Buddhism in Australia
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Buddhist way of life kindles curiosity
Bendigo Your Guide, November 20, 2006
Bendigo, Australia -- More than 1000 people took the opportunity to explore the Atisha Centre yesterday and learn more about the Buddhist way of life.
BLESSED: Geshe Konchok Tsering and Venerable Paldron pray during the open day.
As part of the centre's annual open day, visitors toured the Great Stupa site, the Relics Exhibition Centre and Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery.
Hundreds gathered in the Atisha Gompa to take part in a spiritual program, with sessions including an introduction to Buddhist meditation and a public talk on `The essence of the Buddhist path'.
Children enjoyed Buddhist stories, rock painting, sand pictures and drawing, while older visitors browsed book, jewellery and craft stalls.
Atisha Centre director Ian Green estimated about 1500 people had visited to attended the open day.
"A lot of people are really interested in what's going on here," he said.nts They hear about the Stupa and so forth," he said.
"They're just curious to see what's here - that's the main thing. "To see what Buddhists believe in and what they don't believe in.
Mr Green said many of the people who attended an open day would come back the following year.
"Whether they're interested in Buddhism or spiritualism, it doesn't really matter. "Often they're just interested in what's happening in Bendigo.
"It's quite a special thing that's happening."Mr Green said public feedback had been fantastic, with many interested to see the initialnte development on the Great Stupa site, which is scheduled for completion by 2010.
"With the steel works going up - people have been really impressed by the size of it," he said.
Many visitors also inquired about the Dalai Lama's upcoming visit. "Most people know that he's coming now and want to know what he's going to be doing here," Mr Green said.
During his June, 2007, visit the Dalai Lama will bless the Great Stupa site and consecrate the giant statue of Guru Renpoche outside the Relics Exhibition Centre. -
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Buddhism is flourishing everywhere. Btw neutral_liner, are u local ?
How did u came into buddhism ? -
I hear that Buddhism is the fastest growing religion in Australia.
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yes i'm a localOriginally posted by Isis:Buddhism is flourishing everywhere. Btw neutral_liner, are u local ?
How did u came into buddhism ?
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Rains Retreat
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More pics from 4th Global Conference on Buddhism(Australia)... ...
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Woohoo! I was there. What a fabulous conference it was too. Intelligent speakers, friendly attendees and yummy food.
neutral_onliner where you there too? Where are you from? Im from Perth
Yu fo tong zai -
Woohoo! I was there. What a fabulous conference it was too. Intelligent speakers, friendly attendees and yummy food.
Must be enjoying urself veri muchneutral_onliner where you there too? Where are you from? Im from Perth
No.I'm from sg
Are U chinese or Caucasian ? -
More pics from 4th Global Conference on Buddhism(Australia)... ...
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Originally posted by neutral_onliner:No.I'm from sg
Are U chinese or Caucasian ?
I'm Causcasian (in this lifetime anyway). I can see myself in one of your pics. Did you attend the conference?
This is Shifu from Australian Buddhist Bliss Culture Centre (on the left), I have completely forgotten the name of the Venerable on the right (as well as the spelling of Shifus name - Jai Ru ?) The woman in the green Jen Chen vest, half cut out of the photo, is Mun my meditation teacher. I just realised Shifu and Mun are in the same picture! I'll have to get this one framed.
This is the most very delightful Rev Ilukpitiye Pannesekara, the only deligate from Africa at the conference. He was collecting funds to aid his work. Ajahn Brahm is the other venerable in the picture.
As this is a Singapore based forum, heres a picture of Angie Monksfield, President of the Buddhist Fellowship (in Singapore) who was a confident, articulate and witty speaker.
