Buddhism in Australia Traditions in Change

132 Subhana

Barzaghl'

notably ‘walking

in

country',

which

have been

organized

and

supported by

membersofthe

Sydney

ZenCentre.A

synthesis

betweenZenand

indigenous

spirituality

is

slowlytaking

shape

and

finding

its

way

intoZen

chantingpractice

and

influencing

dharmatalks.While

thisisa

mutuallyrespectfulrelationship

of

engaging

and

learning

fromone

another,

it

isstilltoo

early

to

exactly

definethe

shape

ofthisnewconversationand

relationship,

Conclusion

in

spite

of

theenormous

changes

spanning

2500

years.

and

regardless

ofall

the

fresh,

innovativeanddiverse

expressions

ofZenBuddhisminthe

west.

the

practice

hasremainedtruetotheheartof

the

originalteachings

of

Shakyamuni

Buddha.

AsZen MasterKeizan so

beautifully expressed: ‘Blooming

flowers.

falling

leaves.

directly

show.

the

medicinetree

fundamentally

hasnodifferent

flavour‘

(Keizan

1990:

110).

The

teachings,practices

andBodhisattvavowsthat

areintoned

at

every

Diamond

Sangha

meditation

meeting

affirman

unwavering

commitment

totheliberation

ofsufiering

forall

beings.

The

practice

ofmeditation

and

awakening

toone‘struenatureisthe

cornerstoneofboth

thenewandthe

older

fomrsof

Buddhism.Forthe

teachings

to

survive.

liberationmustbeembodied

and

personallyactuatized.

itmust

spring

forthfromeachindividual‘sown life

and

practice.

notfrom

adopting

Buddhist

beliefs,

traditional

etiquette

orritual

devotion.

IntheAustralian

lay

Zen

community.

the

struggle

forliberationand

enlight-

enmenthasshifted

away

from themonasticrenunciate

lifestyle

thatwasatthe

heartof

theBuddhist

movementinAsiato

embracing

thehouseholder's

lifestyle.

Laypractitioners

are

takingup serious.

dedicated

practice

without the

robes.

withtheview

that

enlightenment

is

accessibleandcanbe

realized

by

all

genuine

practitioners

whowalkthe Noble

Eightfold

Path.

Laypractitioners

chooseto

deepen

their

practicethrough

both

attending

traditional

sesshinsandinnovative

retreats.aswell

as

throughcelebrating

relationships

and

family

lifeasa

pathway

for

realising

a

deeper

senseof

openness

and

intimacy

withall life. Coleman

indicatesthat:

‘Buddhismshowsthatithasoftenabsorbed

many

elementsfrom

the

indigenous

traditionsot‘theculturestowhichit

spreadurjoincd

with

themto

create

syncretistic

newfaiths‘

(2001:228),

AsZen

practice

findsits

home

in this

sun-kissed

country.

andintersects

particularly

with

laypractice.

western

psycho

therapy.indigenous

spirituality

andademocratic

governance

of

its

communities.

a

vibrant.

vitaland

particularly

AustralianZenis

takingshape

and

flowering.

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