The Buddhist Path of Compassion to World Peace
A symposium in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebration and Year of Compassion
The Buddhist Path of Compassion to World Peace Symposium
Join us at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion for a full-day symposium bringing together Buddhist leaders, scholars, and community representatives to explore compassion through prayer, dialogue, and shared wisdom.
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Presented by the Tibet Information Office and the Great Stupa, the day begins with a Welcome to Country and prayers from the Theravadin, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, followed by talks from a distinguished group of speakers.
Featured speakers include Ian Green OAM, Karma Singye representing His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and special guest Maree Edwards MP, Speaker of the Victorian Parliament. The keynote address will be delivered by Geshe Lhakdor, Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives and former translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Additional speakers include senior monastics from Buddhist communities across Australia and internationally. The afternoon will include talks and two panel discussions, offering opportunities for dialogue, reflection, and audience questions.
All are welcome to attend.Â
Help make this celebration unforgettable. Choose an area close to your heart — meals, offerings, flowers, Welcome to Country and more. Every donation helps bring the symposium to life.Â
Donations of $500 or more receive two VIP seats at the symposium, plus a public thank you during the event.
Donation Options
Event Information
- Saturday 21 March 2026
- 9:00am - 4:00pm
- Free to enter
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The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
Bendigo, Australia
Program
- 9.00 Stupa opens. Refreshments available.
- 9.45 Welcome to country. (Sangha seated on Great Stupa stage)Â
- 10.00am Prayers in Theravadin, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions
- 10.15am Welcome address by Ian Green, Chairman of the Great Stupa
- 10.20am Address by Karma Singyey, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- 10.25am Address by Chief Guest of Honour (Maree Edwards MP – Speaker of the Victorian Parliament)
- 10.30am Address by Keynote speaker Geshe Lhakdor, Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, and former translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the entire plenary on the symposium theme.
- 11.00am Questions from the floor for Geshe Lhakdor.
- 11.15am Break for lunch
- 12.30pm Address by Most Ven. Kallanchiye Rathanasiri Thero – Chief Incumbent, Abhayagiri Maha Viharaya, Anuradhapura, Senior Lecturer and Academic Leader at Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka, Scholar of Pali and Buddhist Studies, International Representative of Sri Lankan Buddhism to the entire plenary on the symposium theme.Â
- 12.50pm Address by Chi Kwang Sunim – Abbess of the Seon Centre, Co-founder of Wat Buddha Dhamma Monastery and Seon Buddhist Retreat, Co-founder of Buddhist Library of NSW, Australian Sangha Association, Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils, Sakyadhita International and Sakyadhita Australia, Active Leader in Intra-Buddhist and Interfaith Movements to the entire plenary on the symposium theme
- 01.10pm Address by Ven Ronrawee – President, Dhammakaya Communities in Australia, Founder of Dhammakaya Society of Victoria, Co-founder of Dhammakaya Temple Sydney, Secretary-General of the Union of Thai Sanghas in Oceania, Vice President of the Buddhist Federation of Australia, National and Regional Leader in the Australian Buddhist Community to the entire plenary on the symposium theme.
- 01.30pm Panel discussion with Most Ven. Kallanchiye Rathanasiri Thero, Chi Kwang Sunim and Ven Ronrawee with questions from the floor.
- 2pm Afternoon tea is served.
- 2.30pm Address by Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang – Abbot of Quang Duc Monastery, General Secretary Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Australia and New Zealand, Member of Dharma Committee of World Buddhist Sangha Council to the entire plenary on the symposium theme.
- 2.50pm Address by Ven. Thubten Chokyi – Director IMI of FPMT monastics, Chair of Australian Sangha Association, Resident Teacher at Tara Meditation Centre, Former Director of Liberation Prison Project, Vice President of Sakyadhita Australia, Buddhist Representative for Multifaith Australia to the entire plenary on the symposium theme.
- 3.10pm Final panel discussion with all six Key Speakers on stage for discussion and questions.
- 3.55pm MC summarises key themes and thanks all participants.
- 4pm close of symposium.
Getting here
By car is the best way to get to The Great Stupa Bendigo which is located at 25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat, Victoria, Australia. We encourage you to carpool where possible.
Unfortunately at this stage there is no public transport directly to the venue.
Car
Our address is 25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat (Bendigo), Victoria, Australia.
Plenty of parking is available on site.
Train to Bendigo
- Visit V/Line’s website for train times.
- From Bendigo Station catch a bus or taxi to The Great Stupa.
- From Eaglehawk Station catch a bus or taxi to The Great Stupa.
Bus
- Catch Route 54 service from Bendigo Station to Maiden Gully, from Maiden Gully a taxi to The Great Stupa.
- Catch Route 52 service from Bendigo Station to Eaglehawk, from Eaglehawk a taxi to The Great Stupa.
Taxi
Catch a taxi from any location directly to The Great Stupa call 13 10 08.