The Buddhist Hour Radio Broadcast Archives

In this program we are going to present a more detailed picture of the spread of activities as well as a brief history of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.

The opportunity for collecting this information has arisen from the request by the World Fellowship of Buddhists, of which our Centre is a Member and Regional Centre, to complete a questionnaire about our organisation.

WFB INFORMATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

1. General Information :
1.1 Name of the Centre: Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
A.C.N. : 005 701 806
1.2 Address: 33 Brooking Street Upwey, Victoria, 3158, Australia.
Phone : (03) 9754 3334 Fax : (03) 9754 3334
Website: www.bdcu.org.au

1.3 Date of Establishment: 21 July 1980
1.4 Date of Inception to WFB: 22 October 1990
1.5 Name of the high ranking persons of the Centre :
1.5.1 President: Vincenzo Cavuoto
1.5.2 Directors: Rodney Johnson
Julian Bamford
Anita Svensson
Clara Iaquinto

The following Task Units have their own Senior & Junior Vice-Presidents:
Knowledge Management:
Senior Vice-President: Rodney Johnson
Junior Vice-President: Peter Jackson

International Dhamma Activities:
Senior Vice-President: John D. Hughes
Junior Vice-President: Vince Cavuoto

Corporate Governance & Reporting:
Senior Vice-President: Julie O' Donnell
Junior Vice-President: Anita Svensson

1.5.3 Secretary: Julie O'Donnell

1.5.4 Assistant Secretaries: Anita Svensson & Lisa Nelson

1.5.5 Treasurer: Pamela Adkins
Assistant Treasurer: Arrisha Burling

1.5.6 Others:
Teacher of Buddha Dhamma Practices: John D. Hughes
Senior International Liaison Officer: Vanessa Macleod
Junior International Liaison Officer: Leanne Eames
Manager Occupational Health & Safety: Anita Svensson
Manager Local Area Planning & Asset Management: Brendan Hall
Archive Officer: Vanessa Macleod

2.0 Aims / Objectives:

2.1 Public Relations: To spread accurate information to the General Public and Local, State and Federal Governments of Australia on the reasons Buddha Dhamma is becoming mainstream in Australia and to input government services with advice that is in the National interest.

2.2 Membership: To help many persons, we seek Members who can manage our projects. Since Members have voting power, we only recruit persons who wish to attempt to base their philosophy of life on Buddha Dhamma. It is expected that Members will encourage the study, practise and realisation of Buddha Dhamma. It is expected that Members learn to use the five styles of Friendliness, Practicality, Professionalism, Cultural Adaptability and Scholarship.

2.3 Publications & Documentation: Website www.bdcu.org.au
Buddha Dhyana Dana Review (three issues per year), Brooking Street Bugle (three issues per month). Our Data Warehouse is available to Members through our Local Area Network (LAN) at present holding about 200 Megabyte of readable Data. Every word is indexed on ISYS 5.0 fast search engines and we can retrieve hundreds of references on most topics in a matter of seconds. This means we can produce well researched papers promptly having good information for which we hold the copyright.

2.4 Unity & Solidarity: We use caga (emotional maturity) in our dealings with others. As a WFB Regional Centre we are in contact with persons in over 40 countries. We run good information and appeals for other Buddhist organisations. We are about to arrange to organise the listing of "Buddhism" on the Australian Marriage Act. Our Teacher provides well researched papers to different Journals and Conferences throughout the world. We have testimonials of our guidance from senior Monks and Bodhisattvas around the world. Our Teacher has taught in 14 countries.

2.5 Fund-raising The Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. is structured as a charitable self-help organisation. Our aim is to fund all our own expenses through generating funds to run our Centre, as well as for the Dhammarajika Orphanage in Bangladesh.

2.6 Education: Our aim is to enhance our Centre as a learning organisation with the key objective being to encourage the study, the practice and realisation of Buddha Dhamma. Members are taught leadership and work skills with attention to the five styles of Friendliness, Practicality, Professionalism, Cultural Adaptability and Scholarship.

To enhance our Centre as a learning organisation we are currently working towards ISO 9000 standards.

We aim to support and help the World Buddhist University (WBU). We are an 'Associated Institution of the WBU as a Spiritual Training Centre'.

The John D. Hughes Collection
Our wish is to provide multiple copies of Buddha Dhamma literature in printed and electronic form. The John D. Hughes Collection is a multilingual reference Library for Buddhist Scholars and Practitioners. Our library Guardianship Policy is to lend one copy of a text or commentary provided that we have five copies in the Collection.

