Acknowledgement

The accomplishment of the work like writing a Ph.D. thesis needs good wishes, encouragement and support from many. The present work is not an exception to it. Without help and support from my Dhamma master, supervisor, well wishers, friends and so on and so forth this work has not seen the light of the day. I, therefore, deem it my privilege to acknowledge one and all at this moment. First and foremost I express my deep sense of gratitude to my supervisor Prof. (Dr.) Dharam Pal Singh, Head, Department of Social Work, for aptly supervising my work. Honestly speaking it would have been very difficult for me to complete this work if he has not guided me properly. Once again I express my gratefulness to him for all kind of support and help.

At this moment of joy I cannot forget to remember my Dharma Master, the Most Venerable Thich Phuoc Hue, who could not survive to see my work. It was he who provided me constant encouragement and support, both spiritually and materially, during my study in India. Even though he has recently passed away but still I could feel his presence by remembering his teachings. I am unable to find words that could describe my feeling of gratitude and honour to him. Further I can only take vows to make a good effort on cultivating of the Buddha's teaching in order to pay my deep gratitude to the four most significant gratitude's and dedicate the same to him.

I thankfully acknowledge the overall official support which Prof. Harpal Singh Pannu, Head, Guru Gobind Singh Department of Religious Studies has provided to me during my study at Punjabi University, Patiala. My thanks are also due to Dr. Rajesh Ranjan who guided and supported me a lots from the very first day that I came to joy the course at Punjabi University. I sincerely take my deep gratitude to him for his help.

I am also thankful to all Dharma brothers and sisters, Buddhist devotees, my family, friends and all who helped and supported me in one way or the other in order to complete my thesis.

I would also like to express my gratitude to all the faculty members of the Guru Gobind Singh Department of Religious Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala who helped me one way of the other. My thanks are also due to official and library staff of the Panjabi University, Patiala, for providing all types of support. Last but not the least I acknowledge the contributions made by various scholars who has already done studies on Australian Buddhism. Their works had provided me necessary guidelines to complete my work in a better manner.

PHUONG THI THU NGO

(Bhikkhuni Thich Phuoc Sinh)