Buddhist Council of Western Australia

 

The Buddhist Council of WA (BCWA) is pleased to promote the “Buddhism and Australia” conference to be held 2-4 February 2012 in Perth.

This international event has drawn key names in Buddhism from around the world is organised by Vello Vaartnou who is the Head of Estonian Nyingma (a Buddhist organisation of Estonia). BCWA is pleased to assist Estonian Nyingma in this important gathering. We invite all local and national Buddhist organisations to help make this conference a huge success. Estonian Nyingma has close ties to Ajahn Brahmvamso from the WA Bodhiyana Monastery, who is a member of the organising committee for the coming conference.

Some of VIP guests who spoke during the Opening Ceremony were:

Senator Louise Pratt
Dr Lianne Cretney-Barnes, Murdoch University
Mr Brad Petitt, Mayor of Fremantle
Mr Roger Cook, MLA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Participants:

The following people and organizations are confirmed participants at the 2012 Conference:

Ven. Ajahn Brahm	Abbot of Bodhinyana monastery
Ven. Ajahn Brahmali	Bodhinyana monastery
Ven. Ajahn Sujato	Abbott of Santi monastery
Dr. Ian Cook	Murdoch university, Perth
Mr. Kim Hollow	Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils,Head
Prof.Emeritus Lewis Lancaster	California University, Berkeley USA
Dr. Oleksandr Demchenko	Buddhist scholar, Ukraine
Dr. Natalia Bolshokhoeva	Institute for Mongolian and Tibetan studies, Russian Academy of Sciencis
Mr. Francis Laleman	Beyond Borders Association, Belgium-India
Dr.Joshua Guilar	Royal Roads University, Canada
Ven.Dhittisampanno	Smaratungga Buddhist College, Indonesia
Ven.Piseth	Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Thailand
Ven.Ashin Ketu	State Pariyatti Sasana University, Myanmar
Most Ven.Phong Samaleuk	Sangharaj, Laos Buddhist Felloship President
Ven.Sayadej Vongsopha	Vat Ongtue Mahavihara, Laos
Prof. Lionel Obadia	Université Lyon 2 -Lumière, France
Dr. N.Yakhontova	Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, St.Petersburg
Dr.Tsybikodorjiev	Institute for Mongolian and Tibetan studies, Russian Academy of Sciencis
Prof. Sharad K Soni	J.Nehru University, India
Ravi Shankar Singh	Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University
Purushottam Kumar Singh	Nalanda Mahavira (Deemed University)
Dr. Bikiran Prasad Barua	University of Chittagong, Bangladesh
Ven.Dr.Wei Chan	Ren Min University, China
Ven. Dr. Yuan Liu	Ren Min University, China
Marika Laudere	Latvian University
Ven.Sreekanta Barua	Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Thailand
Dr.Anand Singh	Lucknow university
Dr.G.Manzanov	Institute for Mongolian and Tibetan studies,Russian Academy of Sciencis
R.K.Rana	Dehli University Mahatma Gandhi
HE Tulku Tenzin Dhamchoe	Drepung Gomang monastery
Ven.Thinley Jamphel	Drepung Gomang monastery
Ven.Munkhbaatar	Gandan Tegchenling monastery, Mongolia
Ven.Buda Badmayev	St. Petersburg Buddhist Temple, Head
Ven.Radnazhab lama	Ivolga Monastery, Buriatya
Ven.Prof. Jampa Tsedron	Hamburg University, Germany
Prof.Sumananda Galmangoda	University of Kelanya, Sri Lanka
Dr.Hema Goonatilake	Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka
Ven.Dhammajoti	IBC Thailand, Hong Kong University
Dr.Chimeg Oyun	National Mongolian University
Maha Upaseika Nhek Buntha	Senior advisor of Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia
Ven.Shih Hai Lien	Taipei Buddhist Asssociation, professor of the Institute of China Buddhism
Ven.Dr.Bulgan Tumeekhu	National University of Mongolia
Dr.Chimeg Oyun	National University of Mongol
Yo Ryu Alzaa Ho Shi,	Paraguai Buddhist community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conference Goals

• The conference purpose is to provide a channel for information of interest and relevance to scholars in Buddhist studies in Australasia.
• Provide a forum for an interchange of ideas between representatives of the Buddhist communities, academics and representatives of relevant government agencies on issues, problems and challenges facing Buddhist communities within the framework of present-day multicultural Australia.
• Examine the state of Buddhism in Australia, with particular reference to the role it is playing or could play in  addressing some of the problems of contemporary Society.
• Publish the papers generated by the conference on-line (www.buddhismandaustralia.com) and in several Australian institutes and universities.
• Serve as a nationwide Buddhist gathering for peace, wisdom and compassion in the interest of Australia and all human beings. This conference will provide the opportunity for all to see the big picture of what happens in the Buddhist communities so that they will be able to share wisdom on common issues affecting Buddhist practitioners and Buddhist organizations.At another level, it will give participants the opportunity to highlight the contribution of Buddhism to modern society in our country, to explore areas of weakness and to create the basis for a wider network of co-operation between different Buddhist traditions.
• To research and investigate the buddhavacana, the original teachings of the Buddha, without bias to any particular school or discipline such as Theravada, Mahayana or Vajrayana.
• To promote both the academic study of Buddhism, especially the origins of Buddhism, and the application of the teachings to daily life.
• The establishment of its own journal by the Institute which will publish articles relating to these objectives.
• To co-operate with similar centers in other academic institutions in organizing seminars and conferences, etc.

Contacts:

For further information please contact: Estonian Nyingma Vello Vaartnou Phone: +61(0)401 039 311
E-mail: estoniannyingma@gmail.com
www.budcon.com
www.buddhismandaustralia.com

Facts about Buddhism in Australia

• According to published Australian Census figures the number of Buddhists in Australia has more than doubled between 1996 and 2006. It is approaching half a million, making it the largest non-Christian religious group and the sixth largest religious group, larger than some of the more visible and more established religious communities in Australia.

• Studies and research of Buddhism in Western countries is needed to further the understanding of the expressions of Buddhism in individual countries and to provide information for international comparisons. Such research has not yet been undertaken on Buddhism in Australia.

• Academics suggest that many Australians choosing to convert to Buddhism feel dissatisfied or disillusioned with established religions, which they consider to be too rigid or intolerant. In contrast. Buddhism offers a more casual approach to membership, a feature which also makes official head-counting difficult. Unlike the world’s other major faiths. Buddhism is non-theistic (meaning there is no central God figure) and there are no formal doctrines in the sense that other.

• Australia is attracting the capital it needs – and it’s coming now from Asia, rather than from the US and Europe as in past decades. It is obvious that the better understanding Australia has about Asia and Asians, more successful they will be in dealing with the Asians. • The conference Buddhism and Australia will be attended by several top Buddhist leaders, creating an opportunity to open strong cultural relations with Asia. Having good cultural relations with Asia will benefit Australia in various ways.

• There is considerable controversy in the research literature of socially engaged Buddhist practice in Australia as to whether it is a new phenomenon cultivated in the West, or whether it has always been part of the Buddhist tradition but is now flourishing in an obvious way in the West. One of the main purpose of the conference will be gathering, analysing, networking amongst different Buddhist traditions with different practices in Western countries, specifically in Australia. This will result more united activities and directions for Australian Buddhists, establish Australian nationwide Buddhist movement and networks with rest of the world.

Contacts:

For further information please contact: Estonian Nyingma Vello Vaartnou Phone: +61(0 )401 039 311
E-mail: estoniannyingma@gmail.com
www.budcon.com
www.buddhismandaustralia.com