Friday, December 24, 2010

Lankarama Buddhist Temple - New South Wales

 Lankarama Buddhist Vihara is a Buddhist monastry maintained by the Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara Association. 

Chief Incumbent of Lankarama and Dhamma Teacher: 
Venerable Rajakeeya Panditha Meegahakumbure Dhammagavesi Thero

Dhamma Teacher :Venerable Thalangalle Siridhamma Thero


Address:35 Oak Street, Schofields, NSW 2762, Australia
Phone: 02 9627 2594  Fax: 02 9627 2594
Email: lankaramasydney@gmail.com

Monday, October 18, 2010

Paramitha Buddhist Viharaya - Victoria - Events

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Dhammasara Buddhist Monastry - Perth

Dhammasara Nun's Monastery was established by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia in 1998. We are primarily a training monastery for nuns in the Forest Tradition of Theravada Buddhism. The monastery in 583 acres of natural bushland in the hills outside Perth, is just a 45 minute drive from the city centre.

Initially the accomodation was temporary, including a modest caravan and a Dhamma shed. The first permanent facility, the Nun's cottage was completed in January 2001. This building provides accommodation, bathroom, kitchen and laundy facilities for residents. It is also the meeting place where supporters come to offer Dana (food and other requisites) and receive Dhamma teachings. Eight brick mediation huts and a seperate amenities block for use by the nuns have since been built in the forest.

Daily life in the monastery emphasises quiet seclusion, meditation practiceand the study of the Buddha's teachings. The routine ar Dhammasara is designed to create an athmosphere conducive to meditation practice. At times there is an emphasis on group prcatice. At other times the focus shifts to solitary practice.

The present monastic community consists of the abbess Ajahn Vayama, Venerable Nirodha, Venerable Seri, Venerable Hasapanna as well as three Anagarikas (trainees), Clare from Sydney, Upheka and Sally from Perth. The nuns are fully ordained Bhikkkunis (equal in every respect to Bhikkhus/Monks ) in the Theravada tradition.

Ajahn Vayama was initally ordained in Sri Lanka as a Ten Precept Nun and fully ordained as a Bhikkhuni in 2009. The Buddhist Society of Western Australia invited her to take up the position of abbot in 1998. Venerable Nirodha was the first nun ordained at Dhammasara in May 2003. Venerable Seri was ordained in July 2004. Venerable Hasapanna was ordained in May 2006. Veneable Mudita was ordained in Febrary 2007. She became the first woman from Western Australia to be ordained at Dhammasara.

Location -203 Reen Road , Gidgegannup WA 6083
Contact: Tel:  +61-(0) 8 9574 6583
Fax: +61-(0) 8 9574 6583

Source:http://www.dhammasara.org.au/

Friday, July 23, 2010

Vas Season (Rainy Season) 2010

This year Annual Vas Pinkam series organized by the temple will begin on 25 July 2010 with the observance of Rainy Season by the resident monks of the temple.

Members of community will invite monks to resident in temple for this vas season on 25th July during mid day dhanne session.

We cordially invite all members and friends of the Kambah Temple to participate wholeheartedly in all of the following religious activities and be benefited by them. Merit you accumulate will help you for happy and prosperous lives here and hereafter.

Source:www.slbvc.org

Monday, July 5, 2010

Dhamma Discussion for Youth in Melbourne

Date: Saturday, 24 July 2010




Time: 14:00 - 17:00

Location: Wellington Reserve Community Centre

Street: No 36, Mackie Road

Town/City: Mulgrave, Australia

Inquiry: 0388027394/0421981727

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Significance of Vesak celebrations in Australia

Vesak, the major Buddhist festival was celebrated during the month of May all over the Buddhist world. Royal Pandith Ven. Meegahakumbura Dhammagavesi Thero, the chief incumbent of Lankarama Buddhist Temple in Sydney, describes the significance of Vesak in modern world.



Source:http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/sinhalese/highlight/page/id/88877/t/Significance-of-Vesak-celebrations-in-Australia/in/english

Monday, June 28, 2010

Childrens' Poson program-June 10'

Melbourne kids dramatize the arrival of Mahinda Thero from Jambudveepa, the advent of Buddhist civilization to Sri Lanka.



Source:http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/sinhalese/highlight/page/id/93492/t/Childrens-Poson-program-June-10/in/english

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Youth Program – Mahamevnawa Melbourne

Arouse mindfulness and be open for the precise solutions available to overcome the existance.





Date: Saturday, 26 June 2010

Time: 14:00 - 17:00
Location: Wellington Reserve Community Centre
Street: No 36, Mackie Road
Town/City: Mulgrave, Australia

Inquiry: 0388027394/0421981727

Do not miss the rare opportunity come and have a look !

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Exposition of Sacred Buddha Relics in Canberra

27th 28th & 29th MAY 2010


Sri Lanka High Commission and Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra, organised an exposition of Lord Buddha's Relics in Canberra with the support of Buddhist Federation of Australia and Australia Sri Lanka Buddhist Association of Canberra.

