Estonians Successfully Organise Their Seventh International Buddhist Conference in Australia
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“MEIE KODU” — 28 February 2018 — Page 12
Eestlased said hakkama juba seitsmenda rahvusvahelise budismi konverentsiga Austraalias
1-3. veebruaril toimus Perthis 7. Rahvusvaheline konverents ‘Budism ja Austraalia’. Kui palju oli konverentsist osavõtjaid? Kui kaugelt kohale tuldi?
The 7th International Conference “Buddhism & Australia” took place in Perth on 1–3 February. How many people attended the conference, and from how far away did they travel?
Marju Broder, Organizing Chair IC Buddhism & Australia: The 7th international conference “Buddhism & Australia” was held at ECU Mt Lawley campus and this year brought together 16 speakers from China, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Australia.
By now, our conferences have contributed 126 scientific research articles and had speakers from China, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka, USA, UK, Thailand, Finland, Germany, Cambodia, Russia, Buriatya, Taiwan, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Korea, Laos, Japan, Canada and Australia.
Esimene konverents kui ma ei eksi toimus 2007. aastal Eestis. Kuidas on konverentsitraditsioon jõudnud Eestist kaugele Austraaliasse ja miks just Perthi? Milline on siin kandepind?
The first conference, if I am not mistaken, took place in Estonia in 2007. How has the conference tradition travelled from Estonia all the way to Australia, and why specifically Perth? What is the level of local support and participation here?
Marju Broder: Yes, the first Estonian Nyingma conference on Buddhism was held in Estonia in 2007. The idea and realization of the international conference ‘Buddhism and Nordland’ (as well as ‘Buddhism & Australia’) originates from a Buddhist scholar Vello Vaartnou, the founder and leader of Estonian Nyingma.
Vaartnou already had an idea to organize the international conference on Buddhism in cooperation with other Nordic countries many decades ago. During the Soviet occupation it was impossible to organize such a conference in Estonia because it was officially forbidden to propagate religion and it wasn’t possible to research Buddhism with international cooperation.
In 1988, Vaartnou founded the Estonian National Independence Party and this previously unheard of event was broadcasted all over the world. After that he was expelled from the Soviet Union and became a Swedish Citizen.
The aim of the international conferences ‘Buddhism & Nordland’ has been to investigate the history and presence of Buddhism in the Nordic countries, to stimulate research in this area and broaden the local history with Buddhist topics.
There was no research on Buddhism in Baltic States prior the ‘Buddhism & Nordland’ conferences, and very little was done about it in other Nordic countries also. We could say that the research on the historical reception of Buddhism in the whole West is still in its infancy.
Five conferences ‘Buddhism and Nordland’ were held from 2007–2011 at the University of Tallinn and were the first in Europe to investigate and preserve the history of Buddhism in the Nordic countries, how it is reflected in the local culture, and what are the similarities and differences in the neighbouring countries.
In addition to those from the Nordic countries scholars and Buddhists from Italy, Germany, USA and the eastern countries Thailand, India, Taiwan, Mongolia, Nepal participated in the conferences.
The conferences — both ‘Buddhism & Nordland’ and ‘Buddhism & Australia’ — have a unique approach to this material as both scientists and Buddhists are represented, who complement each other by revealing different aspects and materials of Buddhism.
During the 5 years the conference ‘Buddhism and Nordland’ give impetus to research done into the area of Nordic Buddhism in Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia and other countries.
In 2011, Australia granted a Distinguished Talent visa to Vello Vaartnou and he relocated to Western Australia. One reason for his decision was the lack of academic Buddhist studies in Western Australia.
The feedback to our conferences is really good, we have got many supportive letters from Australian and overseas scholars and Buddhists. Also overseas media has paid much attention to our activities; there are articles and interviews in China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Canada, Germany etc.
Korraldajaks oli Eesti Nyingma - kui kaua on organisatsioon tegutsenud ja kui suur tänane liikmeskond?
The organiser was Estonian Nyingma. How long has the organisation been active, and how many members does it have today?
Marju Broder: Estonian Nyingma was founded by Vello Vaartnou in 1982 in Estonia, and unites people interested in the teachings of the Nyingma school (Tibetan Buddhism). This is the oldest Buddhist organization in Estonia.
During its existence, Estonian Nyingma has built 5 stupas (including the first stupa of Northern Europe), temples, and prayer wheels in Estonia and translated and distributed texts and books on Buddhism.
All Estonian Nyingma projects have been initiated and managed by a Buddhist scholar Vello Vaartnou, a remarkable person in terms of modernizing Buddhist teachings. He is also the author of the first online Buddhist Encyclopedia in Estonian language and has created first Estonian thangkas (Buddhist art) which has found their way to collections of Thai Royal family, Stockholm Ethnographic Museum, Berkeley University etc.
Buddhism & Australia Inc. is the foundation of Estonian Nyingma in Australia and all projects are managed by a few Estonians in Perth.
We have several ongoing projects: international conferences Buddhism & Australia, which is the only Buddhist conference in Australia; an online Australian Buddhist History; and an online Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia which was launched by Vaartnou at Berkeley University in 2012.
We have proudly represented Australia at the Berkeley University PNC Conferences in Macau, Los Angeles, Taiwan etc. Considering the capacity of the all international projects and endeavors, we may say that this group is very efficient.
AALE KASK-ONG
Source
dea.digar.ee on page 12