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

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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

(1) We try to find ways to spread the understanding and practice of the Dharma, without duplicating what our member organisations are doing.

(2) We work for the Dharma, not for ourselves.

(3)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.

(4) 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.