Speech by Mr Brian Ashen on the presentation of the Dhammapada to the Australian Parliament.
15th June 2009
The Honourable Harry Jenkins MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mr Ian Harris, Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Venerable Sangha from the three traditions of Buddhism and Buddhist community leaders.
We come together today to present to our federal parliament a very special Buddhist text, the Dhammapada.
In Buddhism there is not one single text that we can point to and say that is our ‘Bible’ or ‘Koran’. The Lord Buddha taught many thousands of teaches or sutras. Some are short ands some long; some are thousands of verses in length and are bound in many volumes. However, there are some teachings of the Buddha that hold a special place in all the traditions and that text is the Dhammapada. This is the book that we present to you today.
We are not aware of any Buddhist followers in the federal parliament. However, in the event of a Buddhist being elected, what ever the party of politics they represent, this book will be ready to guide them as they take their oath of service. And I hope that this book is used many times in the future.
Mr Jenkins, thank you for your hospitality and your acknowledgment of the Buddhist communities in Australia.
Thank you very much.
