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Buddhist Hour
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Buddhist Hour Script 326 for Sunday 25 April 2004


This script is entitled:
Prolonging the Buddha Sasane - How we support Buddhist Organisations locally, nationally and internationally

At the turn of the century it has been commonplace for modern day soothsayers to comment that the key trends in the coming period are globalism and tribalism.

In 2001 Paul James wrote in Relating Global Tensions: Modern Tribalism and Postmodern Nationalism; that social life is presented as if we are simultaneously both going forward into the technologically driven world of globalisation, e-commerce, Planet Hollywood and abstract 'peace', and at the same time back into the ambivalent, anachronistic gloom of neo-national violent tribalisms.

He explained that globalisation is not a new system... it is a process with long historical roots that has been developing at an unprecedented pace though the end of the twentieth century and into this new millennium. He writes that the idea of 'tribe' names real, self-reproducing and changing communities living in the world today.

Globalisation provides much more material for further study as it has an effect on the politics, economics and the culture of Buddha Dhamma.

Drawing from ideas presented in Luciano Floridi's 1999 book 'Philosophy and Computing: an introduction we can say that: we as philosophers, and scholars, should be able to get the most out of what has been made easier by Information Communication Technology (ICT), get the best out of what has been made possible for the first time by ICT, and finally suggest new ICT applications for future needs. Our Centre's aim is to fulfill these goals.

We aim to deliver a mass education system about the best insights that Buddha Dhamma can deliver.

Through the use of the internet our Buddha Dhamma Centre has become accessible to Buddhist scholars and practitioners globally.

With Information and Communication Technologies our communications can be exchanged quickly and across large distances. Global information exchange and communications have become almost instantaneous. Thompson (2002) wrote that “one of the salient features of communication in the modern world is that it takes place on a scale that is increasingly global.”

In the same vein Henning (1998) wrote, “In combination with satellite technology, communications have become increasingly digital, global and immediate”. The Information Age means efficient and affordable means of information and communication exchange.

As part of our Centre's activities our Members work on projects to support Buddhist Organisations locally, nationally and globally.

It is one of 12 items comprising our Centre's Code of Conduct, which is incorporated into our daily Buddha Dhamma practice, and reviewed regularly.

The complex nature of our Centre's Global operations demands persons who are practical in tracking our support systems.

We maintain a strong public relations program attending peak local and state events such as the Annual General Meeting of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, of which our Centre has been a Members for many years.

As a Regional Centre of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) since 1990 our senior Members participate in the WFB's bi-annual conferences meeting with Venerable Members of the Sangha and our Buddha Dhamma friends from around the world.

In 1998 we attended the bi-annual conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held at the Nan Tien Temple in Woolongong new South Wales, providing rapporteurs and IT support for the conference.

Recently our Members assisted the organising committee for the Australian Buddhist General Conference - 'Engaging Buddhism in Australia' held on 20 to 22 February 2004 at Victoria University, St Albans Campus.

Convened by The Buddhist Federation of Australia, Victoria University and Buddhist Council of Victoria the three day conference was attended by over three hundred persons from both Australia and overseas.

It was blessed by the attendance of the Most Venerable Thich Phuoc Hue, Head of the United Vietnamese Congregation of Australia and New Zealand, and over fifty members of the Sangha, Monks and Nuns, from the Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana and Zen traditions.

Seven of our Members worked as Volunteers over the three days of the conference, as attendants to the Sangha (monks and nuns) throughout each the day, offering dana and responding to the Sangha's needs as appropriate. Other tasks fulfilled by our Members included: photographing, rapportuering, ushers, drivers and workshop participants. Our Vice-President International Dhamma Activities Pennie White participated as our representative and Liason Officer for the World Buddhist University.

A report on the Conference proceedings was prepared and forwarded to the World Buddhist University. A full report on the Conference proceedings can be read at www.bddronline.net.au Volume 14 No.1.