Fabulous conference. I intend on travelling to Malaysia for the 2008 conference. I would recommend this conference to everyone. :thumbsup: -
Jue Ru Shi... glad to see her there tooOriginally posted by Dream Seeds:
This is Shifu from Australian Buddhist Bliss Culture Centre (on the left), I have completely forgotten the name of the Venerable on the right (as well as the spelling of Shifus name - Jai Ru ?) The woman in the green Jen Chen vest, half cut out of the photo, is Mun my meditation teacher. I just realised Shifu and Mun are in the same picture! I'll have to get this one framed.
p.s thanks neutral_onliner and dream seeds for sharing with us those photos
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Originally posted by neutral_onliner:
whoa.. the choir look grand.
More pics from [b]4th Global Conference on Buddhism(Australia)... ...
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I wonder what are the differences in the buddhism's hymns btw Australian and Singapore? -
Thank you. I'm trying to learn to spell Mandarin. I have a long long road ahead of me. "Shih" is a really hard one for me to pronounce. lol.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Jue Ru Shi... glad to see her there too -
That particular choir were the Lesbian Choir of Western Australia (or a similar name, apologies for not having the correct name)Originally posted by Isis:whoa.. the choir look grand.
I wonder what are the differences in the buddhism's hymns btw Australian and Singapore?
The Buddhist songs were sung by the two female singers above. I think there were from Singapore.
There was also a separate performance by traditional dancers. Balinese I think.
By the way, the disks of photos as well as the multi disk set of the conference preceedings are available to purchase from the Buddhist Society of Western Australia: http://www.bswa.org/modules/shop/
The only time I have heard singing at the temple was when the missionaries came (from Singapore). There was a male singer. It was all very foreign to me. I dont think the singing of Buddhist songs has translated so well into Australian culture and is pretty rare. (in my experience any way) -
Hehe.. yes it will be very helpful to learn ChineseOriginally posted by Dream Seeds:Thank you. I'm trying to learn to spell Mandarin. I have a long long road ahead of me. "Shih" is a really hard one for me to pronounce. lol. -
No i did not attend the conference and thnks for informing us tat the next one will be held in malaysia.I will likely to attend as malaysia is much nearerOriginally posted by Dream Seeds:
I'm Causcasian (in this lifetime anyway). I can see myself in one of your pics. Did you attend the conference?
This is Shifu from Australian Buddhist Bliss Culture Centre (on the left), I have completely forgotten the name of the Venerable on the right (as well as the spelling of Shifus name - Jai Ru ?) The woman in the green Jen Chen vest, half cut out of the photo, is Mun my meditation teacher. I just realised Shifu and Mun are in the same picture! I'll have to get this one framed.
This is the most very delightful Rev Ilukpitiye Pannesekara, the only deligate from Africa at the conference. He was collecting funds to aid his work. Ajahn Brahm is the other venerable in the picture.
As this is a Singapore based forum, heres a picture of Angie Monksfield, President of the Buddhist Fellowship (in Singapore) who was a confident, articulate and witty speaker.
Fabulous conference. I intend on travelling to Malaysia for the 2008 conference. I would recommend this conference to everyone. :thumbsup: -
More pics from 4th Global Conference on Buddhism(Australia) ... ...
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Jhana Grove Meditation Centre appeal
Meditation is well-known to relieve the stresses of modern life, enhance one's health and even assist in the treatment of cancer.
It is also known to the Buddhist world as the essential path to inner peace and eventual enlightenment.
The Buddhist Society of WA is currently building the “Jhana Grove Meditation Centre”. It is located on a secluded piece of land surrounded by natural forest in the hills above Serpentine, just 1km from Bodhinyana Buddhist Monastery.
The Retreat Centre will comfortably accommodate up to 60 guests at a time in 10 individual cottage containing each with its own ensuite. This will allow a great deal of privacy and thus maximize the benefits of meditation practice.
Connected to the cottages, by a covered walkway, will be a large, airconditioned meditation hall with three adjoining halls for the convenient practice of walking meditation. There will also be a well equipped kitchen and dinning area, as well as laundry, office, and storage facilities. A small caretakers residence will complete the centre.
The facilities have been designed so that the elderly and infirmed, especially those with illnesses such as cancer, can learn meditation techniques and strategies in a peaceful environment that is also physically comfortable. Our architect Brian Kidd specializes in such facilities.
