Memorial to be held for Laurence-Khantipalo Mills founder of Buddhism in the Far North

A memorial will be held for the pioneering founder of Buddhism in the Far North after many were forced to miss the actual funeral in July. SEE FULL DETAILS.

A MEMORIAL will be held next week for the pioneering founder of Buddhism in the Far North next week.

Laurence-Khantipalo Mills passed away in July in Melbourne. But many of the Buddhist community in Cairns were unable to attend the funeral in Victoria. He brought Buddhism to the Cairns region in 1995 and from there paved the way for the community to develop.

Devoted student and friend Dhammika Pereira-Marland said he has forever left an impact on the community of Cairns.

There will be a celebration in memory of Pioneering Buddhist teacher Laurence-Khantipalo Mills after he passed away in July.

“He was very approachable, friendly and non judgmental., he had time to speak to anyone at the Buddhist Centre,” she said.

“People would come at all hours of the day and he would sit down and listen to them.”

Mr Mills founded the former Bodhi Citta Buddhist Centre and when he first got to Cairns in 1996. At the Buddhist Centre he would bring many different teachers from all over the world and Australia.

“As a result of him inviting different Buddhist teachers, people got to find what they were comfortable with in terms of different traditions,” Ms Pereira-Marland said.

He was the first person to bring the Vesak celebration in 1996 which gets people together to celebrate worth and enlightenment.

There will be a celebration in memory of pioneering Buddhist teacher Laurence-Khantipalo Mills after he passed away in July. Picture: Supplied

“He has left a lasting legacy for the Cairns community because we have more access to places of Buddhist meditation and practices than before,” she said.

Ms Pereira-Marland said that his presence will always be felt in Cairns through everything he taught but also the memories they have of him.

“He could guide people when we were too emotional, when we couldn’t have clarity, he helped people to have clarity,” she said.

At the memorial plant, saplings will be gifted to people to take away supplied by the Kuranda Conservation Community Nursery.

The memorial will be held on Wednesday November 10 from 6pm at Khacho Yulo Ling Buddhist Centre in Parramatta Park.

Originally published as Memorial to be held for Laurence-Khantipalo Mills founder of Buddhism in the Far North