15/11/2025: The Inaugural ceremony of the newly established Bangladesh Bodhi Vihara

THE INAUGURAL AND SANCTIFICATION CEREMONY
BODHI MEDITATION CENTRE AND VIHARA

In a solemn and joyful atmosphere, on Saturday morning, 15 November 2025, the Sangha and more than 100 Buddhist devotees of Bangladeshi origin, together with members of other ethnic communities, gathered at the Bodhi Meditation Centre and Vihara, located at 720 Cardinia Rd, Cardinia, approximately 55 km southeast of Melbourne CBD, to attend the Inaugural and Sanctification Ceremony of the first Bangladeshi Buddhist temple in Victoria.

At exactly 10:30 am, the ceremonial procession to welcome the Sangha into the Buddha Hall was conducted with great reverence. Venerable Adishila, the Abbot of the Bangladesh Temple, on behalf of the temple, respectfully delivered his opening address and introduced the presence of 27 Sangha members representing various Buddhist traditions and countries: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar, Tibet, and Vietnam. In his heartfelt speech, he shared: “I am deeply joyful to witness the opening of the very first Bangladeshi temple here in Victoria, and to have the rare fortune to invite the Buddha’s sacred image to be enshrined today. The presence of such a large gathering of Sangha from the three major Buddhist traditions: Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna, reminds me of the Tathāgata’s holy site in Bodh Gaya, India, where I lived and studied for ten years before coming to Australia. On behalf of the Bangladeshi Buddhist community, I sincerely express my gratitude to all the Venerable Monks and Nuns who have travelled long distances to be here for this auspicious ceremony.”

Following his address, the Theravāda Sangha chanted the Mangala Sutta and conferred the Five Precepts upon the lay devotees, while the Mahāyāna Sangha chanted the Prajñāpāramitā Heart Sutra and dedicated the merit.

The ceremony continued with the Sanghika Dāna to the community of monks and nuns. After the midday meal, the gathering proceeded to the Bodhi Tree Planting Ceremony in front of the temple, a symbol of the enduring presence of the Buddha’s teachings. The Sangha and lay community then took commemorative photographs in a joyful and harmonious spirit.

During the formal greetings, the Senior Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang, Abbot of Quang Duc Monastery in Fawkner, on behalf of the Vietnamese Sangha, offered his congratulations and praise to Venerable Adishila: “Venerable Adishila arrived in Australia ten years ago. During his early years in Sydney, his monastic life and Dharma work were extremely difficult, many hardships, nights without shelter.  Yet, despite all adversity, he remained steadfast in his aspiration toward the Dhamma. Today marks a sacred milestone. With the unity and devotion of the Bangladeshi Buddhist community in Victoria, the Bodhi Temple has been established as a dignified monastic residence, an environment where Venerable Adishila can continue his Dharma mission. This new temple stands as a testament to the faith, perseverance, and collective merit of the entire community.”

To conclude, Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan, Abbot of Quang Minh Temple (Braybrook), delivered a concise yet profound Dhamma talk on the virtue of generosity (Dāna). He praised the spirit of offering and collective support demonstrated by the Bangladeshi community: “Today, you have not only offered food and financial support, but also your time, physical effort, and open-hearted presence to make this important ceremony possible. This is the practice of generosity—one of the six perfections of a Bodhisattva and the path that leads to enlightenment.” He added with joy: “I am just an ordinary human being, not a celestial being, but I can imagine that today, the devas in the heavenly realms are rejoicing as they witness the Dharma of the Blessed One being spoken, listened to, and practiced right here in this newly opened temple.”

The Inauguration and Consecration Ceremony concluded at 3:00 pm in a spirit of great harmony and delight. This event marks a historic milestone for the Bangladeshi Buddhist community in Victoria, establishing a stable spiritual home where the Buddha’s teachings can be studied, practiced, and transmitted to future generations.

Report: Pho Tri
Photography: Quang Tinh Thieu Van Binh