The cost of the project is estimated at $3 million. As of mid July 2006 we have raised 1.6 million and we are now working hard to raise the reminder. The builder expects to complete the retreat center by the end of 2007.
Once the Jhana Grove Retreat Centre is completed, we will offer residential meditation retreats free of charge. To cover the cost of food and maintenance we will rely solely of unsolicited donations given out of gratitude from those who have enjoyed the facilities.
We are proud to have the former premier of Western Australia Dr Geoff Gallop as our patron. Dr Gallop has used meditation to help recover from his recent illness.
The Buddhist Society of Western Australia
18 Nanson Way
Nollamara
Australia 6061 -
Originally posted by neutral_onliner:
Nice.. $3 million for such a big area is really quite worth the money.
[b]Jhana Grove Meditation Centre appeal
Meditation is well-known to relieve the stresses of modern life, enhance one's health and even assist in the treatment of cancer.
It is also known to the Buddhist world as the essential path to inner peace and eventual enlightenment.
The Buddhist Society of WA is currently building the “Jhana Grove Meditation Centre”. It is located on a secluded piece of land surrounded by natural forest in the hills above Serpentine, just 1km from Bodhinyana Buddhist Monastery.
The Retreat Centre will comfortably accommodate up to 60 guests at a time in 10 individual cottage containing each with its own ensuite. This will allow a great deal of privacy and thus maximize the benefits of meditation practice.
Connected to the cottages, by a covered walkway, will be a large, airconditioned meditation hall with three adjoining halls for the convenient practice of walking meditation. There will also be a well equipped kitchen and dinning area, as well as laundry, office, and storage facilities. A small caretakers residence will complete the centre.
The facilities have been designed so that the elderly and infirmed, especially those with illnesses such as cancer, can learn meditation techniques and strategies in a peaceful environment that is also physically comfortable. Our architect Brian Kidd specializes in such facilities.
The cost of the project is estimated at $3 million. As of mid July 2006 we have raised 1.6 million and we are now working hard to raise the reminder. The builder expects to complete the retreat center by the end of 2007.
Once the Jhana Grove Retreat Centre is completed, we will offer residential meditation retreats free of charge. To cover the cost of food and maintenance we will rely solely of unsolicited donations given out of gratitude from those who have enjoyed the facilities.
We are proud to have the former premier of Western Australia Dr Geoff Gallop as our patron. Dr Gallop has used meditation to help recover from his recent illness.
The Buddhist Society of Western Australia
18 Nanson Way
Nollamara
Australia 6061
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Thats what I was thinking. Seems quite cheap to me. Perhaps some of the labour is donated.
PS I notice another with me in it in this thread now. lol -
Hundreds greet Dalai Lama in Perth
The West, June 5, 2007
Perth, Australia -- Hundreds of well wishers turned out to greet the Dalai Lama when he arrived in Perth today for the first leg of his 2007 speaking tour.
The Dalai Lama arrives in Australia, greeted by a crowd of about 500 people at perth Airport. Picture: Trevor Collens.
The spiritual leader of Tibet met members of PerthÂ’s Buddhist community, many who brought katak scarfs, which he blessed.
The Dalai Lama also greeted 12 week old Kyle Edgar, whose parents Catherine and Craig had waited at the airport to meet him.
It is the first time in 15 years the Dalai Lama has visited Western Australia.
Up to 35,000 West Australians are expected to hear him speak during three separate events tomorrow, before he flies out on Thursday to Melbourne.
He is set to meet Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd on June 12, after Mr Rudd initially expressed hesitation at a meeting for fear of upsetting China, which rejects the Dalai LamaÂ’s authority and TibetÂ’s push for autonomy.
At last report, Prime Minister John Howard was still struggling to find time in his diary to arrange a similar meeting. He has been accused of kowtowing to ChinaÂ’s communist government in refusing to meet the monk.
At Perth airport today, the Dalai Lama told the crowd he was very happy to once more be in Australia, which he described as a “strange continent”.
