Panditarama Sydney Meditation Centre (PSMC) is a registered not-for-profit religious charity. Donations made to PSMC support our charitable, religious, and community activities and are treated with care and transparency.
This policy explains the circumstances under which donations may or may not be refunded.
All donations made to PSMC are voluntary and non-refundable, except where required by Australian law or in the event of a genuine administrative error by PSMC.
By making a donation, donors acknowledge and agree to this policy.
PSMC does not provide refunds for donations where a donor:
Once a donation has been received, it is immediately applied to PSMC’s charitable purposes and operational needs.
Refunds may be considered only in limited circumstances, such as:
Any request for review must be made in writing within 7 days of the transaction and will be assessed at PSMC’s discretion.
For donations made from outside Australia:
Any shortfall resulting from currency conversion or transaction fees is borne by the donor.
Where third-party payment providers or banks apply transaction or processing fees:
Donors are responsible for determining whether their donation is tax-deductible in their own country or jurisdiction.
PSMC cannot provide tax advice for overseas donors.
If you believe there has been a genuine error in processing your donation, please contact us promptly:
Panditarama Sydney Meditation Centr
All enquiries will be handled respectfully and confidentially.
This policy is designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and responsible stewardship of donated funds in accordance with PSMC’s charitable objectives.
We greatly appreciate and welcome your kind generosity to help support the continuous development of the centre.
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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.
