2016 Summary
Dear BCWA Member Organisations and Friends.
It feels like we are quickly approaching the end of the year. How time passes us by as we occasionally look back to see what we have achieved.
In mid-May we celebrated the United Nations Day of Vesak. Around the same period member organisations as well as associated friends who are made up of various traditions were celebrating Vesak. Apart from these there were also other activities initiated by BCWA and other special days celebrated by members and friends of BCWA.
Around July, BCWA produced a video to promote the selection of Buddhist as religion in the Census 2016 survey so that Buddhists are counted more accurately. This has reached thousands of Australian viewers through Facebook, Youtube and other electronic media. I believe the message was successfully delivered to the Buddhist communities.
Apart from Vesak, special days celebrated by the Buddhist communities include the Abhidhama Day which is celebrated by the Burmese communities, Sonkram Thai Buddhist festival by the Thai communities, Avalokitesvara’s (Kuan Yin) Birthday celebrated by the Mahayana and Vajrayana (Tibetan) traditions, entrance to the rain retreat and the robe offering ceremony (Kathina ceremony) which is celebrated by the Theravada traditions. There were also other lesser known activities celebrated which are not mentioned here.
In order to capture some of the Buddhist celebrations a video has been produced showing a compilation of Kathina celebration by five monastic centres in Western Australia. This video can be viewed at YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqdmUz5P5mc)
In the future, we hope to see videos of celebration by other Buddhist communities in Western Australia to illustrate how vibrant and how engaged it can be with the community.
On 1st November this year a new set of committee was nominated. We are grateful to Kevin Dickson, the former President, who is much respected together with his committee for leading the BCWA throughout an active year especially with the successful execution of the United Nations Day of Vesak.
New projects lie ahead with the new committee and we are endeavour to successfully fulfil these tasks ahead of us.
In a closing note, I wish all mindfulness and joy in the end of year festive season and bright future lay ahead for all.
Best wishes
Boon Tan
President
December 2016
