Updated 18 April 2024
Keswick Buddhist Group (Theravada)
Keswick Buddhist Group Founding in 1989 and Anniversaries
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].
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Maha Thera 1927-
Senior Sri Lankan Buddhist Monk Bhante 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/
Aruna Ratanagiri [Harnham] Monastery Northumberland
Keswick Buddhist Group has attended Aruna Ratanagiri [Harnham] 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 Aruna Ratanagiri [Harnham] 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.
In An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Foundations, Values and Issues by Peter Harvey. there is a photograph on page 63 of Upasaka Jotima entitled Lay people giving alms-food to monks at a festival at Ratanagiri [Harnham] monastery, north-east England.
Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester
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.
Teaching the Dhamma [Buddhism]
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
https://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/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.
Satipanya Buddhist Trust Shropshire
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. Bhante Bodhidhamma Head of Satipanya Buddhist Trust visited The Quaker Tapestry Kendal on Friday 30 June 2023. He was the guest of BGKT and Keswick Buddhist Group.
Bibliography
Articles
“15 years of Keswick Buddhism”, Cumbria’s Green Handbook, (Spring Issue 2005) page 2.
“Buddhas: The oldest Theravada Buddhist group in Cumbria”, The Keswick Reminder, (14 July 2023) (ISSN 2054-2798).
“Buddhist Naming Ceremony in Kendal Cumbria”, News Lanka, Issue 1370 (8 March 2018).
“Buddhists mark 15 years in Keswick”, Lakeland Echo, (9 November 2004).
“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.
“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/
“Founder of Keswick Buddhist Group Celebrates 20 years”, The Keswick Reminder, No. 5595 (11 December 2009) page 8. (ISSN 2054-2798).
“Keswick Buddhist Group”, The Keswick Reminder, (13 January 1995) (ISSN 2054-2798).
“Town’s Buddhist Group Celebrates 30 years”, The Keswick Reminder, No. 6108 (20 December 2019) page 5. (ISSN 2054-2798).
“Upasaka Training”, Hilltop: News from Harnham Lay Support Group, (Summer 1994).
“Upasika News”, Hilltop: News from Harnham Lay Support Group, (Autumn 1996).
Books
Balangoda Ananda Maitreya, Venerable, and Jayasili (Jacquetta Gomes). Introducing Buddhism. 2007. (Taipei Taiwan, The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation) (Book code EN074) (This includes 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)
Available 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
https://archive.org/details/introducingbuddh03vene/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/introducing-buddhism-bgkt-ven-balangodanandamaitreya-jayasili-jacquettagomes
https://archive.org/details/introducing-buddhism-bgkt-ven-balangodanandamaitreya-jayasili-jacquettagomes/page/n1/mode/2up
Available at https://books.google.com/
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
Peter Harvey. An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Foundations, Values and Issues. 2000. (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press). (ISBN 0-521-55394-6 hardback ISBN 0-521-55640-6 paperback).
Websites
Buddhist Door Global BDG
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/
Authors
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/authors/
Author Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/author/bodhicarini-upasika-jayasili-jacquetta-gomes/
2024 15 April “Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Celebrates Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Nayaka Thero’s Appointment as Chief Sangha Nayaka for England”, by Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes