A Nationwide Buddhist Gathering in Australia
Report by Pennie White, BA, DipEd
Over 300 Buddhists met over three days at a nationwide Buddhist Gathering in Australia to hear eminent speakers and participate in discussions on "Engaging Buddhism".
The Australian Buddhist General Conference was held 20 to 22 February 2004 at Victoria University, St Albans Campus and was convened by The Buddhist Federation of Australia, Victoria University and Buddhist Council of Victoria.
This conference met its objective to provide an interchange of ideas and research between representatives of the Buddhist communities, academics and representatives of relevant government agencies on the issues and challenges facing Buddhist communities within the framework of present day multicultural Australia.
The chair of the organising committee Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan, Abbott of the Quang Minh Temple at Braybrook serving over 10,000 members, says "Buddhism engages with the real issues in peoples lives".
This conference is an important milestone in Buddhist history because this is the very first time that Buddhists from all traditions and from all states of Australia and other parts of the world have meet together to celebrate working together harmoniously in engaging Buddhism in Australia.
The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr John Howard's Message for the Conference was:
"I have great pleasure in providing this message on the occasion of the Australian Buddhist General Conference to be held at Victoria University in Melbourne.
"This general Conference has as its overall theme, 'Engaging Buddhism in Australia'. It is an opportunity for all Buddhists across Australia to get together to discuss issues of importance to the Buddhist community, while continuing to work towards promoting greater peace and harmony in the broader community.
"Occasions such as this remind us that Australia is home to a diversity of faiths, encompassing all the world's major religions. Australia's diversity is one of our most important attributes as we face the challenges of a rapidly changing world. As a nation we respect the rights of citizens to maintain and develop their cultural and religious beliefs. It is one very important way in which we seek to address issues of conflict and intolerance. We are united by our commitment to our nation, its democratic institutions and laws and a sense of a "fair go for all". I welcome this opportunity to express appreciation for the significant and much valued contribution that the Buddhist community has made to the social and cultural development of Australia.
"I send my best wishes to the Buddhist Federation of Australia and all those participating in the General Conference."
The Message from the Mr Steve Bracks, Premier of Victoria and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, was:
"As the Premier of Victoria and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, it gives me great pleasure to send my warmest wishes to the participants of the Australian Buddhist General Conference - including the Buddhist Federation of Australia, Victoria University and the Buddhist Council of Victoria.
"The Buddhist community in Victoria is diverse. Much of the same can be said of our society. We are a culturally and religiously diverse society. We too share a common heritage and common core values, which underpin our society - values such as mutual respect and understanding and a belief in equality and fairness for all.
"We are fortunate to live in a society that values our cultural and religious diversity, and welcomes the opportunity of all people to celebrate their culture and share their traditions with other Victorians.
"As part of Victoria's dynamic cultural and linguistic diversity, the Buddhist community plays an integral role in the development of the State.
"The Victorian Government is committed to working with communities to ensure that we will continue to reduce inequalities and promote rights, and ensure that our exceptionally good record as a tolerant and welcoming society is maintained and further strengthened.
"On behalf of the Victorian Government, I wish all those who attend the Buddhist General Conference a most enjoyable occasion.
A Message was also received from the His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia:
"My wife, Marlene, and I send our warmest regards to everyone taking part in the Australian Buddhist General Conference, in Melbourne, from 20-22 February 2004.
"I firmly believe that one of Australia's greatest assets is our culturally and religiously diverse society. We are a tolerant and cohesive country, where people of all religions can practise and promote their faith openly.
"Australian Buddhists greatly enrich this country. There are over 400 Buddhist Organisations in Australia today and the Buddhist Community numbers more than 360,000 people. The community encompasses a very wide range of cultures and nationalities, with Australian-born Buddhists representing and increasing proportion of its members. Together, Buddhists contribute significantly to Australia's common economic, social and cultural wealth.
"Against this backdrop, I commend the Buddhist Federation of Australia and its partner organisations for organising the 2004 General Conference. You have mapped out an impressive and comprehensive conference program - one that examines the state of Buddhism in Australia, including a number of important prevailing issues. The range and caliber of speakers, in particular, are outstanding, so I am sure the discussions will be stimulating.
"I am sure the Australian Buddhist General Conference will be a success and that the outcomes - especially in increased mutual understanding - will be of value to both the Buddhist and wider Australian communities."
The Most Venerable Thich Phuoc Hue, head of the United Vietnamese Congregation of Australia and New Zealand, and over fifty members of the Sangha including monks and nuns from most traditions attended and blessed the conference. Members of the Sangha were well looked after and attended to during the three days by Chan Academy Members.
Members of the Quang Minh Temple, Braybrook, Victoria deserve a special mention for providing food and drink to all conference participants and all meals to those staying at the Temple and Student Village over the three days.
Some of the Sangha Members who attended were:
Venerable Thich Phuoc Huu, Nth Sunshine, Victoria
Venerable Thich Phuoc Than
Venerable Sundtha
Venerable Lobsang Tendar
Venerable Sathindriya, Samadhi Buddhist Meditation, Victoria
Venerable Thich Phuoc Sun, Phouc Hue Monastery, New South Wales (NSW)
Venerable Ajan Brahm, Bodhinyana Monastery, (Western Australia (WA)
Venerable Thong Dung
Venerable Phuoc Vien
Venerable Sujato, Santi Forest Monastry, NSW
Venerable Pannyavaro, Buddha Dhamma Education Association, Sydney, Australia and Vice-President World Fellowship of Buddhists.
Venerable Thich Phuoc An, Sydney, NSW.
Venerable Thich Phuoc Hoan, Sydney
Venerable Thupten Lekshe, Jamchen Buddhist Centre, Melbourne
Venerable Lama Choedak Rinposhe, Virupa Retreat Centre, NSW.
Venerable Sao Hindriya, Yuroke, Victoria
Venerable P. Devarakkitha, St Albans, Victoria
Venerable Phra Nibuls Laporn, NSW
Venerable Lama David Christensen, Odinyana Buddhist Meditation Centre, Hawthorn
Venerable Kalupatana, Sri Lanka
Venerable Somanand, Sri Lanka
Venerable Sudham Sudhammophikhi, Dhamakaya International Society of Australia,
Venerbale Kaset, Strathfield, NSW, Australia
Venerable Sister Vayama, Dhammasara Nun's Monastery, WA
Venerable Miao Yu, IBCU, Yarraville, Victoria
Venerable Thich Phouc Hy, Phuoc Hue Monastery, Sydney and
Venerable Thich Phuoc Man, Phuoc Hue Monastery, Sydney
Venerable Thich Phuoc Chieu, Phuoc Hue Monastery, Sydney
Venerable Thich Phuoc Hong, Phuoc Hue Monastery, Sydney
Venerable Thich Phuoc Thanh, Phuoc Hue Monastery, Sydney
Venerable Thich Phuoc Niun, Phuoc Hue Monastery, Sydney
Venerable Thich Phuoc Bieu, Phuoc Hue Monastery, Sydney
Venerable Thich Phuoc Thues, Phuoc Hue Monastery, Sydney
Venerable Thich Phuoc Nu Nhu Tai, Hue Nghiem Nunary, Victoria
Venerable Phuoc Sinh, To Hoe Nghiem, Springvale
Venerable Chi Kinan Suninm, the Seon Centre, King Lake
Venerable Lozang Tenzin, Bendigo, Victoria
Each day of the conference began with chanting homage to Buddha the enlightened one:
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa
Venerable Pannyavaro guided metta (loving kindness) meditation and this helped all participants to calm their mind and promote good will for others.
Honourable Gary Hardgrave MP, Federal Minister for Moreton, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Assisting the Prime Minister attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
Venerable Lama Choedak, Founder and Spiritual Director of 12 Buddhist Centres in Australia including Sakya Losal Choe Dzong, Ponton Buddhist Training College, Virupa Retreat Centre and Jamchen Buddhist Centre, said: "Buddhism was engaged from the very beginning. Buddhism has not championed on a set of doctrine but it is to do with everyday life."
Allison Ribush, Director of Mandala Books, spoke about publishing initiatives in Australia including Mandala Books and Lothian Books.
Brian Ashen, chairperson of the Buddhist Council of Victoria, spoke about the participation of Buddhist organisations in community and public life in Victoria.
Dr Patricia Sherwood, Director of Sophia College of Counseling, WA, spoke on the fusion between western psychology and Buddhist Psychology.
Michael Wells, Buddhist Chaplain, Buddhist Council of Victoria, spoke on the lessons of delivering a Buddhist chaplaincy in the Victorian prison system.
Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan, Buddhist Federation Australia and Abbot of Quang Minh Temple in Braybrook, Melbourne, spoke about Buddhism and youth in the Vietnamese community in Melbourne.
Venerable Ajahn Sujato, is a monk of the Theravada tradition and leader of Santi Forest Monastery, NSW and has lead retreats for Sangha and lay followers in Australia and overseas spoke about "Just a little peace". Venerable Ajahn Sujato said that from the time of the first schism in the Sangha there have been different traditions in Buddhism. He said we are now in the post-sectarian era where it is of little importance what tradition we follow because we can meet in harmony emphasizing our commonalties.
Jill Jamison is a community development facilitator in conflict resolution and international development and a Member of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists. Jill Jamison spoke about the relevance of Buddhism for dealing with social issues.
Professor Padmasiri De Silva is a research fellow at Monash University in Melbourne and spoke about exploring a culture of non-violence. The Professor spoke about how Buddhist ethics can be used to develop peace in three ways. The first way is that the eightfold path as a moral ethic in relation to war and peace. The second is to understand the futile suffering of the vicious cycle of victory and defeat. The third way is by education on emotions and peace education. The Professor said, "We need to develop realistic means for moral education, not in the form of commands but to develop attentiveness, restraint and harmony". The Buddha said, "Hatred can never be conquered by hatred".
Dr. Ranjith Hettiarchi, chairman of the Buddhist Federation of Australia spoke about the benefits of Buddhist Practice in creating a healthy community. Dr Hettiarchi cited the Buddha in saying, "All composite things are subject to change". He said that, "The Buddha's most profound message is disengagement with unwholesome and the developing of one's mind. Developing one's mind is required for developing compassion and wisdom. Health is the greatest wealth. Mind and Body are interdependent and practices for good health bring mental and physical transformation.
Petra King from the Quest for Life spoke about how she helps Buddhist and non-Buddhist people by using creative language to help them. She says, "Peace is very practical. Peace of mind involves four particular qualities. They are control in the sense of having active participation in one's life rather than being a victim. The second important factor for peace is a commitment to living. Not as a prevention of death but to live well now in the present moment. The third factor is challenge to bring a sense of excitement about living and the journey. The fourth factor for peace of mind is connectedness to have a sense of place or love".
Venerable Chi Kwang Sunim spoke about her life in a Korean Nun's Monastery and the important things that she learnt in her experience living in such imitate living conditions. She said, "In Korea were I was living with 100-150 nuns aging and death were present all the time. Koreans have a very here and now approach. They are very 'present'. So while I was dealing with the isolation and loneliness because of language barriers at the same time I could see all the difficulties of others. Sickness was always present however the nuns cared for each other very well. I saw many persons pass their last breath. This was very humbling. I learned about what the body really is. We will all become frail and leave this world. Everyone seemed to have something to offer. Then back in the west, how often do people rush off to hospital or therapists trying to heal themselves? How little people sit still. People need guidance in how to be present. Meditation is attractive but people do not always continue. How many actually take it home with them?"
Venerable Pannyavaro, from the Buddha Dhamma Education Foundation and Founder of famous website Buddhanet spoke about his interest in meditation and about publishing Buddha Dhamma materials on the internet and in CD form both for interested people and as school resources.
Judith McDonald from the Buddhist Council of Victoria spoke about the Buddhism in Victorian Schools Project. Her vision for the future would be for Buddhism to be available in all schools, that there be a Certificate in Buddhist Studies for teachers in Australia and a deeper understanding of Buddhism for young people to bring them beyond a superficial understanding.
Luu Tuong Quang has been Head of SBS Radio he was awarded the Order of Australia in 2002 and named by the Prime Minister and Australian of the Year 2002. He spoke about the place of Buddhism and communications in multicultural Australia.
Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso is the Abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery. He became a Buddhist while he was a student at Cambridge University. At the age of 23, he went to Thailand and became a Buddhist Monk and disciple of the great master Ajahn Chah, undertaking 18 years of meditation of the forest. Venerable spoke about The Buddhist Society of Western Australia.
Venerable Ajahn Vayama is an Australian nun ordained in Sri Lanka where she spent 10 years as a nun. She has now taken up the position of Abbot of Dhammasara Nun's Monastery. The title of the Venerable Sister's talk was "You were really listening to me" because of her experience with a women who was surprised that she was "really" listening to her.
Venerable Traleg Rinpoche, President and Director of Kagyu Evam Buddhist Institute, said "there is no need to rush to modernise Buddhism. Only a minority wish to 'modernise Buddhism' and this may be a source of concern. It is a mistake to think that there is a conflict between traditions. We have to study the Buddhist Scriptures. I do not think we can have an Australian Buddhism or an American or Chinese Buddhism. It is important to be respectful of each others traditions. There is no need for prejudices. My personal view, so I may be wrong, is that if we try to Westernise Buddhism too much then we do not end up with Buddhism but something separate."
On the final day for groups were formed and discussions were held. The facilitator of each group reported back to the conference about the group's discussion and recommendations. Some of the recommendations were that:
There will be a Sangha Day in Australia each year for the Sangha from all traditions to meet and discuss amongst themselves.
The Sangha will meet yearly in Australia.
That dana be offered to monks and nun's in the community.
That an Annual Australian Buddhist Youth Conference be organised.
Each Day the Conference concluded with the Merit Dedication:
The purpose of our lives is to free all sentient beings from all suffering and its causes, to bring temporal and ultimate happiness to all sentient beings, and especially to bring them to the ultimate happiness of enlightenment.
In order to do this we must achieve enlightenment. Therefore, we are going to do service for suffering sentient beings who are most kind, from whom we have received all our happiness in the past, present, and future.
May we continue to live in pure moral conduct, listening to many teachings.
May we train the mind in pure conduct and pure view without corrupting the wisdom teachings of the Buddha.
Due to all these merits, may all the lower realms be empty forever.
Wherever there are people working to benefit others, may all their vows be accomplished immediately.
Through the merits of participating in this conference may we quickly attain enlightenment and lead all living beings, without exception into that awakened state.
For more information and photographs of the conference go to the Buddha Dhyana Dana Review most recent addition published by the Chan Academy where more information will be published in the coming weeks at www.bddronline.net.au.
Reporter Ms Pennie White is the Vice-President of International Dhamma Activities at the Chan Academy Australia.
Chan Academy is a registered trading name of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd., CAN 005 701 806 ABN 542 611 496 488, 33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Victoria, 3158. The late Master John D. Hughes founded the Buddhist Discussion Centre over 25 years ago. The Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. is a Regional Centre of the World Fellowship of Buddhists and an Associated Institution of the World Buddhist University.
Ms Pennie White is also an English Teacher at The Knox School, Victoria, Australia and is currently studying for a Master of Education Degree at Monash University Melbourne. Her research thesis is on the "Use of Information and Communication Technology by the World Buddhist University".