Our current development goal for the Library to date is to maintain a third rate library by World standards and for us to become a 21st Century Super Centre. Our vision for the 21st Century is to achieve the status of a first rate library by World standards at the time. We wish to continue to provide affordable, user-friendly cataloguing systems that can be accessed on site and on the Internet. In order to meet the objectives for our Library this year, the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. is implementing modern operating systems. We intend to upgrade our cataloguing systems to 'Athena' software.

The Ch'an Academy
The goal of the Ch'an Academy is to become a Centre of excellence of international standard for Ch'an arts by creating a suitable location for the practice and teaching of this rare ancient tradition in Australia.

To achieve this goal our aims are:

1. To provide developmental programs in Ch'an (Zen) arts, including calligraphy and painting.

2. To provide structured educational programs for Teachers and visiting Masters of these arts, from around the world, to use the Academy for teaching, workshops and demonstrations.

3. To provide a teaching program with a resident teaching artist to teach Ch'an brush technique and discipline.

4. To provide a publishing facility to record the history, tradition and practice of the Ch'an arts, especially the development of the practice in Australia.

5. To market for corporate and personal sponsorship of the ongoing and expanding educational program of Ch'an arts.

6. To become financially independent and profitable, developing good quality artists creating high quality art.

7. To create the conditions to have the four friends in the future (brush, ink, stone, paper) the Ch'an Student has to create the mental and material conditions in the present.

The official Ch'an Academy opening and the consecration of the Hall of Assembly was held on 6 February 1986. Shigyoku Sensei of the Shozan School, who is resident in Melbourne, gave a calligraphy demonstration.

Since that time, many of our students from the Ch'an Academy have practised with Shigyoku Sensei and have won Japanese Nitten Awards. These students of the Ch'an and other styles continue to study the Way of the Brush at our Centre.

The Ch'an Academy is a registered business name of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.

The Ch'an Academy continues to create suitable conditions for the preservation of the Ch'an tradition in Australia.

The Ch'an Academy preserves Australia's major collection of Ch'an calligraphy.

Set amidst the beautiful Ch'an gardens, the extensive library, and the rare Ch'an collection of images and calligraphy, the Academy provides a suitable environment in which to practise the Ch'an tradition. The Academy also provides Ch'an students and visitors the rare opportunity to view and purchase Original Ch'an images. Ch'an prints, Ch'an calendars, Ch'an practice materials and flowering plants from the Ch'an gardens.

Ch'an Academy founder and resident Ch'an Master, John D. Hughes, teaches Ch'an on the last Sunday of each month. Master Andre Sollier has been teaching Sumi-e at the Centre over the last decade.

2.7 Humanitarian Services: Foundation Member of the Ethnic Community Council of Victoria. Our argument to the Council in 11 October 1999 preserved section 26 of the mandate which they were about to remove from their constitution. This section reads:
To encourage people of diverse languages, traditions, and cultures among the people to preserve their languages, traditions and cultures. Our intervention ensured that the substantial aspect of this clause has been retained in the revised constitution. We provide 7 days a week telephone referral services for funeral services. Preparation of position papers for multicultural Australian issues. Funding of Dhammarajika Orphanage at Bangladesh and assisting the International Brotherhood Mission in Assam, India.

2.8 Religious Propagation (Dhammaduta): Our approach to Religious Propagation is to encourage scholarship in Buddha Dhamma. For this purpose The John D. Hughes Collection was created to provide a comprehensive resource for Buddhist study and research. It is a multilingual reference library containing :
--Rare and valuable Buddhist texts including the complete Buddhist Canon
--Commentaries by renowned Buddhist Teachers
--Buddhist "Books of Guidance" in English and various foreign languages
--Buddhist journals and newsletters
--Audio tape recordings of Buddhist Teachings
--Buddhist artefacts and ritual objects from all traditions
--Dhamma data warehouse
Our Library is on the Australian Libraries Gateway, National Library of Australia www.nla.gov.au/libraries/

We broadcast Buddha Dhamma live every Sunday on KNOX FM radio station 88.1 called 'The Buddhist Hour'. The program is produced and presented by Members of our Knowledge Management Task Unit, and consists of Buddha Dhamma Teachings, Buddha Dhamma Chanting, reciting of Buddha Dhamma Sutras.

Interested persons can access information about our activities on our Web site at www.bdcu.org.au This site has been very successful as we measure 90 hits per day.

Our aim is to continue to support the World Buddhist University (WBU) as an 'Associated Institution of the WBU as a Spiritual Training Centre'.

