Buddhist Council of New South Wales Inc
Basics
See map: Google Maps
Vision and Objectives
Our Vision
Our vision is for a “Dharma Community with Open Arms”.
Buddhism varies in its practice from country to country, from tradition to tradition, and from teacher to teacher. The Buddha himself recognised that the vehicle for his Dharma teaching would adapt and change over time and in different places.
A Dharma Community brings all Buddhist traditions and schools together. While respecting the distinct value and heritage of each tradition, a Dharma Community emphasises the essence of the Buddha’s teaching which is common to all Buddhist schools and traditions.
The Buddhist Council of NSW therefore encourages all Buddhist groups, temples and societies to come together to appreciate each other through the essence of the Dharma itself.
To have Open Arms is to be open to everyone in the general community, to build bridges of understanding and to act compassionately towards all humanity, whether Buddhist or non-Buddhist.
Our Mission
- The first part of our Mission is to serve its member organisations, which include Buddhist temples, Buddhist societies and other Buddhist organisations. If a member organisation needs assistance or advice, the Buddhist Council will try to assist. For example, a member organisation may require help to improve its governance, financial management, administration, or they may need preliminary advice in dealing with government agencies.
- The second part of our Mission is to represent the Buddhist community to inter-faith groups, media, government and the NSW public, in accordance with the Dharma.
- The third part of our Mission is to promote the understanding and practice of the Dharma, which is an objective we share with our members.
Our Strategies
- Service Provision (not just representation)
- A scalable Volunteer Model (rather than being an employer)
- Facilitating new volunteers (rather than leaving volunteers to fend for themselves)
- Good governance (rather than using the excuse that we are a not-for-profit)
- Innovation (rather than standing still)
Our Golden Rules
- We try to find ways to spread the understanding and practice of the Dharma, without duplicating what our member organisations are doing.
- We work for the Dharma, not for ourselves.
- We are mindful of all our other responsibilities, so that whatever we do for the Buddhist Council of NSW is the practice of the Middle Path.
- We use the Dharma in our work for the Buddhist Council of NSW, so that whatever obstacles face us, we can endure and overcome as part of our Dharma practice.
Serving our Members
Our members include Buddhist temples, groups and societies of all Buddhist traditions. As we are a peak body for Buddhist organisations in NSW, membership is not open to individuals, although anyone wanting to help out is welcome to join our team of volunteers.
Our first objective as a peak body is helping our member organisations. Buddhist temples, groups and societies may not have all the knowledge and expertise they need. For example, an organisation may need to update its constitution, make a visa application, construct a new temple, or publicise its activities.
Member organisations can therefore contact the Buddhist Council for assistance in areas where we have the resources to help. Our team of volunteers have expertise in many areas such as law, accounting, media, event management, technology, and human resources. We are continually building our collection of guidelines and useful checklists to help our member organisations.
About our Logo
Our logo has been revised to reflect our vision for a "Dharma Community with Open Arms".
The lotus is in the three colours which represent the robes of many Buddhist Sangha.
The representation of the different traditions of Buddhist Sangha in the one lotus flower reminds all of us that the outward manifestation of Buddhist Sangha may vary, yet all Sangha are actually part of one community of monks and nuns.
This may also be extended to lay followers who may follow different teachers or traditions, yet we are all part of the one Dharma community.
The different colours of the lotus petals also reminds us that each teacher, tradition, school or practice needs to be respected and their integrity maintained, according to the instructions and teachings of our Sangha.
The eight-spoked Dharma wheel in the centre represents the original teaching that all Buddhist traditions and schools share. In other words, the One Dharma is what unites the followers of the Buddha's teachings and it is what we all share.
