Last week Year 12 Studies of Religion students visited the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in Wollongong. 

Apart from being an important feature of studies for HSC students we are called upon by the Pope to engage in Interfaith Dialogue:...”interreligious dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world, and so it is a duty for Christians as well as other religious communities” (Pope Francis).

Please read Olivia Young’s (Year 12 student) recount of the Buddhist Excursion below:

On June 5th the Year 12 Studies of Religion II cohort were fortunate enough to have received an opportunity to visit Nan Tien, a Buddhist temple in Wollongong. The purpose of this excursion was to deepen our understanding of the Buddhist experience, gaining a new, firsthand perspective on their practice, especially regarding primary beliefs and rituals. This knowledge is applicable to our course work on Buddhist environmental ethics and pilgrimage. I especially enjoyed the tai chi and meditation sessions. The staff at the temple were incredible and insightful, with our tour guide sharing a plethora of information on the origins of Buddhism and its modern applications, as well as intriguing facts about the institute. Did you know that it is the largest buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere? 

We were able to identify a number of common motifs, such as the lotus flower, seeing how their meanings pertain to rituals and worship through their prevalence, with the idea of the lotus arising from mud directly correlating with the concept of Dharma. Although our tour was limited due to the poor weather, the site’s beauty was undeniable. We had an amazing day and appreciate the efforts of our teachers and the temple staff for the experience.

By Olivia Young

Mr Stephen O'Neill

Religious Education Leader of Learning