i) To promote the teachings, practice and realisation of Shakyamuni Buddha in Australia for the welfare and peace of all.
ii) To encourage the teachings, methods and practice of all the Buddhas, ancestors and patriarchs associated with the Zen Schools of the Mahayana tradition.
iii) To promote, encourage, develop and assist the study and practice of Zen Buddhism in Australia with special emphasis on the teachings and methods of Eihei Dogen Zenji and Keizan Zenji, the founders of the Soto Zen School in Japan.
Objectives
i) To install and support a resident teacher certified in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition who is qualified to be the abbot or head priest for the community and who may officiate various duties and services such as lay and monastic ordinations, weddings, funerals and blessings.
ii) To establish a teaching program, practice program and a program of community activities for Jikishoan’s members, and when necessary, to establish a training program, practice program and support system for assistant teachers.
iii) To invite teachers from the same or other traditions to participate in Jikishoan’s teaching program, practice program and other community activities in order to promote greater awareness and understanding of Buddhism.
iv) To establish, under the guidance of the resident teacher, a Zen training structure including an administrative structure based upon Dogen Zenji’s pure standard for Zen communities and upon other Soto Zen Buddhist guidelines, adapting them where necessary to meet local cultural requirements.
v) To conduct Zen Buddhist ceremonies, social functions and fund raising activities to support Jikishoan’s members and to further Jikishoan’s aims and objectives.
vi) To plan, acquire, provide, maintain and dispose of property, facilities, ceremonial instruments and practice-related items as necessary to meet the requirements of Jikishoan’s teaching programs, practice programs and other community activities.
vii) To establish a process for identifying, addressing and resolving problems and conflicts among Jikishoan’s members in order to maintain the harmony of member practice and the effectiveness of administration.
viii) To devise, maintain and revise as appropriate the official records of Jikishoan’s activities, to include but not be limited to: the agendas and minutes of meetings; a membership register; a mailing list; a record of training and practice activities; an asset register; and, financial and other records to meet the requirements of the Associations Incorporation Act, 1981.
ix) To provide financial or non-financial support, where appropriate and necessary, to other organisations from the same or other traditions in order to achieve the aims of Jikishoan to promote greater awareness and understanding of Buddhism.