The Buddhist Federation of Australia would like to express its sincere concern for the impact that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having on the lives of people in Australia and around the world. We understand the levels of concern in the community caused by the health risks from the virus as well as the socio-economic crisis brought on by the significant reduction in employment and general social and commercial activities. We especially appreciate the dedication and professionalism of healthcare workers who put their lives at risk on the frontline in dealing with this crisis and we support the efforts and measures put in place by the government at this difficult and challenging time.

Most Venerable Thích Quảng Độ was born with the name Đặng Phúc Tuệ in the Thai Binh province of northern Vietnam on 27 November 1928. Both his parents were farmers and devout Buddhists.Together, they had 4 boys and the Most Venerablewas the youngest of the siblings. Most VenerableThich Quang Dobecame ordained as amonk at the age of 14 with his master The Most Venerable ThíchĐứcHải at Linh Quang temple.In the early 1950s, he was nominated by the newly formed General Association of Vietnamese Buddhism to study in Sri Lanka and India to further his Buddhist training along with a number of his fellow Buddhist scholars.

This is the second time I attended the retreat with my partner Thank Kim and in both occasions we gained a great deal of practical benefits for our daily lives. I learnt a lot about the dharma and saw the immense sacrifices and dedication by so many people behind the scenes to make the event a success. I learnt that the retreat isn’t just for elderly people, but for people of all ages. The purpose is to help everyone to learn and practice the dharma at the retreat and beyond to help them realise their true nature, to live a happier life and to bring happiness to all sentient beings.