The Karen Buddhist Dhamma Dhutta Foundation supports Karen Buddhist
people and Karen Christian people to follow their traditional religions
and culture.
About half of our members are Karen Buddhists and half Karen Christians.
We also have some Australian members. As Buddhists and Christians we
share values of loving-kindness, compassion, mutual respect and ethical
living. Because we share these values we have no problem working
together although we are different religions.
Most of our members have recently come to Australia as refugees from
refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border.
Bringing more refugees to come to live in Bendigo in Australia, and
supporting them after they arrive, is a major part of our work. To show
that we do not discriminate by religion it is our policy that half of
the refugees we sponsor are Buddhist and half are Christian.
Many other Karen organisations say they help all Karen refugees, but we
are the only organisation that actually sponsors equal numbers of
Christian and Buddhist refugees.
We also hold traditional Buddhist festivals including Full Moon
Festival, Kathina (Robe-Offering to Monks) ceremony, and Shin Pyu
(ordination of children as novice monks and nuns), and participate in
other traditional Karen festivals.
The Karen Buddhist Dhamma Dhutta Foundation has been involved in
interfaith initiatives including interfaith prayer services for peace in
Burma and interfaith dialogues.
The Karen Buddhist Dhamma Dhutta Foundation is based in Bendigo,
Australia, and is a member of the Buddhist Council of Victoria.
Click here for PDF flyer. |
