BGKT 2011 News

Updated 22 July 2020

BGKT 2011 NEWS

November 2011

INTERFAITH WEEK 20 – 26 NOVEMBER 2011

BGKT participated in Inter Faith Week

https://www.interfaithweek.org/

The IFN Interfaith Network for the UK included Kendal

Kendal is included every year in Events by Town
https://www.interfaithweek.org/events/by-town

Kendal was included in Inter Faith Week 2011, page 15. https://www.interfaith.org.uk/uploads/IF_Week_2011_210x210.pdf

https://www.awazcumbria.org/cumbria-interfaith-forum/news/national-interfaith-week-kendal-2011

Kendal Town Hall. The Mayor of Kendal Councillor Jonathan Brook invited SLIF and KEG for a Mayor’s Parlour in Kendal Town Hall celebration on Saturday 26 November. This included readings and prayers from the faiths represented in Kendal and local faith organisations, including BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada). A booklet of the readings was prepared by SLIF.

KWMMG Event KWMMG Kendal Women’s Multifaith mediation Group met on Monday 21 November to celebrate Inter Faith Week.

Kendal Unitarian Chapel. On Sunday 20 November Interfaith Sunday was celebrated at Kendal Unitarian Chapel. An Interfaith Service led by the Unitarian Minister, included readings and prayers from and representatives of local faith communities and faith organizations including BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada). This was followed by a shared vegetarian lunch and a creative meditation.  
https://equalitycumbria.org/cumbria-interfaith-forum/news/share-wisdom-worlds-faiths-event-kendal-20-nov

SLIF/KEG event. The Sufi Travelling Zikr was at Kendal Unitarian Chapel on 19 November the eve of Interfaith Week. This event was organized by SLIF South Lakeland Interfaith Forum and KEG Kendal Ecumenical Group. https://www.awazcumbria.org/cumbria-interfaith-forum/news/south-lakes-interfaith-fellowship-national-interfaith-week-event-19

October 2011

BGKT attended the Kathina celebration at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati on Sunday 23 October. http://www.ketumati.org/

October 2011

BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili attended the Apple Day organized by the Quaker Tapestry at the Friends Meeting House Kendal on 22 October 2011.

The Kendal Branch of the Embroiderer’s Guild brought “The World’s Longest Embroidery”. She sewed a gold coloured Buddhist Dhammacakka Wheel on this embroidery. This wheel with eight spokes (which represent the eightfold path) is often used as a symbol of Buddhism. In Theravada Buddhism the first discourse of the Buddha is the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion.

https://embroiderersguild.com/index.php?page_no=922

https://trc-leiden.nl/trc-needles/textile/individual-textiles-and-textile-types/commemorative-and-commissioned-textiles/worlds-longest-embroidery

September 2011

Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Head of Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester led a retreat for BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) at Kendal Fire Station community room over the weekend of 24 and 25 September 2011. As far as we are aware this the first retreat led by a Buddhist Monk to take place in a Fire Station in the UK. A Fire Officer had asked Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes from BGKT to represent minority faiths at the Kendal Neighbourhood Forum meeting at Kendal Town Hall on 26th September 2007 where the Community Room was announced.

Venerable Piyatissa presented Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili with a Bodhicari sash which is the same as the sashes worn by Bodhicaris in the USA. She took the Bodhicari Precepts with Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Aggamaha Pandita DLitt DLitt (1896-1998) as Preceptor, in 1994 at the London Buddhist Vihara. (As far as BGKT is aware she is the first person to take the Bodhicari Precepts outside the USA and this is the first time such a presentation has taken place outside the USA.) Jacquetta’s elderly Father worked for the London Fire Brigade and was delighted that this took place in a Fire Station.

