Office Address: 1034 Underwood Rd. Priestdale QLD 4127
Mailing Address: 1034 Underwood Rd. Priestdale QLD 4127
Abbess: Venerable Chueh Shan
Secretary: Mr. Peter Chuang
Phone: 3841-3511 Fax: 3841-3522
Email: temple@chungtian.org.au
Website: http://www.chungtian.org.au/home
Brief Description/History
One of the key teachings of Buddhism that supports interfaith dialogue is respect of all people, tolerance, harmony and joy. Show respect to everyone and offer a better understanding of different religions. People can show more respect for one another. Peace and harmony within Buddhism seeks to get rid of hatred by the promotion of peace and harmony. Buddhism teachings encourage us to get rid of our greed and hatred, get rid of evil thoughts. There should be no discrimination as all human beings have the potential to become Buddha, become perfect, perform good deeds, encourage every one of different religions and perform good deeds and actions.
The Lotus flower in the pond, all are different sizes and shapes and all live in harmony. This is one mantra of teaching in Buddhism.
One of our early experiences in promoting and participating in interfaith dialogue was when we received an invitation by the Queensland Government to come together with other faith traditions to celebrate Refugee Week. In 1995 the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Queensland Government Multicultural Affairs organized an interfaith forum and from that forum the people decided to meet monthly. We then started to participate in monthly interfaith meetings at Kangaroo Point with other faith traditions. Uri Themal had some idea of entering into interfaith dialogue or forums and we held some brainstorming meetings with Multicultural Affairs Queensland. Multifaith participation was not as strong in some schools. The University of Queensland held an interfaith dialogue and we were invited to attend to participate in a multi-faith prayer.
Activities
In 1996/97 we attended some organized Griffith University commencement services where people from different faiths were invited to participate.
We also started to participate with schools in a multi-faith prayer offering. One school had a peace garden and we were invited to participate.
In 1996 we attended Refugee Week, 20 June, in Fortitude Valley Chinatown in a public ceremony. From about this time we would all meet monthly at a venue in Kangaroo Point with Uri Themal. We met there for quite some time and eventually moved our meetings to a venue in Milton Road.
In 1997 Sister Angela from the Mater Hospital invited us to visit her and in turn we invited Sister Angela to a visit the temple. We also, at this time invited Sister Angela to participate in the Buddha Birthday Festival.
Since the 11th July, 1998 we have been invited by the Catholic Church to introduce our Buddhism at their annual forum at the University of Queensland.
On the 18th October, 1998 we were invited to go to Southbank by the Queensland Government to participate in a multifaith prayer ceremony for refugee week. We were invited to join other faiths in a special tree watering ceremony for refugee week.
Then on the 17th May 1999 the Multi-Faith Centre at Griffith University was commissioned in a ground breaking ceremony.
We have participated in a vast number of interfaith events to both encourage dialogue from an interfaith perspective and share our Buddhist beliefs and values.
- 1999 - Alleviate Care Association, Gold Coast Hospital invited to talk at a forum of different faiths to help people cope with dying, funerals and passing away. How to help people go through the dying.
- 17th May 1999 ground breaking ceremony of religious leaders invited to be present at the Multi-Faith Centre opening at Griffith University.
- 17th October 1999 Refugee Week, Queensland Government in Southbank. Invitation each year also to participate in events on behalf of Reconciliation Week.
- Brisbane City Council event – Remember We Walk Together.
- 4th May 2000 invited by the St Michael and Aquinas Catholic College , Gold Coast, to participate in a Jewish Passover dinner. Invitation was to different faith traditions introducing the Jewish customs. About 250 people were in attendance and given the opportunity to share our faith.
- 7th May 2000 Uri Themal, in cooperation with the Multicultural Affairs, initiated a multi-faith prayer during the Buddha Birthday Festival.
- Since 2000 to present, Buddha Birthday Festival is celebrated at Southbank featuring concert, forum and prayer. In 2004, we co-organised with the Multi-Faith Centre for multi-faith prayer and partnered with other religious communities. This annual event serves to expose interfaith dialogue, music/song and prayer to the wider community, offers networking with other faiths and strengthens commitment to interfaith dialogue.
- 28th July 2000 invited by the funeral parlour, Cannon and Cripps Funeral Director in Kelvin Grove to talk about palliative care for the dying. This was organized through the Catholic faith.
- Participation in the Commencement Service of University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology for many years.
- 18th December 2000 invitation by the Queensland Government Health Department to go to Royal Brisbane Hospital to open a new Chapel. Invitation to people from different faiths to attend the opening ceremony. Peter Beattie was Premier.
- Multicultural Faith ceremony to celebrate Australia Day 25 January, organized by Queensland Government who invited faiths to participate.
- 1st March 2001 - Griffith University academic ceremony - participated in multi-faith prayer for commencement of new academic year.
- 25th October 2001 - Construction Ceremony. Invited to MFC for multi-faith prayer over the new Centre.
- 12th December 2001 - Opening Ceremony of the ESL statewide conference for teachers of indigenous and immigrant students. Chung Tian was nvited to give blessing to the meeting with other faiths.
- 24th February 2002 – Queensland University of Technology multi-faith prayer for Academic Commence Service in St John Cathedral. Invited people from different faiths to participate.
4th March 2002 - Brisbane Catholic Interreligious Religions Taskforce, Mt Alvernia College, Multi-faith Dialogue.- 14th October 2002 - participate in interfaith discussion by The Inter-Faith Committee of the Brisbane Catholic Archdiocese Commission for Ecumenism and Interfaith relation at Griffith University.
- 8th June 2003, St Mary;s Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point, The Order of Australia Association, Multi Faith Observance invited people of different faith to give a 5 minute presentation. This happens annually at different venues.
- 14th June 2003 Neighbour Gospel Sharing Inc. Forum arranged from Pax Christi, an international peace organization of the Catholic Church Neighbourhood Gospel.
- 21st July 2004 - meeting to assist with the preparations of the multi-faith Service.
- Conference Room, of the hospital TPCH Education Centre. Pastoral Care Week in the Prince Charles Hospital shared with Holy Spirit Northside. Theme – “Journeying to Wholeness”.
- 3rd August 2004 – Mt. Alvernia College, Kedron invited faithe to dialogue on the topic of peace from the perspective of different religious traditions.
- 11th September 2005 multi-faith prayer held in Roma Street Park organized by Queensland Government.
- 10th March 2008 - The Royal Commonwealth Society, RCS, international non-governmental organization working to promote, increase and spread of knowledge respecting the people and countries of the commonwealth and their culture.
- 2005 and 2006 Multi-Faith Concert, and in 2004 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Multi-Faith Forum and Multi-faith Prayer.
- Participation in QUT Harmony Day annually.
- Co-operating with the MFC at interfaith events and forums at the MFC.
- Participation in 2008 & 2009 Multi-Faith Commonwealth Day Observance.
- Milperra State High School, created a Peace Garden and are encouraging neighbours to create their own peace gardens, to open their minds and learn about difference.
- UQ Service of Prayer for Reconciliation annually. - Religious and faith groups invited to offer prayers, ceremony embraces the principles of reconciliation in song, story and prayer.
Helping factors in facilitating the success of these interfaith dialogue activities
Throughout each of these interfaith dialogue events and activities I consider the most important factor to be that of cooperation with other organizations. The Chung Tian Temple endeavours to ensure that we cooperate fully with organizations of different faith traditions and the Griffith University, Multi Faith Centre.
We have on occasions found that with so many different religions/faiths it is sometimes hard to attribute equal time and attention. Some faiths may be invited to participate in dialogue or events and not others at times. For this reason I think it is better to have a central body at the University coordinating to invite all faiths to dialogue and participate in celebrations.
Another important factor helping to facilitate the success of interfaith dialogue is that of establishing good networking links with other religious groups. The more we all participate in the wider community, the variety of the occasions all help us to experience and better understand the differing faith traditions.
Difficulties encountered during our interfaith dialogue initiatives/activities.
One of the minor difficulties we have encountered is the time factor in sending out or reply to invitations. Occasionally there had been no reply to invitations sent out or replies with not a lot of time to make other arrangements. This sometimes means that a particular faith may not be represented at a dialogue or event. Lots of time is needed when planning and replying to invitations.
As a way of continuing with steps forward in interfaith dialogue we try to meet and be involved at a number of different occasions and continue to send out invitations to all faiths.
Future plans or proposals for promoting interfaith dialogue.
Interfaith dialogue I think now needs more actions, more projects to work together on. We have to expand our thinking to not only reach a small area but now to go beyond that area. An example of this is Professor Toh’s initiative of inviting people of different faiths on a bus tour of religious centres throughout Brisbane. More actions such as this is a way of putting people together and promoting interfaith dialogue.
I would like to see the construction of retreats, forums, dialogues and activities promoting people of different faiths coming together.
What needs to be done by diverse faith communities, institutions and organizations to enhance the progress of interfaith dialogue in Queensland, in Australia, and/or internationally.
People have to have time. However I think one of our tasks is the education of the young in the schools. They may at times be afraid of other religious ceremonies, so education in this area will help to promote an awareness and understanding of different practices.
I would like to see interfaith dialogue in schools in smaller groups. Sometimes the larger groups are too big and don’t always allow for discussion and dialogue.
I would also like to see Education Queensland open core studies to all religions.
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