Updated 3 September 2021
BGKT 2017 NEWS
December 2017
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana one of the founder Spiritual Advisors of BGKT turned 90.
https://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/spiritual-advisors-venerable-dr-balangoda-ananda-maitreya-and-venerable-henepola-gunaratana/
November 2017
INTERFAITH WEEK 12 – 19 November 2017
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
The IFN Interfaith Network for the UK acknowledged Kendal as the smallest town to hold an 8 day weeklong programme of events in Interfaith Week 2017. This was prestigious for Kendal. Kendal was included in the Inter Faith Week: Stories from 2017, Inspiration for 2018, on pages 6,7,16 and 24.
https://www.interfaithweek.org/uploads/Inter_Faith_Week_2017_report21.pdf
Kendal was included in the IFN Interfaith Network for the UK’s Press Release
https://www.interfaith.org.uk/news/press-release-inter-faith-week-2017-an-inspiring-success
IFN Inter Faith Network for the UK posted Kendal on the Inter Faith Week Facebook, and Twitter.
https://www.facebook.com/194238653936191/posts/1990437344316304
https://twitter.com/IFWeek/status/932981941825097729
November 2017
BGKT attended the monthly meditation retreat at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati, on Saturday 4 November. Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (BGKT Secretary) led the Metta Meditation (meditation on loving kindness). http://www.ketumati.org/
October 2017
BGKT attended the Kathina celebration at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati on Sunday 15 October. http://www.ketumati.org/
October 2017
BGKT attended MBC Manchester Buddhist Convention on Saturday 14 October 2017 at St Peter’s House Chaplaincy, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9GH
https://manchesterbuddhistconvention.wordpress.com/
October 2017
BGKT attended the monthly meditation retreat at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati on Saturday 4 October. Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (BGKT Secretary) led the Metta Meditation (meditation on loving kindness). http://www.ketumati.org/
September 2017
Venerable Maholava Ariyadhamma (a cave dwelling monk from Sri Lanka) led a retreat for BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) on 24 September 2017. The retreat also celebrated the 20th and 15th anniversaries of taking Buddhist Precepts [rules of training] by members of the Group.
September 2017
BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) ran a stall at the Age UK event in Kendal on 15 September 2017.
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/southlakeland/
September 2017
BGKT attended the monthly meditation retreat at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati on Saturday 2 September. Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (BGKT Secretary) led the Metta Meditation (meditation on loving kindness). http://www.ketumati.org/
August 2017
Venerable Maholava Ariyadhamma (a cave dwelling monk from Sri Lanka) visited Kendal. On Saturday 26 August he visited Cathedral Cave. He went on a walking tour of Kendal on Sunday 27 August which included a visit to the Peace Garden. He led BGKT’s meeting on 27 August at Fellside Centre Kendal.
August 2017
BGKT attended the monthly meditation retreat at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati on Saturday 5 August. Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (BGKT Secretary) led the Metta Meditation (meditation on loving kindness). http://www.ketumati.org/
July 2017
Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa (Head of Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester) led a retreat for BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) on 30th July 2017. He was assisted by Venerable Maholava Ariyadhamma (a cave dwelling monk from Sri Lanka).
July 2017
Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes chanted the Metta Sutta [The Discourse on Loving Kindness] in Pali and English, at the Merz Barn vigil on Wednesday 19 July.
July 2017
BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) assisted at the wedding of an attendee of the group who has attended since BGKT’s first meeting.
The wedding was held on 8th July at the Unitarian Chapel Kendal, led by an Interfaith Minister who is Kendal Unitarian Chapel Ministry Team Leader.
As far as BGKT is aware this is the first wedding in Kendal which included a Buddhist blessing and Buddhist chanting by a Buddhist Group. A Buddha statue was displayed in the Chapel which was decorated with Tibetan Prayer flags.
Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes gave a wedding blessing in Pali and English. Upasaka Sumedha gave the Panca Sila (Five Precepts). BGKT attendees who have taken the Ajivatthamaka Sila (Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth) for Life chanted chanted these Precepts. Upasaka Sumedha John Gerrard read The Mangala Sutta and BGKT chanted this in Pali. Titus Gomes led a Metta meditation (meditation on loving kindness). Upasaka Dhammika Duncan Fisher gave a reading by The Dalai Lama.
July 2017
Kendal Civic Celebration for Mayor’s Sunday led by The Worshipful the Town Mayor Councillor Andy Blackman on Sunday 2 July 2017, included an invitation from the Mayor to faith groups in Kendal. Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili represented BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada). She 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.
July 2017
BGKT attended the monthly meditation retreat at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati, on Saturday 1 July. Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (BGKT Secretary) led the Metta Meditation (meditation on loving kindness). http://www.ketumati.org/
June 2017
BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) ran a stall at the Gateway eHub event at Kendal Town Hall on 22 June 2017. The Gateway eHub is an open resource for use by any organisation providing support and/or services to the people of South Lakeland.
https://www.facebook.com/GatewayGroupSL/
June 2017
BGKT attended the monthly meditation retreat at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati, on Saturday 3rd June. Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (BGKT Secretary) led the Metta Meditation (meditation on loving kindness). http://www.ketumati.org/
May 2017
The Kendal Town Council Annual General Meeting & Mayor Making Ceremony for Mayor Councillor Andy Blackman was held in Kendal Town Hall on 18 May 2017. Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili and Upasaka Sumedha represented BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada).
May 2017
BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal Theravada attended Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester’s Wesak Celebration on 14 May 2017. http://www.ketumati.org/
May 2017
The Deputy Mayor of Kendal Councillor Andy Blackman attended BGKT’s Wesak celebrations, at Kendal URC United Reformed Church on May 10 2017.
April 2017
BGKT attended the monthly meditation retreat at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led by visiting Monk Venerable Kovida, on Saturday 8 April. http://www.ketumati.org/
March 2017
BGKT attended the monthly meditation retreat at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati, on Saturday 4 March. Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (BGKT Secretary) led the Metta Meditation (meditation on loving kindness). http://www.ketumati.org/
February 2017
BGKT attended the monthly meditation retreat at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, led By Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Abbot of Ketumati, on Saturday 4 February. Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (BGKT Secretary) led the Metta Meditation (meditation on loving kindness). http://www.ketumati.org/