The Most Venerable Wendaruwa Sri Upali Nayaka Thero, the Chief Incumbent Polonnaruwa Solosmasthana Rajamaha Viharaya, has offered the Buddha's Relic to the Most Venerable Sudham Tiravanich (Sudhammo Bhikkhu), President of the Buddhist Federation of Australia (BFA) on 29th June 2009 in order to be preserved in a shrine at Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple in Sydney, Australia for the blessing of all Australia.

Detail program of the event

27th May 2010 - Launch at Belconnen Arts Centre, 118, Emu Bank, Belconnen

10.00 am Commencement of the program

10.00 – 10.30 am Relics to be escorted in with traditional Sri Lankan dancers / drummers (magul bera)

Perform traditional Buddhist religious rituals, i.e offering of gilan pasa, offering flowers, lighting incense etc

10.30 – 11.00 am Buddhist religious chanting

11.00 – 11.30 am Speeches

Hon. Joy Burch, Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Professor Sukanya Sudbanthad, Chairwoman, Standing Committee on Religions, Moral, Ethics, Art and Culture, The Senate of the Kingdom of Thailand (to be confirmed)

Ven. Phrapalad Sudham Sudhammo, President, Buddhist Federation of Australia

H.E. Mr. Senaka Walgampaya, P.C. High Commissioner for Sri Lanka

H.E. Dr. Kriangsak Kittichaisaree, Ambassador of Thailand

11.30 am Lunch served to Buddhist Priests in separate lunch area

Light refreshments for Guests

12.00 – 2.00 pm Exposition of Relics to Public

3.30 pm Transport relics to Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple, 30 Jenke Circuit, Kambah

5.00 – 10.00 pm Exposition of Relics to the public

7.00 pm Special Vesak Buddha Pooja

28th May 2010 - Exposition of Relics at Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple in Kambah


9.00 am – 9.00 pm Exposition of Relics to the public

7.00 pm Buddha Pooja


29th May 2010 - Exposition of Relics at Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple in Kambah

9.00 am – 12.00 p.m. Exposition of Relics to the public

12.00 pm – 2.00 p.m. Closing ceremony

More photos at : http://www.slbvc.org/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=24:exposition-of-sacred-buddha-relics&Itemid=55

Source:http://www.slbvc.org/

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Vesak 2010 in Sydney

Vesak, the major Buddhist festival was celebrated during the month of May all over the Buddhist world. Royal Pandith Ven. Meegahakumbura Dhammagavesi Thero, the chief incumbent of Lankarama Buddhist Temple in Sydney, describes the significance of Vesak in modern world.




Source:http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/sinhalese/highlight/page/id/88877/t/Ven.-Dhammagavesi/in/english

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Keysborough Temple - Vesak Celebrations - Vesak Pandol

 

Source:www.facebook.com
Photographer : Anuja Manchanayake

Keysborough Temple - Atavisi Buddha Pooja

Vesak Celebrations in Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara - Adelaide

Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara in Adelaide celebrated Vesak day with participation of large number of devotees.
Also, organizing committee arranged an attractive Bhakti gee and Vesak lantern contest .





Saturday, May 29, 2010

United Nations Day of Vesak 2010 - Victorian Observance

When: Saturday 22nd May, 2010
Where: Melbourne Town Hall
Time: 2:00-4:30pm

For the third consecutive year in a row, Victoria will observe the United Nations Day of Vesak, marking the start of a month when Buddhist communities globally come together to celebrate the birth, passing and enlightenment of the Buddha nearly 2600 years ago in India.
This year's event is designed to have a vibrant performance feel, bringing Buddhists from different traditions together to celebrate their diverse cultures.   Extending this friendship with our Multifaith friends and families. 
Buddhism spans cultural groups such as Chinese, Taiwanese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Loation, Thai, Mongolian, Tibetan, Burmese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Sri Lankan, to name but a few.  Buddhism has a strong history in Victoria since the goldrush days in 1848 and continues today with unique representation of many cultural groups and traditions and forms practiced in Melbourne and around the state.
The 2010 Vesak Observance will be presented with a balance of Commemoration and Celebration.  The program highlights will be "Buddha - A mini-Musical'' and a significant dedication of 2000+ Buddhists meditating together at one time.  

We are honored again to have the support of the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Multicultural Commission, as well as the Victorian Buddhist Community. 
Please share in enjoying the 4 part photo gallery of the 2009 event in the Photo Tab of this website.
This a free event and provides access for disabled persons.

Source:http://www.unvesak.org/

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Vesak 2010 at Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara - Berwick



Vesak 2010 at Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara, 125 Homestead Rd, Berwick (Melway's 130 J2) on 29th, 30th May and 5th, 6th June 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. including:
Sacred relics display
  • Vesak lantern and special pahan pujava
  • Hoppers and other stalls

Friday, March 19, 2010

A Short History of Buddhism in Australia

This article was first published in the Vietnamese Buddhist journal Giac Ngo (in a translation into Vietnamese by the Ven. Thich Nguyen Tang and later this was published by Kerry Trembath, Sydney, November 1996).