September 2011

Visit of Church of Scotland Interfaith Development Worker, to the South Lakeland District Interfaith Forum. On 13 September, the Church of Scotland’s Interfaith Development Worker met with the South Lakeland Interfaith Forum Committee members. SLIF seeks to bring together people of different faiths for joint discussions, to share insights and build understanding. The SLIF Secretary and Jacquetta Gomes Secretary of BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) co-ordinated the day. The Church of Scotland Spiritual Discipline Programme included an article on Celebration by BGKT.

https://www.awazcumbria.org/cumbria-interfaith-forum/news/interfaith-visit-south-lakeland-interfaith-forum

https://www.awazcumbria.org/cumbria-interfaith-forum/news/church-scotland-spiritual-discipline-programme

July 2011

Kendal Civic Celebration for Mayor’s Sunday

Kendal Civic Celebration for Mayor’s Sunday led by The Mayor of Kendal Councillor Jonathan Brook on Sunday 5 July 2011, included an invitation from the Mayor to SLIF South Lakeland Interfaith Forum and all faith groups in Kendal.

John Gerrard Upasaka Sumedha represented BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili represented KWMMG Kendal Women’s Multifaith Meditation Group. They walked in the Civic Procession from the Town Hall to The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity for the Civic Service. Refreshments were served in the Mayors Parlour in Kendal Town Hall afterwards.

June 2011

First monthly meeting at Kendal Fire Station Community Room for BGKT and Cumbrian Buddhist Groups held on Thursday 30 June.

June 2011

MANCHESTER BUDDHIST CONVENTION

Upasaka Sumedha John Gerrard from BGKT attended MBC on Saturday 11 June at Manchester Buddhist Centre.

May 2011

BBC Radio Cumbria interviewed BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili about Vesak on Vesak day 17 May.

BGKT’s Vesak celebrations were held on 17 May at Kendal URC United Reformed Church Hall.

March 2011

BGKT took part in the water pouring ceremony for Upasika Sumana led by Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester on Suday 27 March during a BGKT meeting at Fellside Centre Kendal. http://www.ketumati.org/

Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka, The Wheel Publication 402-404, BPS Buddhist Publication Society Kandy Sri Lanka.

https://www.bps.lk/library-search-select.php?id=wh402

https://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh402_Kariawasam_Buddhist-Ceremonies-Rituals-Sri-Lanka.html

See Section 5 Almsgiving and Funerals: https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/kariyawasam/wheel402.html#ch5

March 2011

Luang Poh Sudhiro led a meeting and meditation session for BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) (Theravada Monk Luang Poh Sudhiro at Kendal Unitarian Chapel on 22 March. The Monk was offered a dana lunch on Friday 13th December in Kendal.

At the Civara Dana ceremony of Sammapatipadarama Monastery on 21 November 2010, a member of the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand bestowed the title of Phrakhruvinayadhara on Luang Poh Sudhiro in recognition of his outstanding work for the Dhamma [Buddhism]. The prestigious title which emanates from the King of Thailand, is in recognition of one who upholds the vinaya [monastic rules] in an exemplary fashion. There were only 10 holders in the whole Sangha [Community of Buddhist Monks].

https://buddhamettasocietyuk.weebly.com/

March 2011

BGKT took part in the water pouring ceremony for Upasika Sumana was held at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester Saturday 5 March. http://www.ketumati.org/

Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka, The Wheel Publication 402-404, BPS Buddhist Publication Society Kandy Sri Lanka.

https://www.bps.lk/library-search-select.php?id=wh402

https://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh402_Kariawasam_Buddhist-Ceremonies-Rituals-Sri-Lanka.html

See Section 5 Almsgiving and Funerals: https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/kariyawasam/wheel402.html#ch5

February 2011

BGKT ran a stall at the Kendal Transition Town 1st birthday celebration in Kendal Town Hall in the morning of Saturday 26 February.

January 2011

BGKT ran a stall at the Kendal College all day FBFE Faiths and Beliefs in Further Education event on 25 January. Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Head of Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester attended and was invited to be a speaker on the panel.

January 2011

Google Books Partner Programme included 3 versions of Introducing Buddhism by Venerable Dr Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Aggamaha (1896-1998) and Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili on Google Books website. These are available to read and for free download as a pdf.

Search Google Books for Introducing Buddhism Ven Balangoda Ananda Maitreya
https://books.google.com/

2007 Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation Taiwan edition includes an Appendix Requirements and Ceremonies for The Five Precepts (Panca Sila), The Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth (Ajivatthamaka Sila), Dhamma Teachers Certificate, issued by the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Ketumati Buddhist Vihara at Wesak 2006.

Search Google Books for Introducing Buddhism Ven Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Corporate Body
https://books.google.com/

Theravada