Chinnasa Samadhi

   Phra Ajarn Luang Por Viriyang Sirindharo graciously introduced various meditation teaching systems, each differing to suit the specific needs of individuals and groups; one of these systems is Chinnasa Samadhi. This refers to the practice of meditation aimed at mastering one’s own mind. It is suitable for individuals who wish to deepen their meditation practice – adjusting the duration according to their available time – in order to cultivate inner peace, strengthen their meditative focus, and build mental resilience and excellence needed for effective performance in their work.

     On August 1, 2026, faculty members from the Willpower Institute Australia organised a group meditation session. Approximately 20 people – including friends, fellow practitioners, long-time and new associates, instructors, mentors, volunteers, and those interested in learning meditation – gathered to meditate together at Waterview Wharf Workshops in Balmain East, Sydney. Faculty members and fellow practitioners shared a meal together, followed by a session of meditation, walking meditation, and the sharing of loving-kindness. Afterward, everyone gathered in a circle to converse and exchange their meditation experiences.

     The stories regarding the motivations for practicing meditation and the personal transformations experienced afterward deeply impressed and inspired fellow practitioners. Meditation fosters happiness and offers numerous other benefits; it has the power to turn crises around, set life situations on their right path, and instill the inner strength and mindfulness needed to navigate life.

Songkran Day

12 April 2026 @Leumeah Temple, Sydney

Songkran Festival 

     Every year on April 12th during the Songkran festival, Wat Pa Leumeah in Sydney hosts a grand celebration. This event draws a large number of Thai people and Buddhists living in Sydney to participate in the Maha Songkran festivities, including building sand pagodas, performing the ceremonial bathing of Buddha images, and engaging in various Buddhist rituals. Additionally, the event features traditional games, live performances, and cultural dances.  This includes various stalls selling items such as traditional Thai food, rare delicacies, herbal drinks, Thai-style clothing, and second-hand goods.  The Willpower Institute participated in the temple's activities, as it does every year. Meditation instructors and teachers from the Institute prepared and sold both sweet and savory dishes at a booth to raise funds for the Institute.

     What makes this even more special is the Institute's active promotion of its various activities—most notably the Meditation Instructor Course. Faculty members, mentors, and volunteers work together to raise awareness, distribute printed materials and application forms, and engage in conversations with individuals interested in enrolling in the course.  As is the case every year, the Institute has selected and prepared a special dish—*Miang Kham*—for sale. *Miang Kham* is a traditional Thai delicacy that offers health benefits due to its blend of various herbs, boasting a delicious and complex flavor profile; it is a popular yet rare-to-find heritage dish.  Due to the elaborate and meticulous preparation process, combined with the fact that the herbal ingredients used in *Miang Kham* are hard to come by, it is a best-selling dish at the event.

     In addition, the institute offered donated clothing and personal items—contributed by faculty members and supervising teachers—for sale at the event, alongside vegetarian food products. All proceeds were donated to the institute to fund its ongoing operations.