Today our Centre will be represented at a public Dhamma talk by Venerable Master Shen by our President Mr Julian Bamford, Direct Julie O'Donnell and Members Lisa Nelson and Lenore Hamilton. The is titled "Chan and Building a Pure Land on Earth" and will be held at the Manningham Function Centre, Melbourne.

We maintain correspondence with many Venerable Members of the Sangha and Buddhist community globally, both by email and traditional post, sending and receiving many blessings and good wishes.

We presently have six distinct websites, that since the addition of site visitation meters have recorded 26,329 visits, as at 17 April 2004.

We have learnt how to systematise the handling and preservation of captured data in digital form. We have thousands of colour photographs from two digital cameras, backed up to CD’s for storage and use by our webmasters.

In 1998 we launched our first website, www.bdcu.org.au and today holds 2300 files of Buddha Dhamma in text and graphics totaling 74.9 megabites.

It was followed by the www.bdcublessings.net.au website launched in 2000. The site is made up of mostly text content with a total of 463 files.

Among the resources found on our bdcublessings website are our weekly Buddhist Hour radio scripts where visitors can view 290 of the 326 broadcast scripts we have written since our first broadcast in 1998. The scripts average 2500 words in length.

In the future we plan to have our digitally recorded programs available online for internet visitors around the world.

Our bsbonline.com.au website holds 1613 files, or 60.8 megabites of data including hundreds of photographs of projects at our Temple as well as special events and ceremonies. The Brooking Street Bugle is produced as an internal publication providing information on the way we do things at our Centre.

We published online to provide helpful information for Buddhists and Regional Centres around the world. Using our internal email communications the BSB includes details about a wide range of day to day projects and fundraising events such as our markets and flower stalls, as well as building maintenance and the daily operation of our Centre.

Our flagship publication the Buddha Dhyana Dana Review (BDDR) is now in is fourteenth year. The BDDR began as a paper based publication distributed to Buddhist friends and Buddha Dhamma Centres in Australia over forty countries around the world.

In 2000 we began publishing the BDDR online. In 2001 with the rising cost of printing and postage we chose to cease paper based publishing in favour of the internet, and created our www.bddronline.net.au.

We hope to start publishing a printed version for distribution again in the future.

As of today the bddronline website holds 20 volumes of the Buddha Dhyana Dana Review

For over 20 years we have been supporting the Dhammarajika Orphanage in Bangladesh. Each week we receive donations from visitors to our stall at the Camberwell Market. We send payments of donations each quarter to the orphanage including monies from our collection boxes at city retail stores.

We hope our ongoing support helps the Dharmarajika Buddhist Orphanage to continue their excellent Buddha Dhamma activities.

We have many benefactors from whom we receive blessings and support including the Most Venerable Phra Ajarn Plien Panyapatipo and the Most Venerable Phra Sithichoke Sithiyakara both from Thailand.

Our Centre operates as a peak organisation carrying the ideals of the World Fellowship of Buddhists.

We have been an Associated Institution and training Centre of the World Buddhist University since 2002. The objectives of the WBU include :

To promote among the Members strict observance and practice of the teachings of the Buddha
To propagate the sublime doctrine of the Buddha
To organise and carry on activities in the field of social, cultural and other humanitarian services.

A deep and comprehensive treatment of a variety of classical methods to help self and others is taught at our Centre.

Within this clear framework the Chan Academy Australia holds a range of Buddha Dhamma Programs in the course of each year reaching out locally through our network of friends and globally though our websites and electronic communications.

On Saturday 24 April visiting Master Andre Sollier taught Sumi-e at our Centre. The class was the first for the 2004 program of eight classes, titled the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. For Sumi-e classes five to eight, July to November, Master Sollier will teach the classical style and techniques of Sumi-e painting.

