Buddhists eye monastery at Elleker

A plan to buy a property in Elleker to build the region’s first Buddhist monastery could be finalised by the end of May.

Buddhist monk Neil Proudfoot, known as Venerable Mudu, said the purchase price agreement had been signed.

“On March 28, a purchase price was agreed on and an offer and acceptance paper was signed by us and the current property owner in Elleker,” he said.

“With all sale conditions met, settlement will occur on May 27.” Venerable Mudu said he was excited to establish a physical centre for Bodhinyana Buddhism in the region.

“We will start with a humble beginnings — just a patch of bush, a house, and a water tank — then growing slowly with the community and neighbours before even con-sidering the construction of new monastery buildings,” he said. During his last trip to Albany, Venerable Mudu visited Albany Regional Prison, Albany’s Senior Citizens Hall and the Albany Health Campus, where he organised a meditation at the Acute Psychiatric Unit.

“We spoke about kindness, not only towards yourself when meditating, but to all beings every day,” he said.

“Kindfulness, a term coined by Ajahn Brahm, became the theme for the whole visit.”

Following his move to the region, Venerable Mudu plans to organise the first Entry to Rains Ceremony in Albany on Sunday, July 14.