2.9 International Relations: We are a Regional Centre of the World Fellowship of Buddhists.

2.10 Others: To establish various support structures for the propagation of Buddhism.

3. Brief History of the Centre:

3.1 Name(s) and status of Founder(s): John D. Hughes is Founder of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd, Teacher of Buddha Dhamma Practices, Vice-President of World Fellowship of Buddhists and Senior Vice-President of International Dhamma Activities.

3.2 Motives of Establishment:
(a) To introduce a philosophy of life based on the teachings of Buddha Dhamma.
(b) To encourage the study, practice and realisation of Buddha Dhamma.
(c) To promote activities associated with Buddhism and Buddhist culture in Australia and overseas.
(d) To investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.
(e) To promote and maintain direct or auxiliary activities for educational, social, charitable, philanthropic, benevolent and humanitarian work.
(f) To build, construct, maintain and alter any buildings or works in accordance with requirements of the Centre.

3.3 Founding Member: John D. Hughes, Dip. App. Chem. T.T.T.C. GDAIE

3.4 Financial Status: For a self-help organisation, we are very well served by our Member accountants. Our regular accountants offer their services at no charge.
We follow a conservative policy of not borrowing monies for new development.
The organisation can meet its financial requirements without too much flurry or worry.

Over twenty years, we have built total Net Assets $AUD 352,245 as at 30 June 1999.

We design our financial policies to be legal, prudent and effective.

Our organisation showed a 28% gross return on assets employed for 1999.

3.5 Problems and Solutions: The geological vastness of Australia (8,000,000 square kilometres) and the high cost of interstate travel means Buddha Dhamma organisations key Members do not meet regularly at a national level.

Our non-sectarian policies enable our Members to keep in touch with and exchange gifts and visits from a range of the most senior Monks of the different Buddhist nikayas in Australia.

Our flagship journal has been posted to other Temples in Australia for many years.
Recently, 328 copies of our September 1999 issue of Buddha Dhyana Dana Review (BDDR) was posted to Australian Buddhists and Government Departments. The contents are non-sectarian writings edited by our Founder. BDDR and its forerunners is the oldest Buddhist publication in Australia. Its consistency of style under one editor and its international circulation helps bring hegemony of thought about issues in a Buddhist context.

The multicultural nature of Australia means there are 10 major languages in regular use in Australian Temples. Many Australian practitioners become isolated from other practitioners because they are monolingual. Our Centre meets with all Australian practitioners and we help many Monks and Nuns to learn to read and write English over many decades. We have a superior multicultural Buddha Dhamma library as a key project. We have a web site www.bdcu.org.au to help propagate preferred English key words from translation of Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhalese, Chinese and other languages.

4. Current Activities:

4.1 Religious Propagation: Our Teacher John D. Hughes gives Buddha Dhamma Teachings every Monday, Tuesday and Friday evenings. Prajna Paramitta Teaching is given on the Tuesday evening Teaching. We provide four 5-Day Bhavana courses per year taught by our Teacher John. D. Hughes. We produce and present The Buddhist Hour - a one-hour Buddhist radio broadcast - every Sunday morning. We have a web site at www.bdcu.org.au that provides information about our Centre, the teachings provided and a working catalogue of the John D. Hughes Collection, a multilingual reference Library for Buddhist Scholars and practitioners.

We are developing a conceptual solution for the operation of a regional spiritual Centre of the WBU.

4.2 Publications: We publish an internal bulletin called the Brooking Street Bugle(new series) which is issued three times per month. The aim of this bulletin is to keep Members informed of key events at local, national and international levels. Our BDDR is published three times a year and sent to 37 countries world wide.

4.3 Education: Our Dhamma-Cetiya (Hall of Assembly), where we practice, is both well equipped and of World standard.

We are an 'Associated Institution of the World Buddhist University(WBU) as a Spiritual Training Centre'. After discussions with Education Victoria, Office of Higher Education, Department of Education, Victoria we have received approval from them to use the letterhead we have designed to use for all dealings with the WBU. The letterhead has the words 'Associated Institution of the World Buddhist University as a Spiritual Training Centre' under our name 'Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.' and Australian Company Number (ACN) .

The Ch'an Academy is part of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. Ch'an classes are given by resident Ch'an Master John D. Hughes. Master Andre Sollier teaches Sumi-e at the Ch'an Academy throughout the year.

Under the direction of resident Teacher and Vice president of the WFB, John D. Hughes, the Centre developed a library resource to become a satisfactory 20th Century Centre.

Our current development goal for the Library to date is to maintain a third rate library by World standards. At present, the library has a comprehensive collection of Buddha Dhamma reference materials and artefacts. Our Archive officer is Vanessa Macleod.

