing back to the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. Nyingma literally means "Ancient Ones", being the first of the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism arising from the teachings and transmissions Padmasambhava, known as the Second Buddha, established in Tibet.
Under the direction of Padmasambhava, Tibetan and Indian scholars practiced and translated most of the then known Indian Buddhist teachings into Tibetan, thus establishing Buddhism in Tibet.
Padmasambhava's transmission of Buddhist teachings and practices also exist in the treasure tradition of the Nyingma, which is also found in Indian Buddhism. In the treasure tradition the short lineage of the transmission of teachings is drawn through the incarnation of one of Padmasambhava's dharma heirs through the discovery of those teachings and transmission within the mind stream of the incarnation or discovering the treasure hidden in the compound elements. The treasure teachings play a significant role in the Nyingma tradition.
The Nyingma School classifies all Buddhist teachings into nine categories or vehicles. Each category is a complete path or vehicle, having its own foundation, path and fruition within. Alternatively, each category can be viewed as a step along a continuum towards the highest perfection possible for human beings, according to Tibetan Buddhism.
The Nyingma School teachings continue to this day to be transmitted from generation to generation in two ways: by oral transmission from master to student (creating an unbroken chain of individuals over a long period of time) and by transmission of the treasure teachings. The oral and treasure teachings have been preserved by the six major monasteries of the Nyingma School.
Lotus Speech Australia (Vic) Inc, as such, endorses the beliefs and ethical values that are propounded by the Nyingma Buddhist tradition and is subject to the authority of the Venerable Changling Tulku Rinpoche, Ngawang Lekshey Gyaltso Tulku. At the same time, it has a non-sectarian approach and encourages all forms of genuine Buddhist practice addressing the diversity of needs of various people.
Aims
- To develop the practice of the Nyingma tradition - particularly the teachings of His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, the Shechen tradition, and the Northern Treasures tradition (also known as Changter or Jangter) of the Nyingma tradition in Australia through providing opportunities for teachings, study, meditation, translation, publication, and any other activity that fosters support for accessibility and presence of Buddhist teachings and practice for those who are interested in these spiritual lineages, traditions and cultures.
- To provide places of learning and practice, a focus and information network for students of, and those interested in, the Nyingma School of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, subject to the advices and directions of Changling Rinpoche and his representatives.
- To bring Buddhist teachers to Australia and make available both teachings and residential facilities so as to provide them with teaching and translation opportunities.
- To organise and conduct classes, courses, practice sessions, retreats, discussions, etc. on Buddhist teachings, culture and language to support the understanding of the Buddhist viewpoint.
- To liaise with similar organisations in Australia and worldwide for the purpose of achieving the purposes as set out above.
- To receive donations, bequests, trusts, funds and properties and to hold, invest and administer and distribute or re-distribute such funds and properties for the purposes of Lotus Speech Australia (Vic) and other such purposes to support the aims above.