FABC News
The Management Committee & Members of the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils convey our sincere best wishes for a Happy & Peaceful Festive Season, and a Safe, Fulfilling & Prosperous 2015. We wish all celebrating Christmas a wonderful Christmas.
Our hope is for a New Year where 'Respect & Dialogue' will prevail over verbal and physical conflict. May all be well and happy.
The Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils was represented in a delegation led by Ajahn Brahmavamso Thero for this majestic international event which was held at the Royal Grand Hall of Buddhism in Hyogo. Mr Kim Hollow (president) and Dr Jake Mitra (Secretary) were part of the delegation of the five member delegation which included Ven Chi Kwang and Ven Tenpa.
Congratulatory messages for this event were received by royalty and governments around the world. From Australia we were pleased to receive messages from the Australian Governor-General, the Australian Prime Minister H.E. Tony Abbott, the Premiers of Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and others.
Whenever world leaders gather, such as is happening now for the G20 conference in Brisbane; there is a potential for great good and benefit for the world and all its inhabitants. Even as economic matters are discussed there is the opportunity to take united action against climate change and environmental damage. This being the case we are pleased to release our statement on Climate Change today in this way:
"Buddhist practice teaches that one individual's existence is intimately connected with the lives of all other life-forms. This extends to the fish in the deep blue sea, animals, birds, insects and all of the plants. We note that the Buddha was born in a forest, attained full awakening in one and passed away in the forest. The Buddhist teachings and life stories instil in Buddhists the wholesome intention to treat nature as our friend and teacher, so all creatures on our planet can live in harmony.