Each class is recorded and photographed for the benefit of future students and the preservation of these rare teachings of this ancient practice. Photographs and video recording of some of Master Solliers teachings can be viewed at our online Chan Painting Exhibition at www.buyresolved.com.au

Our weekly Buddha Dhamma teaching program includes visiting members of the Sangha from the Sri Lankan Sakyamuni Buddha Vihara Temple at Berwick. Venerable Vimalananda and Venerable Upatissa attend on a rotating basis on Monday evenings to teach Dhamma and guide meditation.

We are currently scanning and uploading photographs onto our website at www.bddronline.net.au - Volume 14 No.2 of Venerable Upatissa's recent pilgrimage to India, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.

Abhidhamma is taught at our Centre each Tuesday evening as part of a nine year program. We are now in our second year and the weekly class notes can be found online at www.bddronline.net.au

Two of our Members are studying Vinaya Rules, and as part of this program are compiling a set of guidelines for Members and new students in how to act in the presence of Members of the Sangha. The weekly class reports are included in our Brooking Street Bugle and uploaded to our website at www.bsbonline.com.au.

Over the years Members have helped other Temples in various projects. Two Members are assisting Monks from the Shakyamuni Buddha Vihara teaching English classes at their Temple every Thursday evening.

On Friday evenings our Members study Mahayana Buddhism and are currently focussing on Teachings on the Diamond Cutter Sutta taught and recorded by Geshe Michael Roach.

The teachings by the Geshe were recorded in Bendigo Victoria. The Diamond Cutter teachings can also be downloaded from the web. Some of our Members have downloaded class notes from the Asian Classics Institute at www.world-view.org to use as our study guide and for inclusion in our library.

The first two online courses downloaded and printed are: The Principle Teachings of Buddhism, Level 1 of the steps to Buddhahood (LAM RIM), and Class 1- Overview and Lineage of the 'Three Principle Paths" - Geshe Michael Roach.

Our Centre's library the John D. Hughes Collection contains most of our sources of research information. During the last three decades the library collection has been assembled by our Teacher. This is called the John D. Hughes Collection at 33 Brooking Street, Upwey 3158 Victoria Australia.

Internally, we use search engines to find good information for researching our position papers, reports, documents for the Buddha Dhyana Dana Review, the weekly Buddhist Hour broadcast scripts as well as, for example, searching for web site addresses and matters of administration and corporate governance.

We preserve texts to propagate Buddha Dhamma by use of different media.

The text of the programs are preserved in multiple paper copies in our library, recorded on audio tapes, digital tapes, backed up on our bdcublessings website and from time to time we burn to archive onto CD’s.

We preserve Dhamma texts by publishing globally with input from papers from many great Masters.

Our publishing program provides opportunities for global private correspondence, Internet input, key articles for our Internet newsletter Buddha Dhyana Dana Review and our in house journal The Brooking Street Bugle, and practice in writing conceptual solutions to real projects.

This year we have launched a sixth website called www.e-dharma.org and in tend to develop more and more Internet sites in the future. We operate under many different regulations in different countries.

Recent additions to our websites include: THE STANZAS of Nargajunauna on the Amida Buddha and His Pure Land, translated from the French by Franny Sime is uploaded on the BDDR Online, Vol. 14 No. at http://www.bddronline.net.au/bddr14no2/stanzas.html "Compassion in Action" was a Buddha Dhamma talk given by His Eminence Luding Khenchen Rinpoche. Notes from this talk are available our edharma website.

A Buddha Dhamma talk by the Venerable Ananda Mangala titled "Buddhism begins where other religions end" is uploaded on our website http://www.edharma.org Master John D. Hughes' summary of Yogi C. M. Chen's Teachings titled "Mistakes in Meditation" is uploaded on our edharma website at URL http://www.edharma.org

A Dhamma talk titled "The Meaning of Dukkha" given by the Venerable Phra Khantipalo at the Centre in 1982 is uploaded on http://www.edharma.org Abhidhamma class 93 titled "Satipatthana Bhavana" is uploaded on the BDDR Online Vol. 14 No. 2. This paper was written by Master John D. Hughes in 1981 All of our Abhidhamma papers are available on the BDDR Online website.