First contacts with Buddhism

It is not known precisely when Buddhism first came to Australia. Professor A.P. Elkin has argued that there may have been contact between the Aboriginal people of northern Australia and the early Hindu-Buddhist civilisations of Indonesia. He suggests that Aboriginal practices of mind training and belief in reincarnation may be evidence of such contact. It is also possible that the great fleets of the Chinese Ming emperors which explored the south between 1405 and 1433 may have reached the mainland of Australia.

The first certain contact with Buddhism can be dated to 1848, when Chinese labourers arrived to work on the goldfields of eastern Australia. The beliefs of these men were predominantly Taoist/Confucian, but the makeshift temples they built have been found to contain remnants of Mahayana Buddhist statues. Most of these men returned to China when the goldrush ended, but some stayed in Australia, often after sending for a wife from China. While the older Chinese continued to practice their ancestral beliefs, their children and grandchildren often adopted the Christian faith.

In the 1870s, groups of Sinhalese from Sri Lanka began to arrive in Australia to work on the sugar plantations of northern Queensland, or in the pearling industry centred on Thursday Island. By the 1890s, the Buddhist population of Thursday Island included about 500 Sinhalese people. Two Bodhi trees planted by this community are still growing on Thursday Island to this day. A temple was built on Thursday Island, festivals such as Vesak were regularly celebrated, and a Buddhist monk is said to have visited to officiate at the temple around the turn of the century.

Soon after Federation in 1901, Australia adopted increasingly restrictive immigration policies which effectively halted further Asian immigration until the 1960s.

Early Western Buddhists in Australia

By the late 1800s, increasing numbers of Westerners were becoming interested in Asian culture and religion. In 1891, Colonel Henry Steel Olcott spent several months lecturing throughout Australia on `Theosophy and Buddhism'. Olcott was the co-founder of the Theosophical Society who described himself as a Buddhist, having taken the three refuges and the five precepts in Sri Lanka in 1880. His lectures in Australia were well attended and well received. Small but significant numbers of generally well-educated and influential Australians joined the Theosophical Society, the aim of which, according to Olcott, was to disseminate Buddhist philosophy. One of those who joined the Theosophical Society at this time was Alfred Deakin, who was later to be three times Prime Minister of Australia. Deakin retained a lifetime interest in and regard for Buddhism and even wrote a book about a visit to India and Sri Lanka which included three chapters which were highly sympathetic to Buddhism.

In time, the Theosophical Society drifted away from its strong focus on Buddhism, becoming more eclectic and giving greater emphasis to spiritualism and occultism. Nevertheless, the importance of the Theosophical Society in the early history of Buddhism in Australia cannot be overlooked. To this day, the Society's bookshop in Sydney, Adyar, remains one of the best sources of Buddhist literature in the country.

Another important figure in the Theosophical Society made a contribution to the history of Buddhism in Australia. In 1919, F.L. Woodward, who for 16 years had been principal of Mahinda College in Galle, Sri Lanka, arrived in Australia. He settled on an apple orchard near Launceston in Tasmania, and for the next 33 years devoted his time to translations of the Pali Canon for the Pali Text Society. He is perhaps best known for his anthology, Some Sayings of the Buddha, first published in 1925. This popular book provided an introduction to Buddhism for many Westerners, including some who later became prominent Australian Buddhists.

The earliest group of Western Buddhists in Australia, The Little Circle of the Dharma, may have been formed in 1925 in Melbourne by Max Tyler, Max Dunn and David Maurice. This group was strongly influenced by the Theravada tradition of Burma. By the 1950s, David Maurice was editing The Light of the Dhamma, a Buddhist magazine in English which had a wide circulation throughout the world, and in 1962 he published The Lion's Roar, his anthology of the Pali Canon. Another early group was established in Melbourne in 1938 by Leonard Bullen, and was called The Buddhist Study Group. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the second World War in 1939 put a stop to this promising start.

Women played an important part in the development of Buddhism in Australia. Marie Byles, the first woman solicitor in the country and also a prominent conservationist, feminist and pacifist, wrote many books and articles on Buddhism in the 1940s and 1950s. Only one of her books, Footprints of Gautama the Buddha, is still in print. She gave many talks in Sydney as well as broadcasting on the Theosophical Society's regular Sunday night radio program on Radio Station 2GB. Marie Byles studied Vipassana meditation in Burma, and built a meditation hut in the garden of her Sydney home which is still there to this day. Her home and garden have been given to the people of Sydney as a quiet retreat. Her extensive library of Buddhist books, including a full set of the Tripitika in English, was bequeathed to the library of the University of Sydney.

In 1952, the first Buddhist nun visited Australia. Sister Dhammadina, born in the USA and with thirty years experience in Sri Lanka, was sponsored by Dr Malasekera, the first president of the World Fellowship of Buddhists. Although she was already 70 years old, Sister Dhammadina was enterprising and energetic, and her 11 months in Sydney helped to further the growing interest in Buddhism.

