FABC News
International Virtual Vesak | Thurs 7th May 11am AEST
Dear Friends, You probably have have virtual gatherings with your local temple, and don't forget the FABC's eVesak which is coming up soon on Sunday 10th May.
But just yesterday we have gotten to know that the International Buddhist Confederation will be having a Virtual Vesak to which we are all welcome join with the worldwide Buddhist Community to celebrate the most important Buddhist day of the year: Vesak.
You can join them either via Facebook or YouTube. The event is Thursday 7th May 2020 at 6:30am IST (which is 11am in Sydney AEST).
Joint submission from The Australian Sangha Association and Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils on the 2nd draft of the Religious Freedom Bills
The Australian Sangha Association and Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils find the latest draft of the Religious Freedom Bills to be more discriminatory than the first.
Our submission asks you to imagine the following scenario:
It is Australia Day 2020. All through the afternoon, stories have flashed across media regarding the inclusiveness and tolerance of Australian society and what it means to be Australian. Stories of people from far away lands and differing cultures who have come to our shores to make a new life for them and their families.
Mothers spoke with joy at the opportunities afforded to their children through our education system to become doctors or teachers. We wonder if their joy would remain if in the future they found out their son or daughter was not offered a position at a prestigious hospital or school because they were not of the right religion for the selectors while another candidate was. Would this new Australian consider this right of religious hospitals, schools or aged care centres to preference candidates based upon religion as suggested in this second round of the Religious Freedom Bill, fair? Would our new immigrants still be proud to call our wonderful nation home?
In an ever increasing multi-cultural and multi-faith population that includes greater numbers of non-religious people each year, the spiritual and religious landscape of Australia is shifting slowly to one where religion and spirituality are becoming more personal and private, in the home and places of worship. While in the public arena the traditional role of religious positions is shrinking.
Does this mean that religion and spirituality will no longer have a place in Australia’s future? We don’t think so. But its place in Australia is a changing. For most Australians the days of hell fire and brimstone sermons from the pulpit are gone. Today the role of a religious or spiritual leader, whether ordained or lay, is to help build and cultivate this wonderfully tolerant, accepting and inclusive society that we celebrate today.
Proposed Religious Discrimination Bill
Religious Freedom Statement by the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils (FABC)
We live in a wonderful pluralistic society with people of diverse views.
Article 18 of the The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCP) states: -
Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching…
The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion belongs to all the religions: the theistic, the non-theistic, those moving towards, away from, or between religions and people of no religion.
Freedom of Religion sits alongside and in partnership with other basic human rights to which Australia is committed to uphold. These include freedom of expression, freedom from sexual discrimination and the right to be free from discrimination. There is no hierarchy of these human rights. Freedom of religion is not higher than the other human rights.
Vesak Message from Leader of the Opposition
VESAK 2019
It gives me great pleasure to send my best wishes to the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils and all its members on the festive occasion of Vesak.
Vesak commemorates the birth of Gautama Buddha, and his Enlightenment and final passage into Nirvana.
Over 500,000 Buddhists call Australia home, making a strong and long-lasting contribution to our diverse and vibrant multicultural nation.
As our Buddhist community unites in veneration of Buddha and his teachings during Vesak, may we all be inspired in our pursuit of happiness, peace and equality for all people.
Vesak Message from Prime Minister
MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER VESAK 2019
Vesak is a day of the greatest significance for all who adhere to the Buddhist faith.
It is also an opportunity for communities around the world to acknowledge the significance of this day and its message of peace, goodwill and compassion.
Buddhism has a strong history in Australia, and the contribution of Buddhist thought to our culture and society is greatly valued.
In a time of increasing global uncertainty and unrest, the Buddha’s teachings of equality, respect and understanding have growing relevance to all who wish to build a more caring and peaceful world.
Letter to NZ High Comm - Christchurch Terrorist Attack
Hon. Dame Annette King,
High Commissioner for New Zealand,
Canberra.
Dear Dame King,
On behalf of the Buddhist Council of NSW I would like to express our deep sadness at the tragedy in Christchurch today. Such violence, for any reason, is terrible. It is particular awful when it is directed towards a particular religious or cultural group.
I listened to your Prime Minister’s talk earlier today, and was reminded of the words from the Dhammpada, an early account of the sayings of the Buddha: