Branching out the Bodhi roots
– Buddhism in Australia

By Quyen Ngo

One of the most memorable events during my first week in Perth, Western Australia, was meeting Ajahn Brahm (Brahmavamso). I have been reading and listening to his talks on the internet for some time, prior to arriving in Perth. His enthusiasm to share his experience of the Buddha’s teaching and his down to earth expression, infused with a good dose of humour, makes his talks enjoyable, illuminating and inspiring. Thus, I cherished the chance to meet and thank Ajahn Brahm in person.

When I came into the hall I was surprised to see several hundred people there, all waiting patiently for Ajahn Brahm. Considering the total population of Perth is only a small fraction of other cities I’ve been to, the turn out for this regular Friday evening talk far exceeded any weekly Buddhist meetings I’ve attended.
Perhaps it was even more astonishing to see the majority of the people there were Caucasians, not Asians. Later, I discovered that Buddhism was the fastest growing religion in Australia.

The 2006 census results showed a 209% increase from 1996 in the number of people declaring themselves Buddhist in Australia. According to Darren Nelson[1] , the growth of Buddhism in Australia is attributed to:

• Asian immigration
• The influence of prominent figures such as the Dalai Lama and Buddhist celebrities in Australia
• Portrayals of Buddhist cultures and lifestyle in Hollywood movies
• Conversion of Christians over to Buddhism
• People looking for an alternative to established Christian churches

Interestingly, Nelson quotes Reverend Phillip Hughes, a religious researcher, as saying, ‘Many people thought in the 1960’s that science itself was not sufficient to really explain existence, but then they were not keen to go back to the Judeo-Christian tradition with its holy books, miracles and so forth. Also the need for a sense of peace has become more apparent’ (Ibid).

In a visit to Australia in July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI said, ‘In so many of our societies, side by side with material prosperity, a spiritual desert is spreading... [manifesting in] an interior emptiness, an unnamed fear, a quiet sense of despair’[2] . People think material prosperity would bring contentment, that is, until they’ve accumulated enough to realize that is not the case. In most cases, they’ve got even more to worry about.

In fact, the modern consumer society can highlight a spiritual vacuum which some people experience as despair and purposelessness. It must be disturbing to discover that you’ve got all the gadgets you need, yet, there is still much discontent. Consequently, this often leads to the search to fill the spiritual emptiness.

These days, especially in the younger age group, people are cautious about adopting religions, which might be seen as following creeds and dogma. This may partly explain the rise in secularism in recent years.

The West Australian Newspaper on 19th June 2008 reports a 53.3% increase[3] in the number of people not affiliated to any religion in Western Australia. It quotes a Dr Hughes as saying, ‘What we have seen is a lot of people saying “Religion is not really important to me, it is not part of my lifestyle”’, he added, ‘The main thing that has happened is that religion has moved from being part of a person’s heritage, reflecting their family background, to a personal choice’.

More and more people are questioning if religion is really important for them, since they do not feel the need to have a faith for the sake of it. People need something that is relevant to their experience and one that it is helpful to their lifestyle.

I think these are two key elements that account for the popularity of Buddhism in recent years. Buddhism is pragmatic, the benefits are here and now, and people can relate it to their own experience.

It is in this sense that makes Buddhism neither a philosophy nor a religion. It is not merely a philosophy because it is not meant to be an intellectual exercise. The Buddha refused to get involved in philosophical discussions if it had no practical benefits. Indeed, he said all he ever taught was how to end suffering.
Buddhism is also not a religion in the sense of uncritical faith which can only be testified in the afterlife. The Buddha declares that practicing the Eightfold Noble Path brings benefits here and now, not just in the afterlife.

The Buddha teaches a universal truth, which is timeless and is evident in every aspect of reality. It is reflected in ordinary life, and in all nature. To see aspects of the truth all we have to do is to open our eyes and observe our own experience of reality.

Suffering exists. Suffering has its causes. And, there is a way to end suffering. In this way, Buddhism is relevant and helpful to all of us, regardless of culture and time.

In what ways does Buddhism offer practical benefits? In The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation (1997), Michael Murphy and Steven Donovan consolidated numerous studies[4] from the past few decades of works carried out by researchers on the effects of meditation, which were found to include:

• Lower heart rate
• Redistribution of blood flow
• Lower blood pressure
• Help with cardiovascular diseases, such as angina
• Alleviate stress
• Heightened perceptual awareness
• Enhances the functioning of right brain hemisphere
• Dehabituation
• Deautomization
• Changes in serum protein and growth hormones
• Reduced latate (linked to stress) concentration
• Increased reaction time
•  Increased concentration and attention
• Improved memory and intelligence
• Increased empathy
• More developed equanimity & detachment
•  Increase experience of rapture and bliss
• More vivid dreams. More archetypal dreams. Higher dream recall rate
• Extrasensory experiences: altered body image and ego boundaries
• Increased energy and excitement

Meditation has also been incorporated into psychotherapy in recent years. This has been developed into exciting avenues for treating conditions such as depression, stress, anxiety and chronic pain[5] .

The benefits of meditation are now widely recognised that it is being taught in most local communities.

Buddhism is more than just meditation. To reap the full benefit one has to incorporate ethical and social teachings. However, for many of us, taking up meditation for the ‘small’ benefits may well be the foot in the Dharma door.
As a nation, Australia is relatively young, multicultural, without deep rooted traditions, it is one that encourages open-mindedness. It is materially prosperous, which as mentioned earlier, can be a stimulant to spiritual enquiry. I think these factors make Australia a fertile ground for Buddhism to take roots.