The first Buddhist societies in Australia

Around this time, the Buddhist Society of New South Wales, Australia's oldest surviving Buddhist society, was established by Leo Berkeley, a Sydney businessman. A leading member of this group was Natasha Jackson, who edited the publication Metta from 1955 (originally Buddhist News, edited by Gordon Lishman) and who exerted a powerful influence on the development of Australian Buddhism over the next 20 years. In 1953, the Buddhist Society of Victoria and the Buddhist Society of Queensland were established. Until the 1960s, the focus in Sydney was strongly Theravadin while in Melbourne it was more eclectic with both Theravadin and Japanese Zen influences. In 1973, the Buddhist Society of Western Australia was formed in Perth. This society was also primarily Theravadin.

In 1958, the Sydney-based Buddhist Federation of Australia was formed with Charles Knight as its chairperson and Natasha Jackson as a central figure. The Federation took over publication of Metta, later renaming it Buddhism Today. This journal is still published to this day, making it the oldest continuing Buddhist publication in Australia.

The Chinese Buddhist Society of Australia was established in Sydney in 1972 by businessman Eric Liao, who had arrived in Australia in 1961.

Visits to Australia by Sangha from overseas

In 1954, Venerable U Thittila came to Australia from Burma in the first of his three trips to give talks and guidance to the newly formed Buddhist societies. Venerable Narada Thera came a year later from Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Buddhist Society of Queensland. Sister Dhammadina returned to Australia in 1957. These visits received extensive publicity, and during this time the membership of the Buddhist societies doubled to around 100 in Sydney and 40 in Melbourne. As in the past, the majority of those drawn to Buddhism were well educated, in professional or managerial occupations, or in the arts and literature.

During the 1960s, notable visitors included the abbot of Higashi Hongan-ji temple in Kyoto; the Venerable Piyadassi Thera from Sri Lanka; the famous Vietnamese teacher and writer, the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh; and the Venerable Phra Sasanasobhon, chair of the Mahamakut Educational Foundation of Thailand.

The establishment of Mahayana in Australia

A master of the Chinese Zen tradition arrived in Sydney from Hong Kong in 1961. He was Hsuan Hua, also known as An-tz'u and To-lun. Language difficulties and the strong Theravada orientation of Western Buddhists in Sydney limited his impact and he left in 1961 to go to California where he later founded the monastic complex, `City of the Ten Thousand Buddhas'. The Soto Zen Buddhist Society was formed in Sydney in 1961, and the Sydney Zen Centre was established in 1976. This centre was associated with the Soto Zen Diamond Sangha in Hawaii. Robert Aitken Roshi, the director of the Hawaiian centre, visited annually in the early years, and his Australian-born disciple, John Tarrant Roshi (now living in California) has continued his work. During the 1970s and 1980s, small groups dedicated to the practice of Zen were formed in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

The first monasteries in Australia

During the 1970s, there was a strong growth of interest in Buddhism, especially among young people. During this period, it has been estimated that close to 300 Australians attended the annual retreats in northern India and Nepal conducted by Tibetan teachers such as Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa. In Thailand, perhaps as many as 200 Australians may have been ordained as monks for various periods of time in Thailand. By this time also, large numbers of immigrants and refugees from Asia were coming to Australia to settle, and many of these were Buddhists. The time was ripe for establishment of the first Buddhist monasteries in Australia.

The Venerable Somaloka, a young Sri Lankan monk, arrived in Sydney in 1971, initially at the invitation of the Buddhist Society of New South Wales. On Vesak Day, 1973, the Australian Buddhist Vihara was opened at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, a short distance to the west of Sydney. This was the first monastery in Australia. Venerable Somaloka still resides there, but the temple has never been attended by large numbers of Buddhists and its influence on the growth of Buddhism in Australia has been limited.

In 1973, Venerable Phra Khantipalo, an English-born monk from Wat Bovoranives in Thailand, arrived in Sydney. Shortly later, he was followed by Phra Chao Khun Pariyattikavee from the Mahamakut Foundation in Thailand. Phra Khantipalo spent the next 2 years teaching throughout Australia. On Vesak Day, 1995, Wat Buddharangsee (`monastery of the Buddha's radiance') was opened at Stanmore in Sydney by the Crown Prince of Thailand in the presence of Phra Khantipalo and his teacher, Somdet Phra Nyanasamsvara, and 7 other visiting abbots. Under the leadership of its abbot Phra Mahasamai, this temple served not only the Thai community in Sydney, but also Laotian, Cambodian, Burmese, Malaysian, and even Vietnamese and Chinese Buddhists before these groups were in a position to set up their own temples. Phra Mahasamai, now Tan Chao Khun Samai, still works tirelessly for the betterment of the whole Buddhist community in Sydney.

