New website tells story of Buddhism in Australia

Australians wishing to know more about Buddhism can now watch and listen to the life stories of prominent Buddhists thanks to the work of a research team, led by the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation's Dr Anna Halafoff.

The team, including Dr Halafoff and researchers Dr Edwin Ng, Praveena Rajkobal and Jayne Garrod, recently launched a new website buddhiststoriesaus.net as the first stage of a larger long-term research project on Buddhism in Australia.

Stories on the site include those of Ajahn Brahm,Ven. Robina Coutin, Bhante Sujato,Ven. Chi Kwang Sunim, Ven Yeshe Khadro, Graeme Lyall AM and Ven Thich Phuoc Tan OAM.

Dr Halafoff, whose research interests centre on religious diversity and multifaith relations, is currently working as a chief investigator on an Australian Research Council-funded Discovery Project looking at young people’s attitudes to, and experiences of, religious diversity.

She said the Buddhist Life Stories project could not have been completed without the $10,000 raised through the Research my World program – a crowd funding joint venture between Deakin University and Pozible.com  – and support from the national and state Buddhist Councils of Australia and filmmaker Freeman Trebilcock.

"The money and support allowed us to begin to record these stories and by doing so start to increase understanding and awareness of Buddhism in Australia," she said.

Dr Halafoff said Buddhism is Australia’s second largest religion and has a long history dating back to at least the 1850s Gold Rush period.

"The life stories of prominent Buddhists in Australia have remained largely undocumented until now," she said.

“Buddhist leaders and community members in Australia felt there was an urgent need to record these stories and to preserve them for future generations.

"The website is a perfect way to do this."

Dr Halafoff and her team are currently analysing the interviews and the results and publications arising from the project will be added to the site.