In the multicultural city of Darwin, the International Buddhist Centre provides a unique example of a Buddhist Centre and Temple, which includes Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, demonstrating the flexibility and adaptability of Buddhism in the ‘Top End’ of Australia. It was established in 1983 by members of the Buddhist Society of the Northern Territory to be a place that would welcome all Buddhist communities.ⁱ 

The NT Government formally granted deeds to the present land on the north side of the city in November 1985. Members steadily raised funds to build residences for monks and nuns, meditation and meeting halls, and a library. Today the non-sectarian character of the temple is most readily seen in its weekly schedule, which includes Buddhist programs for adults and children delivered by the Sri Lankan Buddhist Society, Vietnamese Buddhist Society of the Northern Territory, Darwin Western Zen Group. It features a lush tropical garden with Buddhist statues in multiple styles, the deity Guan Yin, and Bodhi trees draped in the five-coloured Buddhist flags.ⁱⁱ It is common to greet ordained monks and nuns (sangha) from Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, or local Zen teachers delivering talks or meditation classes. The community celebrates a number of festivals, including Vesak and Katina, to mark the end of the rains retreat. The Centre’s annual International Food Fair is an event much anticipated by the Darwin community that heralds the beginning of the Dry season.ⁱⁱⁱ 

By Sue Smith and Anna Halafoff 

Keywords:  

Buddhist temples, Sri Lankan Buddhism, Thai Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Zen Buddhism,