A
Brief History of the
QUANG DUC BUDDHIST WELFARE ASSOCIATION
105 Lynch Road, Fawkner, Vic. 3060. Tel: (03). 9357 3544 Fax: (03)
9357 3600
Email: quangduc@quangduc.com .
Internet: http://www.quangduc.com
About
Quang Duc Buddhist Website
__________
The Quang Duc Buddhist Welfare Association was
established in 1990 in a small three-roomed house at 30 Bamburg St,
Broadmeadows in the northern suburbs of the City of Melbourne. The house
was used for worship, religious education and many various Buddhist
activities. As time went by, and as the Buddhist community grew, the
Ven.Thich Tam Phuong had to find a new place for a temple which would meet
the needs of the Buddhist community of the northern suburban region.
On 20 of May 1997, thanks to the Buddha's blessing, we
were lucky enough to purchase from the Victorian Education Department an
old primary education school, in the suburb of Fawkner, on an area of
7,411m2 for A$351,200. We also received approval from the local Moreland
City Council to set up a Buddhist Welfare Centre as part of the new
Fawkner temple. This new temple is within easy reach of Melbourne airport
and within easy access of the northern ring road.
From our initial establishment in 1990, we have strived
to serve the local Vietnamese communities livng in the northern region
comprising of the cities of Broadmeadows, Coburg, Preston, Reservoir,
Thomastown, Bundoora, Epping, Lalor, and as well Footscray in the west of
Melbourne, Richmond in the inner city and Springvale in Melbournes south
east. Some of the services we provide every weekend include, Buddhist
Doctrine classes, Buddhist youth/family groups and Bo De Vietnamese
Language school classes that helps children maintain their Buddhist
traditions, spirit and Vietnamese culture.
Current Quang Duc Buddhist Welfare Association
activities are as follows:
- Religious prayer services, every weekend:
Prayers for peace and happiness and lectures for
all people, so as to promote quality of life, peace and happiness in
society.
Marriage celebrations, special prayers for
weddings.
Prayers for the dead. Services for those who have
passed away, funerals and memorials.
- Classes for the teaching of both Buddhist and secular subjects:
Teaching the Vietnamese language to keep
Vietnamese culture and traditions.
Teaching doctrines to improve the knowledge of
Buddhism and other Religions to cultivate life knowledge and
understanding.
Organised entertainment for Aged people
Every Sunday, Morning tea and discussions about
the quality of life .
Give advice and consultations for parents on
family problems.
Give temporary accommodation and support for all
people until they find stability in life.
Counseling services to both problem gambers and
drug-addicted persons
Other services as required
Our current timetable activities are as follows:
Monday to Saturday: 5.30-7.00am: Morning
recitation and meditation;
6pm-8pm: Recitation of Sutras and sitting
mediation. This includes training in meditation from beginners to
advanced levels
Sunday: 9am - 4pm: activities, including sitting
meditation, Sutras recitation, Vietnamese Buddhist Youth activities,
Vietnamese language course for children, Buddhist doctrines, teaching and
discussion etc.
Marriage celebration, special prayers for weddings
and funerals or memorials.
We welcome all inquiries for further information.
Please phone us on 03.9357 3544 or Fax: 03. 9357
3600. Email: quangduc@quangduc.com
The Most Venerable
Thich Quang Duc
The name of the Quang Duc Association is named after Most
Venerable Thich Quang Duc, a Vietnamese monk, who was known
throughout the world by his self-immolation at the age of sixty-seven in
central Saigon, in the lotus sitting position with full resolve whilst 4
metres flames consumed his body. This event happened at midday, on June
11, 1963, witnesed by thousands of Vietnamese people and through the
media, seen by millions more people overseas.
The Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc, whose lay name
was Lam Van Tuc, was born in 1897 in a small village of a province in
central Vietnam. At the age of seven, he entered into the religious life
and became a disciple of the Zen master Hoang Tham. At the age of twenty,
he was ordained as a full Buddhist monk (Bhikkhu). After ordination, he
spent many years practicing islolated and extremely demanding ascetic
purification practices in the Ninh Hoa Mountains, near Nha Trang City. In
1932 he started his Buddhist teaching career at Ninh Hoa. He then went to
a central Vietnam province to rebuild temples. By 1943, he had rebuilt
nearly 20 pagodas, and the same year, moved to Saigon, South Vietnam where
he lived in the Long Vinh temple finally taking permanent residence in the
Quan The Am temple.
In 1953, he was appointed Head of rituals Committee of
the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation, a position that he held until
the time of his death.
In 1963, after four years of increased oppression by
the Diem government towards Buddhist priests and the Buddhist community
the Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc perfomed his heroic deed to highlight
Bhuddhist demands for religious equality in South Vietnam his act
literally flashed around the world by television. At midday, on June 11,
1963, he took a ride to the corner of Phan Dinh Phung and Le Van Duyet in
central Saigon (now Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Cach Mang Thang Tam Street).
