Buddha-Heart Fellowship conducts meditation, compassion and healing every Sunday at 1:00pm at Zen House Studio, 100 Main Road, Penguin.
Beginnings
This north west Tasmania based Buddhist group has existed in some form or another since 2006. Initially it was made up of mostly Vajrayana practitioners, who would meet either in Devonport, or at the Penguin home of Sangye Dorje, a former Rabjung Monk of the Rechung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
By 2009, the group was meeting exclusively in Penguin, and under the guidance of Sangye Dorje it developed a more inclusive, non-sectarian outlook, exploring the richness of the world of Buddhism.
In 2011, the Buddha-Heart Fellowship was born, the name chosen so as to be a constant reminder of the potential for Awakening to the True Self that is within all sentient beings, and reflecting the inclusive attitude of our members. Buddha-Heart is the Awakened Heart/Mind of Compassion and Wisdom, which is Buddhahood.
Buddha is Name, Name is Buddha, the Awakened Heart our True Home.
Affiliation
2013 saw some major changes. Buddha-Heart Fellowship became affiliated with CloudWater Zendo, the Zen Centre of Cleveland, Ohio, USA; and our Resident Teacher Venerable Sangye Dorje was ordained as a Ch’an (Zen) Monk of the Nien-Fo Ch’an Order by Venerable Shih Ying-Fa, Abbot of CloudWater Zendo. Sangye Dorje was given the Dharma name “Shih Jingang” (meaning Vajra Disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha). Accordingly, the Buddha-Heart Fellowship changed its emphasis to Nien-Fo Ch’an, which are the unified teachings of Ch’an and Pure Land Buddhism. But we remain dedicated to the ideals of non-sectarianism, and also community service.
Since June 2013, Ven. Shih Jingang has been regularly teaching classes, and leading retreats in various places around Tasmania; Sifu is active in Hospital Chaplaincy, Palliative Care, Funeral Officiating, and is regularly asked to give Dharma talks to community groups, and professional bodies. He is also a senior Retained Volunteer Firefighter with the Tasmania Fire Service; a Co-Patron of (BEWES) Buddhists Engaged with Emergency Services; a member of (ASA) Australian Sangha Association; and is a founding member of (BCCT) Buddhist Contemplative Care Tasmania.
