Welcome to Panditarama Sydney Meditation Centre. Thank you for offering your time, skills, and service to support our Centre. Volunteers are the heart of our community and play a vital role in sustaining the Dhamma, supporting visitors, and maintaining a peaceful and welcoming environment for all.
This Volunteer Handbook provides guidance on what you can expect as a volunteer and what PSMC expects from you. It is designed to support you in your role and ensure a safe, respectful, and harmonious volunteering experience.
PSMC is grounded in the teachings of the Buddha and the guidance of the Sayadaw. All volunteers are expected to uphold:
All volunteers must:
PSMC has zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, bullying, or abusive behaviour of any kind.
As a volunteer, you are expected to:
Volunteers are encouraged to raise questions or seek clarification at any time.
PSMC is committed to providing a safe environment for children and vulnerable persons.
Volunteers must:
Background checks and training may be required for certain roles.
PSMC is committed to providing a safe volunteering environment in line with Work Health and Safety (WHS) requirements.
Volunteers must:
If you feel unwell or unsafe, please notify the Volunteer Coordinator.
Volunteers must avoid situations where personal, financial, or other interests conflict with their duties at PSMC.
You are required to:
PSMC values open and respectful communication.
PSMC deeply values the generosity and commitment of all volunteers.
We recognise volunteer contributions through:
Your service helps sustain the Centre and support the wider community.
Volunteering at PSMC is unpaid and voluntary. Either the volunteer or PSMC may end the volunteering arrangement at any time. Volunteers are encouraged to provide reasonable notice where possible.
By volunteering at PSMC, you agree to comply with this Volunteer Handbook and all Centre policies.
Thank you for your generosity, service, and commitment to the Dhamma.
| Version | Date Issued | Next Review Date | Approved By |
| V.1.0 | 10 Jan 2026 | 10 Jan 2028 | Executive Committee |
We greatly appreciate and welcome your kind generosity to help support the continuous development of the centre.
© 2026 PSMC. All rights reserved.
At the age of 80, the Buddha sensed his life was nearing its end. He continued teaching until his final moments, offering guidance to his disciples on maintaining harmony and staying committed to the path.
The Buddha passed away peacefully in Kushinagar, entering Parinibbana—the final liberation from the cycle of birth and death. His teachings, preserved for over 2,500 years, have since spread throughout the world and remain a source of wisdom and transformation today.
The Buddha’s life demonstrates that profound inner peace and liberation are attainable through understanding, ethical living, and mindfulness.
For the next 45 years, the Buddha travelled widely across northern India, sharing his teachings with anyone eager to learn—monks, nuns, farmers, royalty, merchants, and people from all walks of life. His teachings emphasised wisdom, moral conduct, mindfulness, compassion, and the potential for every being to awaken.
He established monastic communities, guided thousands of followers, and offered practical teachings that continue to resonate today. The Buddha taught in a simple and accessible manner, focusing on understanding the mind, cultivating virtue, and realising inner peace.
Soon after his enlightenment, the Buddha travelled to Sarnath, where he delivered his first discourse to five former companions. This teaching, known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, introduced the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. With this, the Sangha—the community of monks—was born, marking the beginning of the spread of the Dhamma.
Siddhartha eventually settled beneath a fig tree in Bodh Gaya, vowing not to rise until he discovered the truth. After a long night of deep meditation, he awakened to a complete understanding of reality, the nature of suffering, and the path to liberation.
At this moment, Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha—“The Awakened One.”
At 29, Siddhartha made a courageous and transformative decision. Leaving behind his royal life, his family, and all worldly luxuries, he embraced the life of a seeker. This departure, known as the Great Renunciation, was the beginning of his spiritual journey.
He travelled across northern India studying with respected teachers and practising intense forms of meditation and asceticism. Though he mastered these methods, they did not bring the liberation he sought. Realising that extreme self-denial was not the answer, he abandoned harsh austerities and turned toward a balanced approach—a path later called the Middle Way.
Although Siddhartha grew up sheltered, a series of life-changing encounters expanded his understanding of the human condition. While visiting the city beyond the palace walls, he saw an elderly person, a sick person, a corpse, and finally a serene wandering monk. These four sights deeply affected him. They revealed the inescapable truths of aging, illness, and death—and showed him that a spiritual path might offer liberation from suffering.
These moments awakened a profound inner questioning that could not be silenced:
What is the cause of suffering, and is there a path to true peace?
Siddhartha Gautama, who would later become the Buddha, was born around 563 BCE in Lumbini, a region that is now part of Nepal. He was born into the royal Shakya clan to King Suddhodana and Queen Maya. Tradition describes his birth as peaceful and auspicious. After his mother’s passing one week later, Siddhartha was lovingly raised by his aunt, Queen Mahapajapati.
Growing up in the city of Kapilavatthu, Siddhartha enjoyed a privileged and protected life. His father, wishing to shield him from the hardships and uncertainties of the world, ensured he received the finest education, martial training, and a life surrounded by comfort. At the age of sixteen, Siddhartha married Princess Yasodhara, and together they had a son named Rahula.
