Major Events at Phuoc Hue Monastery

World Buddhist Sangha Council Conference,
Art Gallery of NSW Buddha Exhibition, and
University of Western Sydney Conference

In 2001 the number of references to Buddhism in Australian newspapers increased significantly from an average of 300 articles per year between 1996 and 1999 to almost 700. The cause was, in no small part, due to hosting of the “largest exposition of Buddhism ever seen in Australia” . This ‘exposition’ was the coming together of the World Buddhist Sangha Council Executive Conference hosted at Phuoc Hue Buddhist Monastery, the major exhibition Buddha: Radiant Awakening at the Art Gallery of NSW, and the Conference Buddhism in the Contemporary World at the University of Western Sydney. Each of these events had their own long period of preparation that involved a large number of people and together, they raised public anticipation and awareness of Buddhism. The events also involved the participation of a large number of Buddhist organisations from around Australia and over four hundred volunteers from across the spectrum of the Australian Buddhist community in a spirit reminiscent of the Sydney 2000 Olympics hosted in Australia only a year earlier.

The events were a collaborated efforts of Phuoc Hue Monastery, the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW, the University of Western Sydney and with the support of the Government of New South Wales. They consisted of (i) the five day conference of the World Buddhist Sangha Council comprising of over two hundred delegates, representing the international Buddhist leadership from twenty four countries around world, hosted by the Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation, (ii) the three month major exhibition, Buddha: Radiant Awakening at the Art Gallery of NSW, (iii) the full day conference, Buddhism in the Contemporary World comprising of the international Buddhist Sangha, laity and academia hosted at the University of Western Sydney, and (iv) the State Reception for the international Sangha delegates hosted at Government House by the Premier of NSW.

Capon, Edmund. in World Buddhist Sangha Council Executive Conference Sydney 2001 - Conference Brief, edited by WBSC Organising Committee, p.14. Wetherill Park (NSW): WBSC Executive Conference Sydney 2001 Organising Committee, 2001.

WBSC Executive Conference Sydney 2001 Organising Committee, World Buddhist Sangha Council Executive Conference Sydney 2001 - Conference Brief (Wetherill Park (NSW): Phuoc Hue Buddhist Monastery, 2001)