In 1978, Phra Khantipalo and the German-born nun Ayya Khema established Wat Buddha Dhamma in a bushland setting at Wiseman's Ferry north of Sydney. This functioned mainly as a centre for meditation and retreats, and appealed to many Westerners who were attracted to Buddhism.

Soon, other ethnic groups (Cambodian, Laotian, Burmese, Sri Lankans and Vietnamese) were establishing temples, mainly in Sydney and Melbourne where these groups had settled in largest numbers. A Chinese temple was established in Sydney's Chinatown district in 1972. This was followed by the Hwa Tsang Monastery at Homebush, where the first and still current abbot was the Venerable Tsang Hui.

Vietnamese Buddhist organisations in Australia

Vietnamese Buddhist temples began to be established in the 1980s. In 1981, the senior Vietnamese Buddhist monk, the Most Venerable Thich Phuoc Hue, arrived in Australia to form the Vietnamese Buddhist Federation of Australia. This organisation, now known as the United Vietnamese Congregations of Australia, has branch temples in all Australian states except Tasmania. Other prominent Vietnamese groups are the Vietnamese Buddhist Society of New South Wales (Venerable Thich Bao Lac), the Lotus Buds Sangha (followers of Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh), Linn Son (with headquarters in France and centres in Queensland and Victoria) and the Middle Way (Venerable Thich Minh Thien of the Buddha Relics Vihara in Sydney).. Their temples usually follow Mahayana traditions, especially Pure Land and Ch'an, and the Bodhisattva Kuan Yin is frequently venerated. Many temples also have youth groups and offer part-time classes in Vietnamese language and customs to help young people born in Australia to maintain their culture.

Tibetan Buddhism in Australia

Although the number of Tibetans in Australia is relatively small, the Vajrayana tradition is very attractive to many Westerners and the Tibetan influence in Australian Buddhism is strong. For example, nearly one third of all Buddhist organisations in Sydney is Tibetan. The Dalai Lama has visited Australia three times (1982, 1992 and 1996) and on each occasion he has drawn huge crowds of the general public as well as giving great joy and inspiration to Buddhists of all traditions.

Numbers of Buddhists in Australia

Although many Australians are interested in Buddhism, the number of Westerners who identify themselves as Buddhists is still very small. Most Buddhists in Australia are immigrants from Asia.

From Table 1, which has been taken from figures published by the Australian government from the 1991 Census, it can be seen that people of Vietnamese origin are the largest single ethnic group of Buddhists, and that they make up nearly one third of all Australian Buddhists. Not all people born in Viet Nam were Buddhist - 35% of them identified as Catholic, and 60% as Buddhist.

Less than a quarter of all Australian Buddhists were born in Australia, and of those, only one quarter had both parents born in Australia.

Chinese Buddhists came from many countries, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia as well as the People's Republic of China.

Growth in Buddhism in Australia

Numbers grew rapidly between 1981 and 1991, increasing by almost 300%. Buddhists have become Australia's fastest growing religious group, but they are still less than one percent of the Australian population (Table 2).

Table 2: Buddhists by State and Territory,and as percentage of Australian population, 1891-1991

Source: Australian Census figures, reported in Adam and Hughes, The Buddhists in Australia, Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1996.

Year NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT ACT Total %

1891 10,120 6,746 - 3,936 1,089 826 - - 22,717 1.2

1901 5,471 4,807 - 3,190 844 353 - - 14,665 0.5

1911 3,516 1,273 3,327 97 2,265 169 1,317 0 11,964 0.3

1921 2,790 1,063 1,931 149 1,667 70 672 6 8,348 0.2

1933 850 177 324 59 354 3 55 5 1,827 -

1947 450 201 102 12 90 9 62 0 926 -

1981 15,635 9,474 2,967 2,229 2,971 236 499 1,062 35,073 0.2

1986 35,112 23,265 5,768 5,847 7,177 439 885 1,890 80,383 0.5

1991 58,735 42,349 11,638 8,529 13,499 713 1,370 2,962 139,795 0.8

Geographical spread of Buddhists in Australia

The geographical distribution of Buddhists in Australia reflects the destinations of recent immigrants. Almost all settled in the capital cities, and most (around 79%) settled in Sydney and Melbourne (Table 3). Although the percentage of Buddhists in Australia is only around 0.8%, they form a more significant proportion of the population in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin.

Table 3: Buddhists living in the capital cities of Australia

Source: 1991 Australian Census, Capital City Comparison Series, Religion, reported in Adam and Hughes, The Buddhists in Australia, Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1996.

City Number % of all % of population

Buddhists in each city in Australia

Sydney 54,859 42.4 1.55
Melbourne 40,797 31.5 1.35
Brisbane 8,631 6.7 0.65
Adelaide 8,185 6.3 0.80
Perth 12,497 9.7 1.09
Hobart 412 0.3 0.23
Darwin 1,077 0.8 1.37
Canberra 2,962 2.3 1.06
Total 129,420 100.00 0.8

Buddhist organisations and temples in Australia

Australia is fortunate in that all the major traditions and sects in world Buddhism can be found there. Each of the ethnic groups which migrated to Australia has tended to establish its own temples, often bringing out monks and nuns from the home country to provide religious leadership and teaching to the community. In addition, many groups of Westerners have set up meditation groups, study centres and country retreats to further their practice of Buddhism. Table 4 gives details of the range and spread of Buddhist organisations throughout the nation.

