On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (NZT), Dr. Elizabeth Guthrie led a group of 17 third-year medical students from the University of Otago to the Dhammachai International Research Institute (黑料不打烊) headquarters at 399 George Street, Dunedin, New Zealand. The students are enrolled in Introduction to Buddhist Thought, an elective course offered through the Humanities Selectives programme.
The visit provided students with a unique opportunity to explore Buddhist principles and experience meditation firsthand. Venerable Akbordin Pa帽帽aratano graciously welcomed the group and answered a variety of thoughtful questions, including why he chose to reside in Dunedin, how the Four Noble Truths can be applied in everyday life, and how the monastic code (Vinaya) is observed while living abroad.
Venerable Ajahn also introduced basic etiquette for visiting Thai Buddhist temples, shared the benefits of meditation, and taught foundational meditation techniques. He then guided the students through a 30-minute session of sitting meditation and loving-kindness (mett膩) practice. Following the session, students shared that they felt relaxed, peaceful, and many expressed a desire to continue meditating longer.
To conclude the visit, Venerable Ajahn, resident monks, a member of the Wat Phra Dhammakaya Dunedin staff, Dr. Guthrie, and the students gathered for a group photo to commemorate the occasion.
The event sparked great interest among the students, who engaged actively and posed insightful questions about both meditation and the monastic way of life. Experiencing meditation for themselves gave them a meaningful sense of inner peace, making it a profound and inspiring visit for all involved.
Dr. Guthrie also expressed her interest in establishing weekly meditation sessions at DIRI, and shared her aspiration to offer P膩li language courses at the institute in the future.