He said wherever he went he worked for the promotion of human values and religious harmony -
[url]http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=49,4360,0,0,1,0/url]
Buddhism is Australia's fastest growing religion
By Walter Jayawardhana, Lankaweb, June 22, 2007
Australia is having per capita buddhists than any other western nation and it is the fastest growing religion in the country
Sydney, Australia -- The Dalai lamaÂ’s recently concluded visit to Australia that also included a meeting with Australian Prime minister John Howard has once again drawn the attention not only to the fact that Buddhism is the fastest growing religion in Australia but also that there are more Buddhists in the continent per capita than anywhere else in the Western world.
A Voice of America report said since 1996 the number of Buddhists in the country have gone up almost 80 percent and now there are about 350000 followers of the religions first brought to the country by Asian immigrants not only during recent times but also in the not so recent past like 100 years ago.
The Voice of America report said Buddhism was now moving beyond the Asian immigrant communities and spreading as a mainstream religion. The report said, “Experts who study religious trends in Australia say many converts to Buddhism found the teachings of some Christian churches too rigid and intolerant of questions about the faith.
Converts say Buddhism gives them freedoms they have never had before.
Renate Ogilvie is a German-born teacher at a Buddhist institute here in Sydney.Quoting him the report said, "In Buddhism you are allowed to ask questions and actually you're actively encouraged to doubt and to discuss and so on," Ogilvie said. "The Buddha said don't just believe because I'm very famous, don't just believe because many people believe what I teach. Be like the goldsmith, you know, apply the acid to the gold to test it and the acid being your mind, your intelligence. So in that sense it's a manifesto of intellectual freedom which is very, very appealing."
The Diamond Way retreat facility in Sydney is typical of many small Buddhist centers around the country and it has 140 members and like many other groups here it follows the Vajrayana tradition from Tibet, seen as the third main branch of Buddhism alongside the Theravada and Mahayana, the report said.
The following is the rest of the report Phil Mercer broadcast for the Voice of America:-
Phil Carlisle is the host of the Diamond Way gatherings.
"I think that Buddhism really suits people who have independent thinking and are maybe discouraged or had enough of religions where they're told what to believe rather than being given an opportunity to see how something fits for them. Aussies are notoriously averse to authority figures," Carlisle said.
Anthony Hickson is a recent convert. He was brought up in a strict Catholic family.
The 27-year-old video editor has been attending meetings at the Diamond Way center since the start of the year and believes Buddhism is showing him a new way to live.
"I guess from coming here I don't think there's one truth" Hickson said. "I think there's [are] many truths. My brother's pretty active in the Catholic Church and that works really well for him and I've seen him grow and change a lot. So I think for me it was just a different path and a lot of the teachings made sense to me before I'd come here and coming here it was just being around people. There's a good energy, there's a good vibe. Things make sense."
The nuns offer a prayer asking for long life for the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism's spiritual leader. The Nobel Peace Prize winner lives in India as the head of the community of Tibetans who have fled Chinese rule of their homeland.
His visit to Australia over the past several days created much excitement among Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Large crowds greeted him everywhere he went. Even Prime Minister John Howard met with one of the world's most recognizable religious figures.
For Buddhist nun Robina Caulton, the enthusiasm surrounding the Dalai Lama's visit shows how her faith has developed in Australia.
"The Dalai Lama has an enormous kind of following here. I mean I've observed that traveling around the world - now based in the States, right," Caulton said. "Australia's half the population of California and there're probably more Tibetan Buddhist centers and more flourishing ones than even actually in, say, the United States. Â… When he's in the States people in one other state wouldn't even know he's there but whenever he's in Australia the whole country knows so it's kind of interesting."
Despite such enthusiasm, Australia remains a very Christian country - with more than 75 percent of the population of 20 million belonging to a Christian church. Some Anglican leaders have said Buddhism has little community spirit but relies heavily on individual happiness. Buddhists disagree. Many Buddhist communities have charitable operations, and they say that a community's happiness depends on the lasting happiness of ndividuals.