Table 4: Buddhist organisations in Australia, by tradition, State and Territory, 1995

Source: BuddhaNet, derived from lists prepared by Buddhist Council of New South Wales.

Buddhist NSW Vic Qld SA WA Tas NT Total

tradition Theravada

Burmese 1 - - - 2 - - 3
Cambodian 1 2 2 1 - - - 6
Indonesian 1 - - - - - - 1
Lao 1 2 1 - - - - 4
Malaysian 1 - - - - - - 1
Sri Lankan 2 1 1 1 1 - - 6
Thai 3 3 1 1 - - - 8
Vipassana 1 1 2 - - - - 4
Other 7 2 2 1 3 1 1 16

Theravada
Total Theravada 18 11 9 3 6 1 1 49

Mahayana
Ch'an 1 - - - - - - 1
Chinese 5 1 1 1 1 - - 9
Kegon/Tendai 1 - - - - - - 1
Korean 1 - - - - - - 1
Pure Land 4 2 - 1 3 - - 10
Sinshu 1 - - - - - - 1
(Japan)
Tibetan - - - - 1 1 - 2
Vietnamese 2 4 4 - - - - 10
Zen 3 2 5 - 1 1 - 12
Other 1 2 - - 1 1 - 5

Mahayana
Total Mahayana 19 11 10 2 7 3 0 52

Vajrayana
Dzogchen 4 2 - - 1 - - 7
Other 11 4 5 3 3 2 1 29

Vajrayana
Total Vajrayana 15 6 5 3 4 2 1 36

Western 2 1 - - - - - 3
Buddhist
Non-Sectarian 10 4 4 1 2 - 1 22
Other 4 - 1 - - - - 5
Total 68 33 29 9 19 6 3 167

Number of monks and nuns in Australia

It is difficult to give a precise figure for the number of monks and nuns in Australia. Some members of the Sangha who are Australian residents may spend regular periods of time overseas, and at any time there would be a number of monks and nuns from overseas who are on extended visits to Australia. A reasonably conservative estimate would be that there are at least 200 monks and nuns in Australia.

Buddhist influences on art and literature in Australia

A number of Australian artists and writers have been strongly influenced by Eastern philosophy, religion and aesthetics. These include the painters Godfrey Miller, Ian Fairweather, John Olsen, Brett Whiteley and Margaret Preston, and the poets Harold Stewart, Max Dunn, Colin Johnson and Robert Gray. These influences included Buddhism, particularly Zen Buddhism. Some Australians were drawn to Buddhism through art and literature. One of these was Les Oates who took up the practice of Zen during his time in Japan after the war and who started the Buddhist Society of Victoria in 1953, along with Len Henderson. Adrian Snodgrass, a lecturer in Architecture at the University of Sydney, has been influenced by Zen and Pure Land Buddhism and has published several authoritative works on Buddhist art.

The future of Buddhism in Australia

The history of Buddhism in Australia has passed through several stages. From its introduction to Australia until the 1960s, Buddhism was kept alive by a small number of dedicated Westerners. With increased migration to Australia from Asian countries from the 1970s, Buddhism entered a period of rapid growth. It now ranks as the third most populous religion in Australia, after Christianity and Islam. As immigration has now levelled off and may slow down even further, future growth in Buddhism will have to come from within. There are both positive and negative indicators for such future growth.

It is critical that young people from Buddhist families have the opportunity to learn the Dharma so that they have a framework to guide their lives in the predominantly secular and materialistic culture of Australia. Many temples have educational programs, but these programs cannot reach all. Religious education for those of all faiths is provided in government schools, but there is a drastic shortage of volunteers from the Buddhist community to provide this teaching.

Increasing numbers of Westerners are being drawn to Buddhism, but for many this goes no further than reading about Buddhism, or practicing meditation to seek relaxation and peace of mind. For some it is difficult to become more actively engaged in Buddhism because the majority of Buddhist temples cater to specific ethnic groups, and Westerners may encounter language or cultural barriers in attempting to get involved. It is important that temples seek to develop devotional and teaching modes which cater to the broader Australian community rather than to only one ethnic group.

Given the enormous diversity in Australian Buddhism, there is a need for organisations which can provide a bridge and an opportunity for joint activity between the many Buddhist groups. In New South Wales, this function is performed by the Buddhist Council of New South Wales. It coordinates shared activities such as joint Vesak celebrations for all the traditions and ethnic groups to come together. It also provides representation to government and the media, distributes Buddhist literature, answers questions from the general public and directs them to the appropriate Buddhist organisation for further help. The newly formed Buddhist Council of Victoria performs a similar function in Victoria.

