Buddhist Council of Western Australia Inc.

Ajahn Vayama in front of her caravan at Dhammasara in December 1998

by Peace Weekes – originally published on Patacara Bhikkhuni Hermitage

From an early age Ajahn Vayama was very keen to offer help and support to others in need. She often reflected on the reality of suffering and was involved in collecting funds for many aid organisations, including Red Cross and Freedom From Hunger Fund.

After finishing high school she studied at the University of Sydney to become as a social worker. Compassion for others suffering always motivating her to take action, she pioneered the first women’s refuge on the north coast of New South Wales. Through her experiences as a social worker, she witnessed much emotional and physical suffering. Yet in spite of all the efforts she made, the suffering seemed endless. At times she felt there was little she could do to really help people. Even when her help was welcomed and well utilised it was still largely up to those individuals to continue to maintain any lasting changes in their own lives. Read more »

Our newsletter is available for download:

BCWA Newsletter 2019

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation will be introduced to State Parliament next month and the Management Committee of the Buddhist Council of WA agrees in principle the proposed Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation. Information about this can be obtained by following this link of the Department of Health.

The Committee supports the following statement made by the Buddhist Council of Victoria:

View on Assisted Dying Framework

In​ ​the​ ​teaching​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Buddha,​ ​human​ ​life​ ​is​ ​seen​ ​as​ ​both​ ​precious​ ​and​ ​rare.  Upon​ ​being​ ​born​ ​as​ ​human,​ ​due​ ​to​ ​causes​ ​and​ ​conditions,​ ​the​ ​teaching  encourages​ ​taking​ ​responsibility​ ​for​ ​one’s​ ​own​ ​actions.    

To​ ​a​ ​great​ ​extent​ ​our​ ​actions​ ​in​ ​this​ ​very​ ​life​ ​are​ ​within​ ​our​ ​own​ ​control​ ​and  yet​ ​the​ ​life​ ​conditions​ ​encountered​ ​by​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​may​ ​not​ ​necessarily​ ​be  favourable​ ​or​ ​desirable.​ ​Grave​ ​illness​ ​and​ ​unbearable​ ​pain​ ​are​ ​such​ ​human  conditions,​ ​unique​ ​to​ ​each​ ​individual​ ​situation​ ​which​ ​effect​ ​human​ ​dignity  and​ ​life​ ​choices.      

In​ ​addressing​ ​the​ ​question​ ​of​ ​an​ ​individual’s​ ​right​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​personal​ ​choice  to​ ​end​ ​life​ ​in​ ​such​ ​extreme​ ​situations,​ ​Buddhist​ ​teachings​ ​ideally​ ​point​ ​to  non​ ​violence,​ ​both​ ​towards​ ​one’s​ ​self​ ​and​ ​others.    

Yet​ ​compassion​ ​is​ ​an​ ​essential​ ​theme​ ​in​ ​Buddhist​ ​philosophy.​ ​That​ ​leads​ ​us  to​ ​the​ ​question,​ ​“Is​ ​it​ ​an​ ​act​ ​of​ ​compassion​ ​to​ ​deny​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​the​ ​choice  to​ ​end​ ​life​ ​prompted​ ​by​ ​unbearable​ ​pain?”    

The​ ​Buddhist​ ​view​ ​is​ ​sympathetic​ ​to​ ​the​ ​suffering​ ​of​ ​individuals​ ​yet​ ​holds  out​ ​the​ ​hope​ ​of​ ​a​ ​truth​ ​beyond​ ​suffering​ ​and​ ​calls​ ​for​ ​a​ ​greater  understanding​ ​of​ ​death.​ ​Such​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​death​ ​may​ ​be​ ​brought​ ​about  through​ ​guidance​ ​and​ ​counselling.​ ​This​ ​process​ ​brings​ ​about​ ​peace​ ​with  surrounding​ ​conditions​ ​and​ ​impending​ ​death​ ​as​ ​opposed​ ​to​ ​facing​ ​an​ ​abrupt  end​ ​with​ ​confusion.    

The​ ​Buddhist​ ​Council​ ​of​ ​Victoria​ ​is​ ​available​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​such​ ​guidance​ ​and  counselling​ ​to​ ​any​ ​concerned​ ​individual​ ​or​ ​their​ ​families​ ​as​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​our  community​ ​services​ ​beyond​ ​religious​ ​boundaries.