In the case of the Brooking Street Bugle, we have found how to increase the very human approach online of our publication.

Now we understand we can illustrate an article with 200 colour photographs or more on our web site, whereas if we were to print it we would have to limit the range of illustrations because of physical space and economic considerations.

We have around 3000 colour photographs online on our five websites.

We want to distribute and preserve more Chan Academy Australia branded information in various modern media.

We aim to be the fifth most popular Buddha Dhamma e-resource in the world by 2008. By that year, a new fast Internet service ought to be operating.

To step up our PR programs we have a white folder titled "Coming Events at Other Organisations".

Also, some coming events at other organisations are published in the Brooking Street Bugle and are uploaded onto our websites.

For example, on Wednesday 10 March 2004, past students of the Chan Academy Australia and Chan Master John D. Hughes, June Young and Melva Fitzallen, commenced the 'School of Four Seasons' Chan painting school. The School of Four Seasons is located at 3 Emma Road, Croydon. Classes will be held Wednesdays weekly between 10am and 12noon.

We suggest that all Members keep track of what's happening at other organisations so that we know which are the important events for us to attend.

We want to continue to maintain our Temple for future students so that they can learn the Buddha Dhamma for the next 500 years at least.

One of our Directors will participate in the Multicultural Documentary Heritage Project on 9-10 June 2004 in Canberra.

The workshop, jointly provided by the National Library and National Archives, will give participants a good understanding of the issues involved in looking after an archival collection, as well as some practical skills in its management and preservation. The workshop will cover a range of topics from archives management and preservation to oral history and digitisation. The sessions will be run in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and participants will get a chance to talk to other people managing collections similar to ours. This project is where we will get the next bit, the skill to produce and carry out a 20-year plan to preserve the John D. Hughes Collection. We thank all beings that have helped us with the John D. Hughes Collection. Please continue to help.

On 10 April 2003 we held the first meeting of the Education Committee during our last five-day course.

The meeting was blessed by the attendance of Venerable Upatissa: Berwick Shakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara, Berwick, Victoria. He is currently Teaching Dhamma and meditation at the Chan Academy Australia on Monday evenings.

Our special guest speaker and Advisor to the Committee was Professor Padmasiri de Silva: Research Associate, School of Historical Studies, Monash University, Melbourne.

One of the projects discussed at the meeting was the Buddhism in Victorian Schools Project developed by the Buddhist Council of Victoria.

We train persons who can organise and promote exchange of missions, scholars and students.

We help many persons direct their activities in the community and at work towards sounder human resource development and prosperity based on a better global view of how their activities impact on their worker’s families and the need for enrichment training in globalisation processes.

May you gain the blessings of many great Buddha Dhamma teachers.

May you have easy access to the Buddha Dhamma teachings.

May you be well and happy.

We thank the Devas and Devatas of Learning for their help in and guidance with the writing of this script.

This script was written and edited by Julian Bamford, Leanne Eames, Evelin Halls and Pennie White.


References:

Chan Academy Australia, LAN 1 digital data warehouse using ISYS Text Retrieval System Search, Melbourne.

Longhair Australian News, Chan Academy Australia, ISSN 1446-5124 (Print) Vol 2. No.2 July 2003.

Gunton, Tony. Dictionary of Information Technology. Penguin. UK 1994.

White, Pennie Louise (2004) Use of Information and Communication Technology by the World Buddhist University, Bachelor of Arts (Monash University), Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Monash University), Prepared in part fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Education (Information and Communication Technologies)
Monash University, Faculty of Education, Australia, Unpublished Thesis draft March 2004.

Minutes of First Meeting of the Standing Committee on Education of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd. held 10 April 2004.


Chan Academy Australia, LAN 2 Files:
Project List: I:\PL200305.RTF
Buddhist Hour Broadcast Script 283: I:\RADIO283.rtf
Buddhist Hour Broadcast Script 248: I:\Radio248le.rtf
Outline of Teaching Program: I:\program02.rtf


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.

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

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