Keswick Buddhist Group (Theravada)

Updated 23 August 2022

Keswick Buddhist Group (Theravada)

Keswick Buddhist Group 30th Anniversary 4 December 2019

Keswick Buddhist Group was founded on 4 December 1989, and is the oldest Theravada Buddhist Group in Cumbria. A joint celebration of the 30th anniversary was held with BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) in Kendal on 12 December 2019. These are small local lay groups which meet in Keswick and Kendal to meditate and study.

The 15th anniversary of the group was celebrated at a joint celebration in Keswick with BGKT and Keswick Throssel hole Zen Buddhist Group in 2005. The 20th anniversary of the group was celebrated at a joint celebration in Keswick with BGKT in 2009. BGKT and the Keswick Group attended Carlisle Buddhist Group (Theravada) on Thursday 3 December 2009 to celebrate the 20th anniversary. The 25th anniversary was celebrated in Kendal with a lunch for Keswick Buddhist Group and BGKT in 2014.

BGKT and Keswick Buddhist Group have been honoured by several visits of senior Buddhist monks during the last 30 years. Highlights include:

Luang Poh Sudhiro

https://buddhamettasocietyuk.weebly.com/

Senior Thai Monk Luang Poh Sudhiro led a meeting and meditation session in Kendal on 12 December 2019, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Keswick Buddhist Group. Buddhist Monk Bhikkhu Jatapanno accompanied him. The prestigious title of Phrakhruvinayadhara which emanates from the King of Thailand, is in recognition of a Monk who upholds the vinaya [monastic rules] in an exemplary fashion. A member of the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand bestowed this title on Luang Poh Sudhiro in recognition of his outstanding work for the Dhamma [Buddhism], at the Civara Dana ceremony of Sammapatipadarama Monastery on 21 November 2010.  There were only 10 holders in the whole Sangha [Community of Buddhist Monks].

Venerable Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera 1927-

https://bhavanasociety.org/the-bhavana-community

Senior Sri Lankan Buddhist Monk Venerable Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera visited BGKT and Keswick Buddhist Group (Theravada), in 1993 and 1995. He led a retreat for the two groups at Lattendales Quaker Retreat Centre at Greystoke in Cumbria in 1995. He is the Head of Bhavana Society West Virginia USA, and an internationally respected meditation master. His biography is Journey to Mindfulness: The Autobiography of Bhante G. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. Boston (USA): Wisdom Publications, 2003. (ISBN 0-86171-347-8)
https://wisdomexperience.org/product/journey-mindfulness-0/

His best known books are the Mindfulness In Plain English series published by Wisdom Books: https://wisdomexperience.org/content-author/bhante-gunaratana/

Harnham Ratanagiri Monastery Northumberland

https://ratanagiri.org.uk/

Keswick Buddhist Group has attended Harnham Ratanagiri Monastery for many years, and Monks have visited and taught the Keswick Group. Two members of Keswick Buddhist Group took refuge in the Triple Gem and undertook to observe Panca Sila [Five Precepts] and became Upasakas [lay Buddhists] at Harnham Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery, on Asalha Puja [Full Moon] day, 22nd July 1994. This was the first large ceremony offering Panca Sila to a large group of people, held by a Forest Sangha Monastery in England.

Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester

http://www.ketumati.org/

Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Maha Thera (The Head of Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester) has taught and led retreats for BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and members of Keswick Buddhist Group who attend BGKT’s meetings for 20 years since 1999. Group members have attended retreats and events at Ketumati.

Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Maha Thera gave Buddhist names to members of Keswick Buddhist Group in 2010 and 2018. Certificates of Becoming an Upasaka for Having Taken Refuge in the Triple Gem [Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha] and Observed the Panca Sila [Five Precepts] and receiving Buddhist names were presented in 2010 in Kendal, and in 2018 at Ketumati Buddhist Vihara’s [Monastery’s] Vesak celebrations in Manchester. The presentation in 2010 was by a senior Sri Lankan Monk Venerable Siyabalapitiye Buddharakkhita Thera from a Monastery in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

The High Sheriff of Cumbria led a meeting on 26 February 2021, with Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Head of Ketumati Buddhist Vihara (Manchester). The meeting was also attended by Venerable Galpottayaye Pemananda from Ketumati Buddhist Vihara, and BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes.  The High Sheriff of Cumbria Facebook Page includes Keswick Buddhist Group.

https://www.facebook.com/hscumbria2020/photos/a.112265030426890/256736352646423/

Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Maha Thera led a day of practice in Kendal on 9 August 2022. The day included a ceremony in which Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Maha Thera was the Preceptor when an Upasaka from Keswick Buddhist Group and an Upasika from BGKT took the the Ajivatthamaka Sila (Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood as the Eighth) for Life. Venerable Piyatissa presented them with cream sashes to wear at Buddhist meetings. The ceremony is included in 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. This booklet is available on this website:

http://buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/EN074-__-Feb2010-5-8-Precepts-Diacritials.pdf

Requirements and Ceremonies is also available on Google Books:

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Requirements_and_Ceremonies_For/TfgOfBC9xoYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=google+books+requirements+and+ceremonies+ketumati+buddhist+vihara&pg=PA8&printsec=frontcover

Requirements and Ceremonies is also available as an appendix to Introducing Buddhism:

Introducing Buddhism. Venerable Dr Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thera Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Aggamaha Pandita DLitt DLitt, and Jayasili (Jacquetta Gomes). Taipei, Taiwan: The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation. (2008 reprint of 2007) (Book code EN074) (This includes as an appendix 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 updated February 2010).
http://www.budaedu.org/en/

http://ftp.budaedu.org/ebooks/pdf/EN074.pdf

Teaching the Dhamma [Buddhism]

https://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/dhamma-teachers-certificate-requirements-and-ceremonies/

In Theravada Buddhism teaching the Dhamma [Buddhism] can be undertaken by lay people who have been authorized to do so by Senior Bhikkhus [Buddhist Monks]. A member of Keswick Group received a Teaching Certificate in 2008. Venerable Piyatissa presented another member with a Certificate of Competence to Teach Theravada Buddhism and a Sangha Authorized Dhamma Teacher badge in 2018. Lay teachers from BGKT have visited Keswick Buddhist Group since 1992 and have taught and helped organize Buddhist celebrations.

CMDM Cumbria Moon Day Meditation

CMDM Cumbria Moon Day Meditation

Members of the Keswick Buddhist Group have attended and supported the other Theravada Buddhist Groups in Kendal and Carlisle. Attendees of the three Groups are able to meditate at home from 7-9 pm on the four moon days (full, new and half-moon) knowing that others will also be doing so. Any Cumbrian Theravada Buddhists who are not members of the three groups are welcome to participate.

Long Meditation Retreats

https://www.satipanya.org.uk/

A member of Keswick Buddhist Group has attended long mediation retreats in various venues. In recent years these have been at Satipanya Buddhist Trust in Shropshire.

Bibliography

“15 years of Keswick Buddhism”, Cumbria’s Green Handbook, (Spring Issue 2005) page 2.

http://greenhandbook.co.uk/

“Buddhist Naming Ceremony in Kendal Cumbria”, News Lanka, Issue 1370 (8 March 2018)

http://www.newslanka.net/

“Celebrating 20 Years of Buddhism in Keswick”, The Keswick Guide, Issue 2, (2010) page 45.

“Cumbria Moon Day Meditation”, Forest Sangha Newsletter, Number 86, (January 2009/2552) page 19.

http://www.fsnewsletter.org/pdf/FSN_86_January_2009.pdf

http://www.fsnewsletter.amaravati.org/pdf/FSN_86_January_2009.pdf

“Founder of Keswick Buddhist Group Celebrates 20 years”, The Keswick Reminder, No. 5595 (11 December 2009) page 8. (ISSN 2054-2798)

“Town’s Buddhist Group Celebrates 30 years”, The Keswick Reminder, No. 6108 (20 December 2019) page 5. (ISSN 2054-2798)

Theravada