Provided that some problems can be overcome, Buddhism in Australia seems set for a period of growth which is steady but not as rapid as in the past 20 years. May we find support in the Triple Gem for our efforts, and may all beings be well and happy in the Dharma.

References

The Buddhists in Australia, Enid Adam and Philip J. Hughes, Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1996.

A History of Buddhism in Australia 1848-1988, Paul Croucher, New South Wales University Press, Sydney, 1989.Many Faiths One Nation, edited by Ian Gillman, William Collins, Sydney, 1988.

Buddhist Society of Queensland

The Buddhist Society of Queensland is NOT a religious organization. It is a devoted to the study of the philosophy and the practices of the teaching of Gotama, the Buddha. Particular attention is paid to differences between this teaching and the major religions of the world like Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.  

Address
: PO Box 536, Toowong, QLD 4066 Qld
Tradition: Theravada, Pali Buddhism, Western
Phone: (07) 5559 4160 (President), (07) 3371 3787 (Secretary)
EMail: slsoc@uq.net.au
Website: http://www.vgweb.org/bsq/
Contact: Dr. Victor Gunasekara (Secretary)

Goodna Temple - Queensland



Address: 108 Eric Street Goodna Qld 4300
Tradition: Theravada, Sri Lankan
Phone: (07) 3818 8806
EMail: sugathasara@yahoo.com
Contact: Jaya (Secretary) (Phone: 07 3372 7663)
Teacher: Ven. Sugatha Sara Thero
Web sitehttp://bvoqld.org/
Main Contact: Ven.Wilagama Anandanda Siri
Secretary: Mr Asela Devendra


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2010 Events
March 2010
27th Curry Night - Fund Raising Event
April 2010
17th Anointing Oil to Cerebrate Sinhalese & Hindu New Year
May 2010
15th Youth Retreat _By Saman Fernando (Buddhist Vihara Victoria)
 22nd Vesak Celebration at Kangaroo Point
 29th Vesak Pandol at Goodna Temple
June 2010
05th Annual Sil Program for children
19th Poson Dansala at Goodna Temple
 26th Poson Pinkama at Goodna Temple
July 2010
24th Vas Aradana
 31st Annual General Meeting
August 2010
07th Atavisi Buddha Pooja
September 2010
11th Dhamma Sermon
October 2010
09th Stitching of Katina Cheevara
November 2010
06th Katina Pinkama - Pirith Chanting
 07th Annual Katina Dana Pinkama
December 2010
11th Dhamma Sermon
 12th Dana Pinkama to Commemorate Ven. Mahanayaka Thero and Ven. Soma Thero


Samadhi Grove - Queensland

Address: 33 Strawberry Road Mudgeeraba Qld 4213
Tradition: Theravada, Sri Lankan
Affiliation: Sri Subodharma Monastery Sri Lanka
Phone: 61 07 5522 7808
EMail: susilascott@bigpond.com.au
Spiritual Director: Ven. Susila (Phone: 07 5522 7808)
Main Contact: Jacqui (Phone: 07 5535 1885)

Notes and Events:
Meditation and discussions Wed. evenings 7.00pm
Sil day: Meditation, discussions, Dana: 22nd June, 20th July, 17th Aug, 14th Sept, 12th Oct, 16th Nov,14th Dec.
Half and Full day retreats are scheduled please phone for details. (Sorry we are only able to accommodate women at this time).

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Katoomba Temple - Australian Buddhist Vihara - New South Wales


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Address: 43 Cliff Drive Katoomba NSW 2780 NSW
Tradition: Theravada, Sri Lanka
Phone: (02) 4782 2704 ( Vihara)
EMail: renebuhler@yahoo.com
Main Contact: Rene and Jane Buhler (Phone: (02) 4782 1317)
Spiritual Director: Ven. Kudagala Kovida

Friday, March 5, 2010

Mahamevnawa Bhavana Monastery of Sydney - New South Wales



Address :
76 New Line Road
Cherrybrook
New South Wales 2126Email : mahamevnasydney@gmail.com
Telephone: 02 9945 0977

Web Site :http://www.mahamevnaaus.org

Brisbane Buddhist Vihara - Queensland


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Address:
76 Lovat Street, Ellen Grove, QLD 4078
Tel: (07) 3879 1570
Resident Thero: Rev. Rakkhita

Buddhist Vihara of Queensland - Wacol - Queensland


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(Formerly known as QLD. Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara Assoc.)
Address:
62 Monteray Street, Wacol, QLD 4076
Tel: (07) 3271 3110
Contact: Ven. Upatissa or Ven. Sugatha Sara

Sri Lanka Buddhist Monastery - Queensland


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Address:114 Considine Road, Ellen Grove, QLD 4077
Tel: (07) 3879 3244
Email: monastery@dodo.com.au
Chief Thero: Ven. Dhammawasa
Contact: Ven. Sujatha, Ven. Sativihari
Web site : http://www.sambodhi.org/mainframe.html

