FABC News
Keynote Address by Professor Geoff Gallop for the Australian Sangha Association AGM, Canberra, 10 July 2008
I have been asked to speak to you today about how Buddhists (in particular Buddhist monastics) are seen from the outside. This has provided a dilemma for me. Do I speak as a fellow traveller in the search for Enlightenment? Or, do I speak as a political consultant concerned first and foremost with power and how to acquire it, manage it and use it.
Prime Minister Rudd Sends His Best Wishes to Australia's Buddhist Community
It is with pleasure that I provide this message to the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils for the Vesak on 20 May 2008.
The Buddhist festival of Vesak marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. With lanterns and lights adorning temples and homes this is an important time for spiritual renewal when Buddhists recommit to the Buddha's teaching.
Dear Mr Howard,
I am writing to you about the future of the Buddhist communities in Australia.
As the nation proceeds towards the federal election on November 24th, all interest is on what a future Prime Minister and newly elected government will promise for harmony and understanding of Australia's diverse faith communities.. This is an important issue and requires attention.
The Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils (FABC) though not supporting any particular political party. The FABC respects policies that encourage truthfulness, compassion, reconciliation, inclusiveness and harmony. Specific areas of importance are health, education, welfare, human rights and dignity, environment and climate change, chaplaincy and rights to conduct marriages. The FABC also expresses the right as a representative peak body of Buddhist Councils in Australia to put forward views and opinions that broadly reflect more than 430,000 Australian Buddhists.