The 16th Sakyadhita International Conference was held in the Blue Mountains; the first Sakyadhita Conference to be held outside Asia.  Speakers and participants from around the world met in this very beautiful setting.

 An inspiring program involved four days of talks, plenary sessions, panel discussions and workshops

 

Keynote speaker :  Roshi Susan Murphy

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On the first evening we heard the keynote speech,  given by Australian Zen teacher Roshi Susan Murphy.   Her message was that women in the dhamma must work to save our vulnerable planet; also to fight against a patriarchal mindset that holds them back.   Her speech also touched on themes of duality, reconciliation and indigenous wisdom.

Some excerpts:  ‘Right now, at such a dangerous moment in human and planetary history, it is vitally important to bring across into the world something that’s been sorely missing for far too long . the expression of  Dharma sourced in the embodied life experience of women – at last bringing to light the particular gifts of wisdom that can flow out only from the awake female body-and-mind, to defend and care for the life of the Earth.  

 Let us no longer permit the shameful waste of all we have to offer as women of the way. Let us freely develop and bring forth to the world our deeply natural female expression of the Dharma

 She concluded “we are here to dissolve the endless delusory sense of separation with which we injure and divide ourselves and pit ourselves so dangerously against the living Earth”.

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OPENING SESSION :  Buddhism in Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As is traditional at these Conferences, the first day's session was devoted to Buddhism in the home country, so here Australia - its history, diversity and emerging sanghas.

In a wide - ranging session we heard both about the history of Buddhism in Australia, the experience of being a Buddhist nun and how Buddhism is being practised today.

The  speakers were Dr Anna Halafoff, Ven Chi Kwang Sunim, Ven Miaou You, Dr Diana Cousens, Prof Suzanne Franzway and Anna Markay.    It was chaired by Dr Lydia Brown

Topics covered  (in order of speakers listed above): Oral Histories of Buddhist Women in Australia,  Life as a Korean/Australian Bhikkuni,  Humanistic Buddhism in Australia, Working for Buddhism in Australia and New Horizons for Emerging Sanghas (such as community groups) ,

 

Rising to the Challenge

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The first day's afternoon session was called : ‘Rising to the Challenge – Healing and Transformation’.  We heard troubling accounts of the sexual exploitation and abuse of nuns and lwomen in some Buddhist communities; also of slavery and racism.    An Australiangroup:    Dr Jack Wicks, Damcho Dyson and Tahlia Newland presented the paper  ‘Personal Reflections on Rigpa and Aftershocks of the Fall of Sogyal Rinpoche’ which ‘detailed years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of students and the use of donations of support an extravagant and gluttonous lifestyle’. We learnt that this situation and the resultant public scandal and division in the Buddhist community ‘is not an isolated incident;  abuse is rife in the monasteries and, to various degrees, accepted conduct by many lamas.   This kind of behaviour taints the whole Buddhist religion and cannot be allowed to continue’.

 Later in the Conference we heard about sexual abuse of Buddhist nuns in Bhutan. This can be seen as Buddhism’s ‘#metoo moment’.  It led to the formation of the Alliance for Buddhist Ethics  with the broad goal of  promoting  ‘ethical behaviour in Buddhist communities for a future in which the Dharma may

 

New Horizons in Buddhism

 

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 Australia's Bhikku Sujato gave a paper in this Plenary session. It was called ‘The Serpent Gurrangatch and the Hunter Mirrigan’  -  he related this legend of our indigenous peoples to the existential threat of climate catastrophe. He said : ‘Reforming Buddhism is great, creating conscious spiritual communities is great, improving gender equity is great but none of it means anything if our entire ecosystem is headed for collapse

 

Other  inspiring talks werea given by  Roshi Joan Halifax, with the topic ‘Wise  hope and Socially Engaged Buddhism’ and Thubten Chodron spoke on creating harmonious Buddhist communities.

 

Many other speakers delved into ‘New Horizons’ – the challenges that Buddhist communities face.

 

The evening program included talks, dancing and singing.   A highlight was the address given by Sakyadhita President Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo with its take-home message of  kindness.

 

An important element was the Workshops, which ranged from Tai Chi to Buddhist economics to vegetarian temple food.

 

The marketplace was in full swing between sessions.  There was also time to join friends in the lunchtime marquees, or for warming meals in the evening, fireside chats and walks to the nearby bush to discover the beauty of the Australian bush including the dancing lyrebirds.

 

As ever the Conference was a wonderful opportunity  to get together with the community of Buddhist women  – to celebrate and honour their achievements.  The alliances and friendships formed, as always, were invaluable.

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Sakyadhita Australia Conference Scholarships

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Photo : Five of the Scholarship winners, from left  Ven Pema, Ven BomHyon Sunim, Amelia Douglas, Rubie Reents. 

akyadhita Australia was able to give sponsorship to assist  five nuns and four laywomen to attend the conference – here's some of their feedback : 

“Thank you so much for the opportunity  . . how amazing it was to see the opening and closing ceremony and all in between with so many people from different countries but with the same intention. (Rubie Reents )    Thank you so much for the sponsorship, we had an amazing time! It was our first Sakyadhita conference and we learnt so much but even more so felt truly connected to our fellow practitioners and monastics. It was such a warm and unique experience!   (Vens Pema and Choden.) 

​“Thank you so much for the opportunity  . . how amazing it was to see the opening and closing ceremony and all in between with so many people from different countries but with the same intention. Rubie Reents

 

So much to listen to and be inspired by everyday of the sakyadhta conference!  I was particularly captured by the speakers who addressed the role for Buddhists in taking action for the environment.  I’m excited that we’re bringing this critical issue into our Dharma discourse.  Amelia Douglas.

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VIDEO LINKS :   Here are some video recollections of this special occasion :  

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1)   16th Sakyadhita Conference Recap   See highlights of the Conference and the Tour that followed, featuring Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Ven Lekshe Tsomo, Ven Thubten Chodron, Joan Halifax and many more. 

 

2)     Highlights of Day One.      Day One featured a panel on Buddhism in Australia and in the afternoon a session on Ethics, Healing and Transformation.   There were also many workshops taking place.    

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3)    Highlights of Day Two    :  Tenzin Palmo spoke, we heard from  Joan Halifax and others in a session on Environmental Buddhism,  the Tara dancers were among the groups who performed and the day finished with an  Aussie sing-along.

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4)     Highlights of Day Three      While in the plenary the topic was Buddhist Approaches to Peace and Reconciliation, behind the scenes there were workshops, the marketplace was in full swing and there was also time for fireside chats. 

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5)    Closing Ceremony Moment :  At the closing ceremony, the performance by Venerable Thubten Chönyi from Sravasti Abbey of Santideva’s verses based on the tune of the American anthem brought the house down.

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6)     Highlights with  Venerable Thubten Chonyi.     Thubten Chonyi from Sravasti Abbey, a USA Monastery,  shares with us her experience of the Conference.

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ONLINE LINKS 

Sakyadhita International Magazine 

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Tricycle Magazine :   Buddhist Women and #MeToo

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RADIO LINK : 

 

ABC RN Soul Search 

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