PARAMITHA Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple (St Albans Temple)


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Address:
181 Paynes Road
Rockbank


Melway 344 D6

Telephone:(03) 9747 1902

Chief Resident Thero: Ven Pallawela Dewarakkita thera (MA Dip Edu)
Resident Thero: Ven Paregama Chandraloka thera (MA)

Website http://www.paramithavihara.org.au
E-mail: paramithatemple@hotmail.com

Samadhi Buddhist Meditation Centre - Cambellfield


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Address:
9 Malcome Place
Cambellfield
Phone: (03) 9357 7266
Contact:Ven. Horawpothane Sathindriya Thero
Website: http://samadhibuddhistvihara.blogspot.com/

More : http://hume-leader.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/kids-learn-to-meditate-at-campbellfield-temple/

Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara - Berwick


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Address:
125 Holmstead Road
Berwick
Melways 130 J2

Telephone:(03) 9702 6275

Contact: Ven. Digamadulle Wimalananda Thero ,
Ven. Nepalye Upathissa Thero

Dhamma Sarana Vihara - Keysborough


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Address:

329-335 Greens Road
Keysborough


Telephone:(03) 9769 0872

Contact : Ven. Naotunne Vijitha Thero , Ven. Rathmale Methajee Thero

Website :http://www.dhammasarana.org.au/
Email: info@dhammasarana.org.au

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Daham Niketanaya - Yuroke


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Address:

1690 Mickleham Road
Yuroke
Telephone:(03) 9333 4848
Contact:
Ven. Kotte Santhrindaya Thero ,
Ven. Weerapotha Chandraratne Thero

Dhamma Deepa Meditation Centre (Dandenong Buddhist Temple)


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Address:
43 Hemmings Street,
Dandenong,
Victoria 3175
Australia

TEL: (03) 9794 9492
FAX: (03) 9708 0264

E-mail : info@dhammadeepa.org.au

Website :http://www.dhammadeepa.org.au

International Centre for Inner Peace and Happiness


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Contact :Ven. Bodhicitta
Telephone:(03) 9794 0759

The Centre
The Centre was recently formed to promote meditation and the teachings of Buddha. We liaise
with worldwide Buddhist societies and Interfaith Religious Organisations to promote tolerance to all
schools of Buddhist thought as well as to other religious faiths.
The Centre fosters inter-religious harmony, mutual understanding and maintains an environment of
respect and peace.

This society is led by Ven. Bodhicitta, a Sri Lankan born Buddhist nun. Our society is in its infancy and
the services we provide are free for the general public regardless of their origin, race or religion. This society
is managed by the generosity of people who value our service.

Aims and Objectives
1. To foster the teachings and the practice of the Buddha Dhamma, and the practice of meditation with
an emphasis on the good life and the mindful life.
2. To disseminate through our religious and educational programmes the basic values of tolerance
and interconnectedness in reaching out to other schools of Buddhism and other religious, ethnic and
cultural groups.
3. To develop concrete projects that would enhance the health and psychological well-being of our
community. As in the world in which we live, ‘stress’ continues to exact a toll on everyday life, we are
increasingly turning to ancient meditative methods.
These techniques of mindfulness practice need to be integrated in to any counselling programme.
4. To focus attention on the role of families in helping to build up a youth culture and develop a ‘youth
forum’ for a dialogue with young people.
5. To encourage members and their friends to engage in social and charity projects to assist those in need in
the community.

Services
The services provided by our centre include:
  • Providing regular classes for teaching the Dhamma and meditation practice.
  • Established library and reading services for members and their families.
  • Developing a program for young people modelled on the “The schooling for the Good Heart” in the USA.
  • This program would have a specific focus on the education of the emotions through mindfulness
  • practice.
  • Organising regular talks and seminars on ‘counselling education’.
  • Establishing links with worldwide Buddhist societies






Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara - Adelaide


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Phone: 08 8165 0326
EMail: asbvihara@gmail.com
Contact:Ven. Udugabbala Sumedha Thero
Address: 
13 Brookside Road
Athelstone
SA 5076

More : http://www.adelaidebuddhistvihara.org.au

Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara - Canberra


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Website :http://www.slbvc.org

Location: 30, Jenke Circuit
Kambah 2902
Australia

Postal Address: Australia Sri Lanka Buddhist Association
30, Jenke Circuit
Kambah
ACT 2902
Australia

Telephone:+61 2 6296 2503
e-Mail: info@slbvc.org

Kallista Buddhist Temple


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Contact (03) 9755 3378

Buddhaloka Buddhist Centre (Buddhist Society of Victoria)


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Contact::(03) 9571 640
Web site :http://www.bsv.net.au/

Ven. Ginalankara Thero ,Ven. Mihintale Kamalasiri Thero

Bodhivana Monastery - Warburton


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Location: 780 Woods Point Road, East Warburton.
 Bodhivana Monastery is a Buddhist monastery of Thai forest tradition.
Contact: (03) 5966 5999