Privacy Policy

Panditarama Sydney Meditation Centre (PSMC)

Last updated: 5 Jan 2026

Panditarama Sydney Meditation Centre (“PSMC”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of visitors, devotees, volunteers, donors, and members of the public. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

1. Collection of Personal Information

PSMC may collect personal information when you:

  • Visit our website
  • Contact us via online forms, email, or phone
  • Register for events, meditation programs, or retreats
  • Volunteer with the Centre
  • Make a donation or enquiry

The types of personal information we may collect include:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Postal address
  • Volunteer or participation details
  • Donation or transaction records (excluding full payment card details)

We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for our charitable and religious purposes.

2. Use of Personal Information

PSMC uses personal information for purposes including:

  • Responding to enquiries and communications
  • Managing events, programs, and retreats
  • Volunteer recruitment and coordination
  • Issuing receipts and acknowledgements for donations
  • Complying with legal, regulatory, and reporting obligations
  • Improving our services and website

We do not use personal information for commercial marketing purposes.

3. Disclosure of Personal Information

PSMC does not sell or rent personal information to third parties.

Personal information may be disclosed only:

  • Where required or authorised by law
  • To service providers assisting us (e.g. accountants, IT service providers), under confidentiality obligations
  • With your consent

All disclosures are limited to what is necessary for the relevant purpose.

4. Storage and Security of Information

PSMC takes reasonable steps to protect personal information from:

  • Misuse
  • Interference
  • Loss
  • Unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure

Information is stored securely, and access is limited to authorised volunteers or committee members only.

5. Donations and Online Payments

Where online donations or payments are accepted, transactions are processed through secure third-party payment providers. PSMC does not store full credit card details on its systems

6. Website Analytics and Cookies

Our website may use basic analytics tools to collect non-identifiable information such as:

  • Browser type
  • Pages visited
  • Time spent on the site

This information is used only to improve website performance and user experience.

7. Access and Correction

You may request access to, or correction of, your personal information held by PSMC by contacting us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

8. Child Safety and Vulnerable Persons

PSMC is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons. Any personal information relating to minors is handled with heightened care and in accordance with our Child Safety & Vulnerable Persons Policy.

9. Changes to This Policy

PSMC may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most current version will always be available on our website.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact us:

Final Days and Parinibbana (Age 80)

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.

Forty-Five Years of Teaching

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.

The First Teaching at Deer Park

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.

Enlightenment Under the Bodhi Tree
(Age 35)

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.”

The Great Renunciation (Age 29)

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.

The Four Encounters and the Search for Truth

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?

Birth and Early Life (563 BCE)

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.