Buddhism in Australia: Traditions in Change

The number of Buddhists in Australia has grown dramatically in recent years. In 2006, Buddhists accounted for 2.1 per cent of Australia's population, almost doubling the 1996 figures, and making it the fastest growing religion in the country. This book analyses the arrival and localisation of Buddhism in Australia in the context of the globalisation of Buddhism.
Australia's close geographical proximity to Asia has encouraged an intense flow of people, ideas, practices and commodities from its neighbouring countries, while at the same time allowing the development of the religion to be somewhat different to its growth in other Western countries. The book seeks to explore the Buddhist experience in Australia, looking at the similarities and particularities of this experience in relation to other Western countries.
The inception of Buddhism in Australia is investigated, and a voice is provided to people on the ground who have been fundamental in making this process possible. For the first time, academic analysis and practitioners' experience are juxtaposed to show the adaptations and challenges of Buddhism in Australia from above and below. This book is a unique and valuable contribution to the study of Buddhism in the West, globalization of religion, and studies in Asian Religion.

Cristina Rocha is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Cultural Research, University of Western Sydney, Australia. She is the editor of the Journal of Global Buddhism. Her research interests are Buddhism in the West, globalisation, religion and migration studies. Her previous publications include Zen in Brazil: The Quest for Cosmopolitan Modernity (2006).
Michelle Barker is a former academic in the field of Buddhism in Australia, and her research interests remain in this field. Her writings include Developments in Australian Buddhism: Facets of the Diamond (Routledge, 2002).

Preface Martin Baumann 1. Introduction Cristina Rocha and Michelle Barker Part 1: Academic A) Localising Buddhism in Australia 2. The Emergence of Secular Insight Practice in Australia David Bubna-Litic and Winton Higgins 3. Zen in Australia: Tradition, Challenges and Innovation Leesa Davis 4. Green Tara in Australia: Reassesing the Relationship between Gender, Religion and Power Relations Ruth Fitzpatrick B) Buddhist Impacts on Land and Culture 5. Buddhifying Australia: Multicultural Capital and Buddhist Material Culture in Rural Victoria Sally McAra 6. Locating a Buddhist Temple in Wollongong, New South Wales Gordon Waitt 7. Sydney, a City Growing Within: The Establishment of Buddhist Centres in Western Sydney John Skennar 8. Adaptation and Continuity in Cambodian Buddhist Temples: Implications for Service Delivery and Community Development Shiva Vasi Part 2: The Buddhist Community A) Adaptations and Challenges 9. Transformations of Insight Patrick Kearney 10. Soka Gakkai: Dialogue as the transformative expression of Buddhist Humanism Elizabeth Bowen 11. Ordaining Women in Australia Nagasuri 12. The Journey of a Lay Female Zen Teacher: 'On a Withered Tree a Flower Blooms' Subhana Barzaghi 13. Changes and Challenges to Vietnamese Buddhism in Australia Tuong Quang Luu B) Buddhism in Action Down Under 14. Educating for Wisdom and Compassion Mind Patricia Sherwood 15. Venerable Robina Courtin: An Unconventional Buddhist? Anna Halafoff 16. A Life of High Adventure: Integrating the Monk and Pastor Thich Thong Phap 17. The Buddhist Council of Victoria and the Challenges of Recognising Buddhism as a Religion in Australia Diana Cousens 18. Challenges to Teaching Buddhism in Contemporary Society Choedak Rinpoche