Pouring petrol over himself, he sat in the middle of the corner, struck a
match, and immolated himself.
His body was consumed, and all that remained was his
heart. Later when his later when the Buddhist community tried to cremate
his heart it remained intact. It was placed in the Reserve Bank of Vietnam
and became the symbol of the Holy Heart.
Millions all over the globe saw his self sacrifice, and
The Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc has become
world-famous figure. Before he passed away, he left a letter to the
government of the day, and through them, for the people of Vietnam. In
Vietnamese culture, this letter is now known as the letter of Heart Blood.
The core of his letter was a plea for all Buddhist believers, monks, nuns
and lay people, to unite and strive for the preservation of Buddhism. His
plan was to demonstrate to the world the injustice that was being
perpetrated on the Buddhist religion and community by a repressive regime
and it worked extremely well. Many nations worldwide brought pressure on
the South Vietnamese government to soften its attitude to the traditional
Vietnamese religion. The Saigon government complied.
At present, the Quang Duc Buddhist Welfare Association
of Victoria is in the midst of construction of a two level hall. The first
level provides the venue for many activities, the second level being
solely dedicated to spiritual practices such as meditation & chanting.
Any material & or spiritual contributions are
welcomed. Please do not hesitate to contact us on 61.03.9357 3544 or Fax:
61.03.9357 3600. Email: quangduc@quangduc.com
The current situation of the construction of the Community
Activities Hall, Temporary Accomadation Shelter and Welfare Office within
the Quang Duc Monastery at Lynch St. Fawkner.
The Quang Duc Monastry is a major Vietnamese Buddhist
Center for the northern and western regions of Melbourne. According to the
1996 Census statistics, there were about 65.000 Vietnamese in Victoria,
80% of that population being Buddhists.
The areas our congregation are drawn from, are the City of
Moreland, the City of Hume, the City of Whitesea, the City of Darebin and
the City of Maribynong, having a poulation shared between those areas of
approximately 30,000 Vietnamese living within their boundaries.
It as found that despite this population that there were
no specific facilities for welfare services for the Vietnamese community.
We require support from the various governmental bodies to enhance
services specifically for our community members.
At present there are no welfare workers at the Monastery
and only three temporary accomadation rooms available for homeless people.
Aproximately fifty Vietnamese families use the Buddhist
Centre each week with personal counselling services conducted by the Abbot
and other staff regarding problems such family breakdown, domestic
violence, substance abuse, gambling social problems and other advise being
sought .
A present we are experiencing specific counselling cases
related to:
-
Gambling per week : 5 to 7
-
Young people affected by family breakdown ten due to
gambling who have sought material aid or shelter at the Monastery so
far in 2001: 15 to 20 persons.
-
Number of adults who have sought temporary
accommodation at the monastery due to domestic violence due to
gambling related problems : 10 to 15.
-
Number of persons who have sought temporary
accommodation at the monastery due to substance abuse problems: 10.
Current needs
-
At least a part-time coordinator to coordinate the
growing number of families and individuals who need emergency
assistance at the Monastery.
-
An office space designated for welfare services and a
counselling room.
-
At least 3-4 more temporary bedrooms for homeless
families and people
-
One playroom for kids who accompany the adults who
seek shelter at the Monastery
-
One gambling and financial Counsellor because the
Abbots and other clergy at the Monastery are not trained or
specialised on these matters.
The construction of the community hall, therefore will
incorporate all these needs into its plan should funding is available.
Work For The Dole Project
Work for the Dole is a Federal Government initiative that provides an
opportunity for unemployed people to gain quality work experience while
contributing meaningful and valuable services to the local community.
Through CVGT Employment and Training Specialists ( 2 Neill
Street, Sunbury, Vic. 3429, Tel: 03.9740 8244), Quang Duc Buddhist Center
has applied to run two Work for the Dole projects.
The first project ran from September 11th
2000 to march 9th 2001 constructing the Buddhist centre garden. 15
Work for the Dole participants attended this project, gaining skills in formal
landscapeing. This includd working to a detailed design, soil preparation,
planting and garden maintenance.
The second project was commenced on March 12th
2001 and ceased on the September 7th 2000. It involved work on the
Buddhist Centre building currently under construction. The Work for the Dole
participants helped the builders to set out the foundations, in erecting the
timber frame, in pouring the concrete, hanging and fixing plasterboard,
preparing surfaces for painting; painting and decoration the interior and
exterior and the installation of Buddhist artiacts and sculpture. The project
presented the partcipants with a unique opportunity for cross-cultural
enrichment as well as enhancing their work habits and personal skills developed
through the training provided by CVGT Employment and Training Specialists.
At the moment, Quang Duc Buddhist Welfare Association of Victoria woulld like to
apply for an additional project to further assist the Buddhist Centre Hall
construction. We plan that the building will be finish sometimes in 2003, and we
we would idealy require long term assistance through Work for the Dole.
By Thich Nguyen Tang
Vice-Abbot
