Updated 17 April 2024
Buddhist Precepts Taken by Members of BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada)
Theravada Buddhism offers several different sets of Precepts.
See Buddhist Precepts in Theravada Buddhism
http://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/theravada-buddhist-precepts/
Members of BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) have taken the Precepts described below.
Panca Sila (The Five Precepts)
Panca Sila (The Five Precepts) are the minimum requirements for lay practitioners in Theravada Buddhism.
Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Agga Maha Pandita (1896-1998), Venerable Narada Maha Thera (1898-1983), Venerable Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera, Venerable Witharandeniya Kassapa Maha Thera, and Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Maha Thera have administered Panca Sila (The Five Precepts) to attendees of the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada). They gave the Buddhist names Sudharma, Sumedha, Mahinda, Punna, Dhammika, Jotima and Nanda to Upasakas; and the names Jayasili, Chanda, Sumana and Sunanda to Upasikas. (Upasika Panna was given her name by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera when she took the Eight Lifetime Precepts (see Eight Lifetime Precepts below).)
Ajivatthamaka Sila (Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth)
Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Maha Thera Head of Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester, has administered Ajivatthamaka Sila (Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth) for life to Upasaka Sumedha and Upasaka Mahinda in 2000, Upasaka Punna in 2002, and Upasaka Nanda and Upasika Sunanda in 2022.
At Ketumati Buddhist Vihara’s Wesak Celebrations on 14 May 2006, Venerable Piyatissa Maha Thera presented cream sashes to Upasakas Sumedha, Mahinda and Punna who undertook the Ajivatthamaka Sila for Life with Venerable Piyatissa as Preceptor (in 2000 and 2002), and to Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili (who undertook an expansion of the Ajivatthamaka Sila with Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Agga Maha Pandita (1896-1998) as Preceptor). These sashes must be worn when they administer Panca Sila (The Five Precepts) in the absence of a Bhikkhu (Monk), or Ayya (Nun).
Eight Lifetime Precepts
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera is one of the Spiritual Advisors to BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada).
In June 2007 Upasika Panna received the Eight Lifetime Precepts (an expansion of the Ajivatthamaka Sila) from Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera at Gaia House Devon UK, and a cream sash from Venerable Piyatissa Maha Thera. (see Ajivatthamaka Sila for Life Cream Sashes below)
Atthangika Uposatha Sila (Eight Uposatha Precepts)
Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Maha Thera Head of Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester UK, has administered Atthangika Uposatha Sila (Eight Uposatha Precepts) to attendees of the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) at meditation retreats.
Attendees have also observed these Precepts at other retreats and monasteries
A member regularly observes these Precepts on Uposatha Days.
CMDM Cumbria Moon Day Meditation
The three Theravada Buddhist Groups in Cumbria (Carlisle, Kendal and Keswick) have started meditating at the same time 7-9 pm on the four Uposatha days (Full, New and the two Half moon according to the Forest Sangha calendar).
weblinkhttps://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/cmdm-cumbria-moon-day-meditation/
Navanga Uposatha Sila (Nine Uposatha Precepts)
A Myanmar [Burmese] Upasika who used to live in Kendal and attended the Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) observes these Precepts.
Bodhicari Precepts
Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes received the Bodhicari Precepts from Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Agga Maha Pandita (1896-1998) in 1994.
Ketumati Buddhist Vihara’s Wesak Celebrations on 14 May 2006
Ketumati Buddhist Vihara’s Wesak Celebrations on 14 May 2006, included the distribution of the booklet 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.
Ajivatthamaka Sila (Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth) for Life Cream Sashes
At Ketumati Buddhist Vihara’s Wesak Celebrations on 14 May 2006, cream sashes were presented to Upasakas Sumedha, Mahinda and Punna who undertook the Ajivatthamaka Sila for Life with Venerable Piyatissa as Preceptor (in 2000 and 2002), and to Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (who undertook an expansion of the Ajivatthamaka Sila with Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Agga Maha Pandita (1896-1998) as Preceptor). These sashes must be worn when they administer Panca Sila (Five Precepts) in the absence of a Bhikkhu (Monk) or Ayya (Nun). (In June 2007 Upasika Panna received the Eight Lifetime Precepts (an expansion of the Ajivatthamaka Sila) from Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera at Gaia House, and a cream sash from Venerable Piyatissa.) Cream sashes have also been presented to Upasaka Nanda and Upasika Sunanda who undertook the Ajivatthamaka Sila for Life with Venerable Piyatissa as Preceptor in 2022
Sangha Authorized Dhamma Teacher badges
At Ketumati Buddhist Vihara’s Wesak Celebrations on 14 May 2006, Venerable Piyatissa Maha Thera presented Sangha Authorized Dhamma Teacher badges to Titus Gomes (authorized at the London Buddhist Vihara in 1980), Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes (authorized by Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Agga Maha Pandita (1896-1998) in 1983 in Manchester, and by Venerable Hammalawa Saddhatissa Maha Thera (1914-1990) (who at the time was Chief Sangha Nayaka of the UK and the Abbot of the LBV London Buddhist Vihara) in 1984 at the LBV), Upasaka Sumedha and Upasaka Mahinda (authorized by Venerable Piyatissa in 2001 and 2002). Upasaka Nanda received a Sangha Authorized Dhamma Teacher badge in 2018.
Bibliography
Articles
“The development and use of the Eight Precepts for lay practitioners, Upasakas and Upasikas in Theravada Buddhism in the West”, Jacquetta Gomes, Contemporary Buddhism, Volume 5(1) (May 2004) 47-63. (ISSN 1463-9947). DOI:10.1080/1463994042000249535
Available at https://www.tandfonline.com/
Books
Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Ketumati Buddhist Vihara. 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).2006.
Available as the Appendix to Introducing Buddhism at
https://www-old.budaedu.org/en/
https://www-old.budaedu.org/book-img/CoverL/EN074.jpg
http://ftp.budaedu.org/ebooks/pdf/EN074.pdf
The May 2006 edition available at https://books.google.com/
The May 2006 edition available at
https://archive.org/details/requirementscere00unse
The February 2010 updated edition available at
https://archive.org/details/requirements-ceremonies-buddhistgroupofkendal-bgkt-ketumatibuddhistvihara
