User:Rupertsu/International Buddhist Cham Shan Temple of Australia

International Buddhist Cham Shan Temple of Australia (traditional Chinese: 澳洲湛山寺; pinyin: Ào Zhōu Zhàn Shān Sì), also known as Cham Shan Temple (of Australia), is Buddhist monastery nestled in Morisset, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Cham Shan Temple Australia was established in 1995 and inspired by the original Cham Shan Temple founded by Dharma Master Danxi in Qingdao, Shandong Province of China.

Independent of other Cham Shan Temples around the world, Cham Shan Temple Australia is loosely affiliated by name only and in the common practice of the Pureland School of Mahayana Buddhism. Cham Shan Temple is a member of the Buddhist Council of New South Wales.

Establishment
Established in 1995, Cham Shan Temple ran its activities out of the Chinatown district of the City of Sydney for many years until 2001 when it moved to its current location of Morisset, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia.

The land at Morisset was originally a farm with a small house and a large burnt-out garage. Working from the house, Cham Shan Temple offered traditional meditation and chanting practices and retreats. In 2008, the site was laid for a three-phase construction of buildings to replace the then house.

Construction commenced in 2008 with the accommodation block. After issues with the building, including the insolvency of its builder in the midst of the 2009 Global Financial Crisis, the building was finally completed and certified in 2011. Originally the accommodation block, the building's purpose has been replaced to be the Main Building which houses the administration office, library, main practise room and some accommodation rooms.

Phase-2 of the construction is in the planning stages to include a Grand Hall to house Buddhist.

Location
Cham Shan Temple is located at 85 Freemans Drive, Morisset, New South Wales, Australia.

Management
Cham Shan Temple is run by a Management Committee. The current constitution of Cham Shan Temple provides for a Management Committee consisting of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer External, Treasurer Internal and Public Officer. The Management Committee is responsible for the overall management of the Temple.

Volunteers assist with the day-to-day running of the Temple including the donation of provisions, running of services and general upkeep of the Temple.

Cham Shan Temple is run under the guidance of the Abbot of the Temple.

Objective
The Cham Shan Temple website provides that:


 * The temple follows traditional Chinese Buddhist practice through:
 * * Aspiring to cultivate compassion and wisdom through the keeping of the precepts and the cultivating of inner stillness and wisdom;
 * * Continuing to fulfill the wishes of the Buddha through right understanding, generating vows and practicing Dharma;
 * * Nurturing noble conduct, generating a pure and tranquil state of mind and eternal contentment.


 * At Cham Shan Temple, we aspire to nurture a pure and tranquil place of practice, creating a Pureland on Earth for all.

Dharma Practice
The main practice day at Cham Shan Temple is Saturday where practitioners attend for prayer service and Dharma talks. Cham Shan Temple also runs adult and children Dharma classes and retreats on a regular basis.

Retreats at Cham Shan Temple is according to the needs and wants of the practitioner. In th past, Cham Shan Temple has run retreats for one day, a few days and a week. Sincere practitioners are welcome to long-term retreats at the Temple. During retreats, practitioners must follow the Eight Precepts and conduct themselves honourably to the practice of Buddhism at Cham Shan Temple. Routines and practices during retreats differ according to the experience and needs of the practitioners and can include different forms of meditation such as sitting meditation, walking meditation and chanting meditation.

Practitioners at Cham Shan Temple are also encouraged to participate in the morning and evening prayer services including recitation of the Mahayana sutras for service.

Library
The Cham Shan Temple library houses an amazing array of Buddhist sutras as well as books and audio books on Buddhist sutras and practices.