Our development plan seeks for us to become a 21st Century Super Centre. Our vision for the 21st century is to achieve the status of a first rate library by World standards at the time. In order to meet the objectives for our Library this year, the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. is implementing modern operating systems.

We plan that our reference library lasts. For many years the Leaders and Members of the Scouting movement have been attending our Centre to learn about the Buddhist religion. We are accredited by the Scouting Association of Australia in this area. Two Scout Masters have been Members of our organisation for several years.

We supply reference material from our website to all Australian Schools.

Recognition of our Library ( the John D. Hughes Collection) is given on the Australian Libraries Gateway, National Library of Australia at www.nla.gov.au/libraries/
We are about to redesign and elaborate the library details on our ALG home page

4.4 Humanitarian Services: Members employ the five styles as part of their active Buddha Dhamma practice and in a range of community-based activities, both local and overseas, to support the Dhammarajika Orphanage in Dhakka, Bangladesh and many other places. We have raised monies for this organisation for decades.

4.5 Social and Cultural Development: The fund-raising opportunities include film nights where members and others can socialise away from the Centre. Cultural development is enhanced by Bell Pujas involving many members in Caga (emotional maturity state of mind).

The Buddhist Hour Radio Program on Sunday mornings allows Members to read Dhamma and chant in Pali to the many listeners who tune in.

We act as advisers to many Government Departments.

Our site holds a research collection of precious Buddhist art works from many countries. Some were made by local Artists. Many of the art works are on permanent display.

4.6 Others: The ongoing physical development of our site continued this year. A ceremonial pavilion around 1.33 metres tall ensures that Monks and Nuns are seen in a respectful manner. An archive store that has heavy metal shelving and gives a high fire rating for Dhamma writings was built.

A Naga shrine has been installed near the geological museum..

A new southern gate has been built.

A large second protector has been built on the eastern gate.

Three new ponds have been installed in the garden opposite the ceremonial pavilion. A sunken garden has been built on the western boundary.

5. Future Tasks:

5.1 Local Level: The future tasks are the same as the past and the present tasks, namely, to ensure the Buddha Dhamma be taught to nibbana access or better.

Our Members are trained to assist the creation of stable platforms which are suitable to encourage some lay persons to take robes as Monks and Nuns of all Buddhist orders.

Lay persons are encouraged to lend a helping hand towards setting up suitable Temples.

Persons are trained in the noble Eight fold Path and encouraged to make sufficient merit at our Centre and encouraged to practice at some other Temples.

Because the lineage teachings are recorded at our Centre, variations on bhavana can be taught in detail to suitable Members.

Where possible, all Teaching and publications are given freely.

Our best Members are graded and encouraged. Over time, they are introduced to more and more practices designed to bring Dhamma maturity of the Students.

Some seek correct practice of the three yanas and vow to mature themselves to preserve the
Dhamma. We provide training for the future Teachers and collect the samma (correct) materials in our library systems. The management systems are robust because it is planned our Centre and its derivatives maintain itself and preserve this material in useable form for the next 500 years at least.

We are encouraging the use of the Naga shrine protectors. We plan to build ten Buddhist sites in the local area.

5.2 National Level: A series of additional interactive websites are planned.
Over time, we will open branches and broadcast local news in each state.

5.3 International Level: We would explore the possibility of sending some rapporteurs to the next series of WFB general conferences so as to allow our members to gain experience in global public relations. Our long-term plan is to train Members to become executives of the WFB. A series of additional websites is planned.

5.4 Others: We encourage Members to visit WFB Regional Centres as well as other Buddhist centres overseas. We encourage Members to associate with the wise. We utilize highly developed internal communications and information technology systems , and are currently developing advanced systems to address Intranet and Internet issues. Our Information Technology Conceptual Plan will be worked through to give us the World's best practice Intranet and multiple Internet sites to conduct E-Dhamma.

Disclaimer:

As we, the Chan Academy Australia, Chan Academy being a registered business name of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd., do not control the actions of our service providers from time to time, make no warranty as to the continuous operation of our website(s). Also, we make no assertion as to the veracity of any of the information included in any of the links with our websites, or another source accessed through our website(s).

Accordingly, we accept no liability to any user or subsequent third party, either expressed or implied, whether or not caused by error or omission on either our part, or a member, employee or other person associated with the Chan Academy Australia (Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.)

This Radio Script is for Free Distribution. It contains Buddha Dhamma material and is provided for the purpose of research and study.

Permission is given to make printouts of this publication for FREE DISTRIBUTION ONLY. Please keep it in a clean place.

"The gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts".

For more information, contact the Centre or better still, come and visit us.

© 2002. Copyright. The Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.